In The Dugout by Joe Blenkle     During the seventh inning of Fair Oaks' opening game of a doubleheader against Charles Eggen, one of Eggen's coaches was ejected for overzealously arguing a balk call. This brought a surprisingly immature and childish series of outbursts from Eggen fans that continued the rest of the game and into the next.     The situation was compounded after completion of the top of the first inning in the second game when Fair Oaks manager Don Barney put the game under protest because the coach had returned to the dugout. Apparently the Eggen coach didn't know his ejection from the first game, according to Legion rules, extended to the second game.     This further infuriated the Eggen "fans" who continued their tirade against the umps. Apparently they failed to understand that rules are rules. That's what the game is about. Accusations from the Eggen fans were flying that the protest had been made because Eggen had just taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Well, for the uneducated, the top of the first had to end before the protest could be officially lodged. Eggen fans were also upset that parents were ordered away from the dugout - apparently with the thought that they were going to coach the team. One fan was calling the home plate umpire "Hitler" - several of these fans were out of control and should have been ordered to leave the premises.     Although they finally did quiet down their verbal abuse - so at least the officials couldn't hear (under threat of ejection), the Fair Oaks fans could still hear their whining.     Rule 8 - Sportsmanship & Conduct - Paragraph B - of the American Legion Baseball Rules states that no player, coach, manager or other party associated with an American Legion baseball team (Eggen fans, are you listening?) shall abuse, heckle or make uncomplimentary remarks to opposing players, team officials or umpires. An individual violating this regulation shall be ejected immediately from the game by the umpire.     It's a pity this rule wasn't enforced on this afternoon. This handful of immature parents were an embarrassment to themselves and Legion ball in general. If you want to cheer your team and applaud a good play, fine. But if you show up to verbally abuse the officials and opponents, do us all a favor - stay home until you know how to conduct yourself in a public place.

Fair Oaks 8, Charles Eggen 1 (League: 8-6, Overall: 8-7) - June 26 @ Bella Vista High - Recovering from an 11-6 loss in the opening game of their doubleheader against Charles Eggen, Fair Oaks came back for an 8-1 victory in the second game to earn a split in their Eastern Division matchup.
    Charles Eggen took a 1-0 lead in the first, but the Oaks came back to tie the game in the bottom of the inning after two were out. Catcher Todd Jennings started things off as he hit a ball to short. The throw to first was wide and Jennings was safe. With shortstop John Perkins at the plate, Jennings stole second, making it to third on a bad throw to the bag. Perkins then hit a ball to second to score Jennings with the tying run.
    The Oaks increased their lead in the third as first baseman Doug Matlack hit a ball to first that couldn't be fielded. Center fielder L.J. Sneath bunted, but the throw from catcher to first was high and Sneath was safe with Matlack making it all the way to third. With second baseman Nic DeRose at the plate, Sneath stole second and then DeRose's ground ball to second scored Matlack for a 2-1 lead. Jennings then hit a ball to first with the pitcher covering, but Jennings beat the play to the bag and Sneath scored to make it a 3-1 game.
    In the fourth, Fair Oaks went up 5-1 as Ryan Mink led off with a hit to center. With Jeff Williams at the plate, an errant pickoff throw sent Mink to second and then Williams' bunt moved Mink over to third. Joe Caffrey doubled to center to score Mink and then with two outs and Sneath at the plate, a passed ball allowed Caffrey to score and make it 5-1.
    The Oaks scored again in the sixth as Jennings got on with one out on a ball hit to third that was booted. With Perkins at the plate, Jennings stole second and then Perkins' double into the left field corner scored Jennings for a 6-1 lead.
    Post 383 added two more runs in the sixth for the final 8-1 tally as Williams led off with a hit to right. With Caffrey at the plate, Williams stole second. Caffrey struck out, bringing first baseman Alex Graham to the plate. Graham also struck out, but not before a wild pitch sent Williams to third. Sneath then came up and sent a ball over the fence to score two runs for the 8-1 lead.
    Manny Parra, who pitched a complete game for the Oaks, struck out two of the four batters he faced in the top of the seventh to record the win. Parra had nine strikeouts total in the game.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
CHAS. EGGEN	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	6
FAIR OAKS	1	0	2	2	1	2	x	8	8	1

Charles Eggen: Pitching - Nelle and Espinosa. Top Hitters - Dalton 2x3.
Fair Oaks: Pitching - Parra and Jennings. Top Hitters - Sneath HR, 2 RBI; Jennings 2x4; Perkins 2x3, 2B, 2 RBI.