Fair Oaks 8, Rio Loma 6 (League: 15-2, Overall: 18-3) - July 8 @ Bella Vista High - Three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning broke open a 5-5 tie as the Oaks went on for an 8-6 victory over Rio Loma in the second game of a doubleheader at Bella Vista High School.
    Rio Loma took a 1-0 lead in the first off starting pitcher Peter Schweffel, just up from the Fair Oaks Junior Legion team.
    The Oaks, however, came right back to go up 3-1 in the bottom of the inning as Tim Cook led off with a walk. A bunt by third baseman Aaron Yurchak sent Cook to third as the throw from the pitcher to short went into centerfield. Center fielder L.J. Sneath then hit a ball to third. Cook was caught in a rundown between home and third and tagged out, but then first baseman Joe Liebman got a hit to left center to load the bases for the Oaks. Catcher Mike Wright followed with a hit to left to score Yurchak and Sneath and designated hitter Alex Graham was hit by a pitch to reload the bases. Shortstop Ricky Alonso got the Oaks' third run home with a hit to left to score Liebman.
    Rio Loma came back for three runs in the fourth to take a 4-3 lead, but the Oaks tied it up in the sixth with a single run after loading the bases with one out.
    Josh Gibson struck out to start off the inning, but then second baseman Larry Lomascola got a hit to center, Cook walked and Yurchak singled to left to load the bases. Sneath then worked the Rio Loma pitcher for a walk to force in Lomascola and make it a 4-4 game.
    The Oaks went into the lead in the seventh as Graham doubled with one out. Alonso followed with another double to send Graham home and Post 383 took a 5-4 lead in the game.
    Rio Loma came back to tie it in the eighth with a single run off Ricky LaFavor who had replaced Schweffel on the mound in the fifth, but the Oaks exploded for three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a lead they would never give up. With two outs, Sneath sent a ball over the left center fence to break the tie and then Liebman reached on an error. Wright was hit by a pitch and Graham doubled to send Liebman in to make it 7-5. With Alonso at the plate, a wild pitch scored Wright to make it an 8-5 game.
    Rio Loma added a run in the ninth, but their rally fell short as the Oaks held on for the 8-6 win.

TEAM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
9
10
R
H
E
RIO LOMA
1
0
0
3
0
0
0
1
1
6
16
2
FAIR OAKS
3
0
0
0
0
1
1
3
0
8
12
2


Rio Loma: Pitching - Acherman, Ji. Crider (5), Herrenschmidt (8) and Shelton. Top Hitters - Wallin 4x6; Ji. Crider 3x5, 2B; Shelton 2x5, HR; Vaughan 4x5, HR; Torres 2B.
Fair Oaks: Pitching - Schweffel, LaFavor (5) and Wright. Top Hitters - Sneath HR, 2 RBI; Liebman 2x5; Wright 2x4, 2 RBI; Graham 3x5, 2 2B; Alonso 2x4, 2B, 2 RBI.