Fair Oaks 7, Rio Loma 6 (League: 17-7, Overall: 23-11) - July 13 @ Sacramento City College - After losing to Rio Loma 10-7 to open the playoffs on July 11, the Oaks found themselves once again paired up against the team in the final elimination game to decide who would advance to the District 6 finals July 16-17 at Renfree Field.
    And in traditional 2003 playoff fashion, the Oaks again found themselves trailing early on before coming back to win a 7-6 decision in extra innings.
    Unlike previous games, the Oaks did stake themselves to a 1-0 lead in the first as center fielder Steve Snider bunted for a leadoff hit, stole second with first baseman Mickey Weisser at the plate, and then scored on Weisser's one out hit to right field.
    But then Rio Loma came back for three runs in the bottom of the inning and the Oaks found themselves right back in familiar territory - trailing early in the game.
    Post 383 closed the gap to within one in the second as catcher Joe Gaggero got on via error with one out. Third baseman Jason Lomascola then walked and with two outs, Snider hit a ball that got by the third baseman for an error and allowed Gaggero to score to make it a 3-2 game.
    A double and a hit after two were out extended Rio Loma's lead to 4-2 in the third, but the Oaks got the run back in the top of the fourth as Gaggero drew a one out walk and stole second with Lomascola at the plate. Lomascola struck out, but then right fielder Matt Schirmer doubled to left field to score Gaggero and make it a 4-3 game.
    Rio Loma loaded the bases off Vidlund with two outs in the fourth, but Oaks starter A.J. Vidlund threw a fly ball to center to get the final out and keep the game within reach.
    In the seventh, the Oaks tied the game up after two were out as second baseman Larry Lomascola walked. He moved to second as Vidlund hit a ball to third that resulted in a bad throw to first, and then scored as Gaggero hit a ball to short that rolled under the shortstop's glove for another error. Jason Lomascola walked to load the bases, but a Schirmer strike out ended the inning with no further runs scoring.
    Rio Loma came right back in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-4 lead after two were out and knock Vidlund off the mound in favor of Dave Breisacher, who got the final out to end the inning.
    The Oaks also faced a new pitcher as Andrew Barnes took over for Rio Loma starter Brett Samms in the top of the eighth.
    Snider led off the inning and reached base on a booted ground ball to third. Shortstop Josh Thompson then drew a walk to give the Oaks two base runners, but was erased as Weisser hit a ball to first with the throw going to short. With one out and left fielder Charles Smith at the plate, a passed ball sent Weisser to second and allowed Snider to score to make it 6-5. Larry Lomascola followed with a hit to score Weisser, tying the game at 6-6.
    Things looked bleek for the Oaks in the Rio Loma ninth as Breisacher got one out, but then walked the next two batters. A wild pitch advanced them to second and third, but Breisacher struck out the next batter to record the second out of the inning. Another walk, however, loaded the bases, but Breisacher got the next batter to bounce back to the mound for an easy throw to first that ended the inning.
    The Oaks entered the top of the 10th fired up and ready to go. Weisser led off with a hit to center and took third on a Smith hit to left. Derek Chase went in to run for Smith and the next batter, Larry Lomascola, flew to right and Weisser tagged and scored to give the Oaks a 7-6 lead. The lead might have grown except for a pop to the Rio Loma first baseman by Vidlund that resulted in Chase getting doubled off first for an inning-ending double play.
    Breisacher hit the first batter he faced in the bottom of the 10th, but then a ground ball to second with the throw going to the shortstop got the lead runner for the first out and a game-ending double play on the next batter ended the game giving the Oaks the win and advancing Post 383 to the District 6 Championship Series July 16-17 at Renfree Field.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
FAIR OAKS	1	1	0	1	0	0	1	2	0	1	7	8	2
RIO LOMA	3	0	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	6	11	7

Fair Oaks: Pitching - Vidlund, Breisacher (7) and Gaggero. Top Hitters - Snider 2x5; Weisser 2x6; L. Lomascola 2 RBI.
Rio Loma: Pitching - Samms, Barnes (8) and Allen. Top Hitters - Orozco 3x4, 2 2B; Wallace 2x5; Sandoval 2x3, 2B; Wolff 2x4, 3 RBI.