Oaks catcher Joe Gaggero skips back out of the way after receiving a low pitch in the dirt in the Oaks half of the sixth inning of their game against West Sacramento.
Fair Oaks 12, West Sacramento 5 (League: 17-7, Overall: 20-11) - July 12 @ Sacramento City College - Fair Oaks stayed alive in the District 6 tournament as the Oaks thumped West Sacramento by a score of 12-5 in loser's bracket action.
Post 383 trailed early on in the game as West Sacramento scored a run in the top of the first on an outfield error that turned into a double and a base hit to bring the run home.
The Oaks answered back, however, in the bottom of the inning as first baseman Mickey Weisser drew a one out walk and moved to third on a hit to center by right fielder Bill Rhinehart. Rhinehart then intentionally drew a throw to first base and Weisser was able to score as West Sacramento chased Rhinehart down between first and second.
West Sacramento retook the lead though with a three run second - aided by four hits and two Oaks errors.
That would be the last time West Sacramento saw the lead, however, as the Oaks scored eight times in the bottom of the second to take a 9-4 lead.
Designated hitter Larry Lomascola led off the inning with a hit to right and third baseman A.J. Vidlund followed with a hit to center. Catcher Joe Gaggero then drew a walk to load the bases with no outs. A walk to center fielder Steve Snider forced in Lomascola to make it 4-2 and then a fly to left by shortstop Derek Chase brought home Vidlund for a 4-3 game.
The next batter, second baseman Josh Thompson, bunted back to the pitcher, but beat the throw to first to reload the bases. Then consecutive walks to Weisser and Rhinehart forced in Gaggero and Snider to give the Oaks a 5-4 lead and force a West Sacramento pitching change.
George Barger replaced Chris Schaffer on the mound, but he immediately gave up a double to Smith to bring home Thompson and Weisser and then Lomascola got a hit to right center to score Rhinehart and Smith and make it a 9-4 game.
The Oaks added another pair of runs in the fourth inning as Weisser led off with a walk. Rhinehart got a hit to right and then Smith followed with a hit to center to score both Weisser and Rhinehart and give the Oaks an 11-4 lead.
Post 383 made it 12-4 in the sixth as Rhinehart beat out a slow roller to short for a hit to lead off the inning. Smith then drew a walk and with two outs Gaggero was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Snider then walked to force in Rhinehart with the Oaks final run of the game.
West Sacramento managed to score once in the top of the seventh as they strung together a pair of hits and were aided by an error to make it a 12-5 game.
Neither team seriously threatened after that point and the Oaks eliminated West Sacramento from the tournament. Oaks starter Dixon Allen pitched a complete game and recorded 12 strikeouts.
TEAM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
WEST SACRAMENTO
1
3
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
5
8
1
FAIR OAKS
1
8
0
2
0
1
0
0
-
12
12
4
West Sacramento: Pitching - Schaffer, Barger (2), Cheechov (8) and Geivett, Grant (8). Top Hitters - Geivett 2x4; Marquez 3x4; Molina 2B. Fair Oaks: Pitching - Allen and Gaggero. Top Hitters - Rhinehart 4x4, 2B; Smith 2x3, 2B, 4 RBI; L. Lomascola 2x5, 2 RBI; Vidlund 2x5; Snider 2 RBI.
