Post 61 6, Fair Oaks 5 (League: 0-1, Overall: 0-1) - May 29 @ Land Park - Fair Oaks was plagued by errors its opening game of the season, losing a 6-5 decision to Post 61 at William Land Park.
    The Oaks had six errors in the loss, but looked good on offense, collecting nine hits. Fair Oaks starter Robert Wilkerson scattered five Post 61 hits, looking sharp on the mound and pitching a complete game.
    The Oaks went out to a 1-0 lead in the first as shortstop Todd Jennings lined the first pitch into left for a hit. Jennings went to second on a bunt by catcher Doug Matlack, but was caught in a rundown between second and third as the next batter, left fielder Ryan Mink, drilled a ball to short. Mink reached first safely and then stole second with first baseman Ross Elmendorf at the plate.
    Elmendorf hit a ball to short that was booted, allowing Mink to score to give Fair Oaks a 1-0 lead.
    Post 61 came back in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead, but Wilkerson settled down and struck out the side in the second to keep the game close. A hit batsman and an error led to a 3-1 Post 61 lead in the third, but the Oaks came back in the fourth to tie the game with a pair of runs.
    Second baseman Nic DeRose led off by hitting a bad bouncer past short and moved to second on center fielder Eric Battenberg's one-out hit to left. With two outs, Matlack tripled to center field to drive in both DeRose and Battenberg and make it a 3-3 game.
    Post 383 went back in the lead in the top of the sixth as Post 61's third baseman booted a ball hit by DeRose. DeRose advanced to second on a bunt by third baseman Aaron Yurchak and then pinch hitter John Perkins walked to put two runners on. Jennings then hit a ball to short that was booted to load the bases and a walk to Matlack forced in DeRose to make it a 4-3 Fair Oaks lead. The Oaks made it 5-3 on a fly to right by Mink that allowed Perkins to tag and score.
    Post 61 came right back in the bottom of the inning to score two and tie the game at 5-5. Fair Oaks almost retook the lead in the top of the seventh, but couldn't get the run across. Right fielder Jake Jerue led off with a hit by third, but was eliminated on designated hitter Alex Graham's ground ball to second. DeRose then hit a ball to short that was booted, sending Graham to third. L.J. Sneath then hit a ball to third. The throw came home just ahead of Graham for the second out of the inning. Joe Caffrey then flew out to end the inning and leave the game tied at 5-5.
    The end of the game was rather anti-climatic as an error put Post 61's leadoff batter on. A walk put a second runner on. Wilkerson struck out the next batter, but the runner on second stole to put a runner on third with only one out. Wilkerson intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases - hopefully for a quick double play - but went to 3-1 on Post 61's next batter and eventually walked in the winning run to give the 6-5 victory to Post 61.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
FAIR OAKS	1	0	0	2	0	2	0	5	9	6
POST 61	2	0	1	0	0	2	1	6	5	4

Fair Oaks: Pitching - Wilkerson and Matlack. Top Hitters - Matlack 2x2, 3B, 3 RBI.
Post 61: Pitching - Gilbertson and Lindstrom, Watts (3). Top Hitters - Baptista 2x3; Watts 3 RBI; Lindstrom 2B.