Garrett Holtzen takes a lead off first in the fifth inning of the Oaks' game against Ft. Sutter at Renfree Field. The Oaks won the game 15-3 to improve their record to 5-1.
Fair Oaks 15, Ft. Sutter 3 (League: 5-1, Overall: 5-1) - June 3 @ Renfree Field - It was another close game - at least through the sixth inning - when Fair Oaks scored eight runs to break open a 3-3 tie en route to a 15-3 victory over Fort Sutter at Renfree Field.
Starting pitcher Dixon Allen got off to a shaky start, giving up two first inning runs to Ft. Sutter. But the Oaks quickly overcame Ft. Sutter's lead with three runs in the third and never trailed again.
With one out, third baseman Steve Snider got a hit to left, followed by a hit by center fielder Garrett Holtzen to right. Shortstop Josh Thompson bunted the pair over and then right fielder Bill Rhinehart's hit to center scored Snider and Holtzen to make it a 2-2 game. Rhinehart took second on the throw home trying to get Holtzen.
With first baseman Mickey Weisser at the plate, Rhinehart stole third. Weisser walked and with left fielder Charles Smith at the plate, a double steal with Weisser taking second and Rhinehart dashing home, made it a 3-2 Fair Oaks lead.
Fort Sutter managed to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth, but that was to be the last run Sutter got. The game stayed tied 3-3 until the top of the sixth when the Oaks exploded for eight runs and an 11-3 lead.
Weisser started things off with a hit to right, followed by a hit down the third base line by Smith. A walk to designated hitter Joe Gaggero loaded the bases and then catcher Doug Matlack sent everyone home with a double to left center to make it 6-3.
Second baseman A.J. Vidlund followed with a ground ball to short that rolled under the fielder's glove and sent Matlack to third. Vidlund stole second with Snider at the plate and then with one out, Holtzen sent a ball to second that took a funny bounce under the glove of the second baseman and Matlack and Vidlund scored to make it 8-3.
This chased Ft. Sutter's starter off the mound, but Sutter's new pitcher didn't have much success either, as Thompson put down a perfect bunt toward third for a hit. Thompson stole second with Rhinehart at the plate and Rhinehart got a single to right to score Holtzen and Thompson to make it 10-3. Rhinehart advanced to second on the throw home and then took third on an overthrow. Rhinehart scored on Weisser's hit to center - his second of the inning - giving the Oaks an 11-3 lead.
The Oaks added a lone run in the seventh as Snider got a one out triple to left center, followed by a double to left by Holtzen for a 12-3 lead.
The Oaks' 13th run came in the eighth as Devon Spurling was hit by a pitch with one out. He moved to third on Mike House's hit to right, but House was out trying to take second. Spurling scored, however, on a hit to shallow right by Mike Wright to make it 13-3.
Brian Janowiak came in to pitch the eighth for the Oaks, sending Fort Sutter down in order. In the ninth, the Oaks scored their final two runs to make it a 15-3 game.
With one out, Derek Chase struck out, but a passed ball on the catcher let him make it to first safely. Rhinehart then tripled to right to score Chase and he came home as Weisser doubled to right center to tally the Oaks' 15th run of the night.
TEAM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
FAIR OAKS
0
0
3
0
0
8
1
1
2
15
20
5
FT. SUTTER
2
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
3
4
2
Fair Oaks: Pitching - Allen, Janowiak (8), Zeleski (9) and Matlack. Top Hitters - Not Available. Ft. Sutter: Pitching - Not Available. Top Hitters - Not Available.
