Kyle Richardson takes a lead off second after reaching base on a third inning hit and advancing on a hit by Derek Chase in the Oaks 9-1 win over Manhart at Land Park.
Fair Oaks 9, Manhart 1 (League: 8-3, Overall: 8-3) - June 23 @ William Land Park - The Oaks struck quickly as Post 383 took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning of their 9-1 victory over Manhart. Center fielder Ryan Stevens led off with a hit to center field and with third baseman Jason Lomascola at the plate, Stevens stole second. Lomascola grounded out, moving Stevens to third and then he scored on left fielder Charles Smith's ground ball to second. Designated hitter Mickey Weisser followed with a double, but the Oaks didn't bring any more runs home.
Manhart tied things up in the bottom of the first off Oaks starter Brian Janowiak, but Post 383 came right back in the top of the second with five runs for a 6-1 advantage.
With one out, second baseman Kyle Richardson hit a ball to second where it was bobbled briefly and Richardson beat the throw to first. Shortstop Derek Chase followed with a hit up the middle and then Richardson scored on catcher Joe Gaggero's hit to left field for a 2-1 lead. Stevens then doubled to left center to score Chase and Gaggero to give the Oaks a 4-1 advantage. Lomascola followed with a ground ball to third. The first baseman, however, dropped the ball on the throw across the infield and Lomascola was safe with Stevens moving to third. With Smith at the plate, Lomascola stole second and then both runners scored on Weisser's hit to right center for a 6-1 lead.
Janowiak sent Manhart down in order in the second, third and fourth innings before giving up only the second hit of the game to Manhart in the fifth. The Oaks scored two more runs in the top of the sixth to increase their lead to 8-1.
Richardson led off with a hit to center and took second on a bad throw to the infield. Chase followed with a walk and then a hit by Gaggero to center field scored Richardson to make it 7-1. This prompted a Manhart pitching change, but an error cost the new hurler a run. Stevens hit a ball to short that kicked off the shortstop's glove allowing him to reach first safely and scoring Chase from third for an 8-1 Oaks lead.
Manhart went out in order in the bottom of the sixth and the Oaks faced another new Manhart pitcher in the top of the seventh.
First baseman Tyler Robertson led off with a hit to center field off the new pitcher, but was erased as right fielder Joe Burson - who had earlier made two spectacular diving catches in the outfield - hit a ball to short with the throw going to second. With Richardson at the plate, a bad pickoff moved Burson to second and then Richardson's ground ball to first moved Burson to third. Burson scored to make it 9-1 on a ball hit by Chase that found its way between the left fielder and shortstop, barely glancing off the shortstop's glove. The inning ended, however, when Chase tried for second and was tagged out on the play.
Brent Fuhrman pitched the seventh for the Oaks, giving up a one out hit, but striking out the final two batters to end the game.
