Charles Eggen 3, Fair Oaks 2 (League: 8-7, Overall: 8-8) - June 27 @ El Camino High - The long ball...errr...short ball - sunk the Oaks in their final game against Charles Eggen, as Fair Oaks fell by a score of 3-2.
    Oaks starter Jake Jerue did a fine job shutting down a potent Eggen offense, finishing out a complete game with eight strike outs. And had the breaks gone Fair Oaks' way, Post 383 may very well have escaped with a 2-1 win.
    In the third inning after Jerue struck out the leadoff batter, a walk put a runner on. The next batter sent a ball into deep right center where both center fielder L.J. Sneath and right fielder Jeff Williams signalled the ball had apparently got stuck under the fence. The umpire traveled into the outfield to rule on the play and in his opinion the ball was playable. Both runners had circled the bases in the meantime and scored to make it a 2-0 game.
    Fair Oaks came back with a run in the sixth to make it 2-1 as first baseman Alex Graham led off by striking out. The ball got away from the catcher, however, and Graham was safe at first. Sneath followed with a hit to left and then second baseman Nic DeRose bunted for a sacrifice, moving Graham to third. Catcher Todd Jennings then hit a ground ball to second to score Graham and make it 2-1.
    Eggen came back in the bottom of the inning, however, to make it a 3-1 game on a solo home run that barely cleared the 285-foot marker in El Camino's short right field. The ball would probably have been an out in another ballpark.
    In the seventh, the Oaks loaded the bases with no outs as left fielder Ryan Mink led off with a double to left, designated Pat Bryant was hit by a pitch and Williams beat out a ground ball to shortstop. Third baseman Joe Caffrey then popped up on the infield to the catcher. The ball was dropped and the home plate umpire signalled an infield fly, but did not call it and confusion reigned on the bases. Caffrey was out on the IF and Williams got caught off first for the double play. Graham then hit a ball sharply to third and Bryant was tagged out by the third baseman as he went by to end the inning.
    Eggen went out in order in the bottom of the inning and the Oaks came back to close the gap to 3-2 in the eighth. With two outs, Jennings walked and then scored on a double by shortstop John Perkins.
    Jerue struck out two in the eighth as Eggen never seriously threatened, but the Oaks couldn't rally to tie or go ahead in the ninth. With two out, Caffrey drew a walk, sending pinch hitter Joe Liebman to the plate. Liebman struck out however on a full count, ending the game and giving Eggen a 3-2 win.

TEAM
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5
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7
8
9
R
H
E
FAIR OAKS
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
0
2
8
1
CHAS. EGGEN
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0
2
0
0
1
0
0
x
3
4
1


Fair Oaks: Pitching - Jerue and Jennings. Top Hitters - Sneath 2x4; Perkins 2x4, 2B; Mink 2B; Williams 2x4, 2B.
Charles Eggen: Pitching - N/A. Top Hitters - N/A.