Fair Oaks 19, Post 61 0 (League: 16-6, Overall: 21-6) - July 9 @ Bella Vista High School - Fair Oaks concluded its regular season with a five-inning, 19-0 drubbing of Post 61 at Bella Vista High School.
Oaks starting pitcher Dixon Allen sent Post 61 down in order in the top of the first and Post 383 got down to business in the bottom of the inning sending nine batters to the plate for a 3-0 lead.
With one out, shortstop Josh Thompson walked, and then with two outs on the scoreboard and first baseman Devin Spurling at the plate, Thompson stole second. He moved to third as Spurling hit a ball to third that was dropped resulting in no play. Then left fielder Charles Smith walked to load the bases. Another walk to designated hitter Mickey Weisser forced Thompson in with the Oaks' first run and then catcher Doug Matlack hit a sharp ball to short that went for an infield hit and scored Spurling. Second baseman A.J. Vidlund's hit to right field scored both Smith and Weisser to make it a 4-0 game.
Mickey Weisser had a three-run homer in the second inning.
In the second inning, 18 batters went to the plate and the Oaks exploded for 12 runs to take a commanding 16-0 lead. Center fielder Garrett Holtzen led off with a walk, stole second with Thompson at the plate, and then scored as Thompson sent a double to left center. With right fielder Bill Rhinehart at the plate, Thompson stole third and scored as Rhinehart hit a ball that snuck under the second baseman's glove. Spurling followed with a walk and then Smith's hit to right scored Rhinehart to make it 7-0.
Weisser followed with a three run homer to right center to bring the score to 10-0.
The next batter, Matlack, reached base on another sharply hit ball on the infield as the second baseman fell down trying to field it. Vidlund walked and third baseman Steve Snider got a hit to left to reload the bases and force a Post 61 pitching change.
Holtzen was first to face the new hurler and bounced a hit over the second baseman's head to score Matlack and Vidlund. Thompson's hit to left scored Snider to make it 13-0 and then the first out of the inning was finally recorded as Rhinehart hit a fly to center field.
The bases were again reloaded as Spurling got a hit to left. Pinch hitter Mike Wright struck out for the second out, and then Dixon Allen (who started the game on the mound), doubled to left to score Holtzen to make it a 14-0 game. Two more runs came across as Matlack doubled to left center and then Vidlund got a hit just over the first baseman's head before Snider popped to first to end the high-scoring inning.
Derek Chase came in to pitch the top of the third and sent Post 61 down in order. The Oaks got singles from Brian Janowiak and Joe Gaggero in the bottom of the inning, but didn't score.
The Oaks sent Mike Zeleski to the mound in the fourth to continue the shut out and then the Oaks came back for their final three runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Pinch hitter Andrew Gallagher led off with a ground ball to second, beating the throw for a hit. Pinch hitter Kris Wright followed with a hit to left and then Zeleski's hit to right scored Gallagher to make it 17-0. Snider grounded to third with the throw going to second to force Zeleski, but Wright scored to bring the Oaks' tally to 18. Chase followed with a walk and then Thompson got a hit to left to load the bases. Janowiak's ground ball that went second to short scored Snider to make it an 19-0 game.
Thompson pitched the top of the fifth - before the game was called - and despite Post 61 loading the bases with two outs, the Oaks preserved the shut out victory to conclude their regular season with a 16-6 record, 21-6 overall.
TEAM
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FAIR OAKS
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12
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19
17
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POST 61
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Post 61: Pitching - Schulte, Richter (3), Watson (4) and Zoellin. Top Hitters - Galli 2x2. Fair Oaks: Pitching - Allen, Chase (3), Zeleski (4), Thompson (5) and Matlack, Gaggero (3). Top Hitters - Holtzen 2 RBI; Thompson 2x4, 2B; Spurling 2B; Weisser HR, 4 RBI; Allen 2B; Matlack 2x3, 2B; Vidlund 2x2, 3 RBI.
