Fair Oaks 10, Rio Loma 6 (League: 10-0, Overall: 14-4) - July 7 @ Mira Loma High School - The Oaks clinched their second division title in as many years and sixth since 1991 with a 10-6 win over Rio Loma in the opening game of a doubleheader at Mira Loma High School. Fair Oaks entered the game with a three game lead over Rio Loma with three games remaining (all against Rio Loma) and needed only one win to clinch the title.
Steve Snider
    The Oaks loaded the bases in the top of the first, but couldn't score for starting pitcher Ryan Knippschild and the game remained a pitcher's dual through the first three innings with the Oaks finally breaking the deadlock in the top of the fourth.
    With one out, first baseman Dan Gemma got a hit to center and moved to third on third baseman Mike Wright's double to center. Shortstop Derek Chase then hit a ball to third that resulted in Gemma getting caught in a rundown between third and home and eventually getting tagged out at home. Right fielder Steve Snider then got a hit to right that scored Wright to give the Oaks a 1-0 lead.
    Fair Oaks came back for five more runs in the fifth as center fielder L.J. Sneath started things off with a one out home run to left field. Catcher Doug Matlack followed with a ball to second that was booted. Designated hitter Robert Barrett followed with a hit to left and Gemma walked to load the bases. With two outs, Chase got a hit to left to score Matlack and Barrett to make it 4-0 and Snider followed with a hit to right to score Gemma to give the Oaks a 5-0 lead. With left fielder Tim Cook at the plate, Snider stole second. The throw to second went into center field allowing Chase to score to make it 6-0.
Doug Matlack
    Post 383's lead evaporated in the bottom of the inning, however, as Rio Loma came back with five runs to make it a 6-5 contest. Fair Oaks faced a new pitcher in the top of the sixth, but expanded their lead back out to four runs as the new hurler couldn't find the plate.
    Second baseman Josh Thompson and Sneath drew back-to-back walks to start the inning and then with one out, a walk to Barrett loaded the bases. Manny Parra, pinch hitting for Gemma, walked to force Thompson in to make it 7-5 and then Wright's hit to right scored Sneath to make it 8-5. With Chase at the plate, Wright got caught in a rundown at first, Barrett tried to score from third, but was tagged out at the plate. Chase then was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, and a hit by Snider to right scored Parra to make it a 9-5 game.
    Barrett relieved Knippschild on the mound to start the sixth, putting Rio Loma down in order. Rio Loma added a run in the seventh to close the score to 9-6, but the Oaks answered back in the top of the eighth with a run as Parra got a one out double down the right field line to start things off. Walks to Wright and Chase followed to load the bases and then with two outs, Cook walked to force Parra in to make it 10-6.
    Barrett put Rio Loma down in order in the bottom of the inning and despite a walk and hit in the ninth, Rio Loma failed to score as the Oaks held on for their 10-6 victory.

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


Fair Oaks: Pitching - Knippschild, Barrett (6) and Matlack. Hitting - Sneath HR; Wright 2x4; Chase 2 RBI; Snider 3x5, 4 RBI.
Rio Loma: Pitching - Vollenweider, Jordan (6) and Robinson. Hitting - Wallin 2 RBI; Mattox 2x4; Jabidi 2 RBI; Bowker 2x4, 3B.