Fair Oaks' Trevor Lewis guards the line as Chico's Jared Votaw leads off first in the Oaks 9-4 win over the Nuts at Renfree Field.

Fair Oaks 9, Chico 4 (League: 16-4, Overall: 25-8) - July 29 @ Renfree Field, Sacramento - The only thing to mar Fair Oaks 9-4 playoff win over the Chico Nuts Thursday was the childish infighting between parents in the stands.
    Uncalled for comments directed back and forth between supposed adults were both embarrassing to all involved and detrimental to the Oaks team which needs to unify heading into this weekend's State Championship in Yountville.
    Fortunately the players showed more maturity on the field and got the job done. Post 383 recorded the victory to once and for all claim the Area 1 title which was awarded to them last Sunday and then taken away.
    The Oaks had played Novato for the title after Novato had eliminated Chico. It was then learned that Novato had deliberately played an ineligible player under an assumed name and Fair Oaks was awarded the title - temporarily. It was then decided to hold another playoff game between Chico and Fair Oaks, who rightfully probably should have played each other in the original championship game.
    In their second try for the title, the Oaks tagged Chico starter Nick Bryant for a first inning run as second baseman Chris Rinaudo drew a walk to leadoff the inning. Center fielder Kyle Richardson bunted Rinaudo to second and then with one out and left fielder Charles Smith at the plate, a passed ball moved Rinaudo to third. Smith then got a hit up the middle to score Rinaudo and make it 1-0 game.
    Oaks pitcher Brent Fuhrman faced only three batters in the bottom of the inning after a pickoff play erased a one out walk and a ground ball to short ended the inning. The Oaks went back to work in the top of the second to score their second run of the game.
    Right fielder Joe Burson led off with a ball to short. The throw was low to first and dropped by Nuts first baseman Cameron Pembroke. Shortstop Derek Chase then bunted Burson to second, followed by a walk to designated hitter Trevor Lewis. Catcher Joe Gaggero then pounded a double into left center that apparently scored both Burson and Lewis, but on appeal the umpire ruled that Lewis failed to touch third and he was called out taking the score back to 2-0.
    The Nuts also scored in the second inning, cutting the deficit to one at 2-1, but the Oaks answered back in the top of the third to stretch their lead back to two runs, 3-1.
    Robertson led off the inning with a hit to center field. Smith followed with a ground ball toward second that resulted in Robertson getting forced, but Smith beat the relay to first to keep an Oaks runner on base. With third baseman Jason Lomascola at the plate, Smith stole second and then a passed ball sent Smith to third. Lomascola struck out, but the next batter, Burson hit a ball to third. The throw was high and got away with Burson going to second and Smith scoring for the 3-1 lead.
    Chico sent a new pitcher to the mound in the fourth and the Oaks were held scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings, while Chico added a run to close the score to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth.
    The Oaks again answered back with a run of their own in the top of the sixth as Lewis led off with a walk and moved to second on a hit to left by Gaggero. Rinaudo then sent a ground ball to short with the throw going to second to force Gaggero. But the relay to first was late and the Oaks had runners at the corners. Then with two out and Robertson at the plate, Rinaudo stole second. The throw from Nuts catcher Beau Jacop went into center field with Lewis scoring and Rinaudo taking third on he play. Robertson, however, struck out to end the inning, but the Oaks owned a 4-2 lead.
    Post 383 expanded it to 5-2 with another single run in the seventh as Lomascola got a one out hit to left. Then with two outs, Chase hit a pop on the infield that looked like it was going to be caught near first base by the second baseman. He apparently lost the ball in the sun though, and it dropped in for a hit. Lomascola scored for the 5-2 lead.
    Smith replaced Fuhrman on the mound to start the bottom of the seventh, but back to back walks coupled with a one out double brought in a run to make it a 5-3 game and Smith was quickly yanked in favor of Robertson. Another run scored on a fly to center for the second out of the inning. Robertson walked the next batter before getting Chico's shortstop Casey Smyth to ground out to second to end the inning.     The Oaks broke the game open in the top of the eighth as Post 383 tallied four runs for a 9-4 lead.     Gaggero led off the inning with a home run to left center field and then with one out, Richardson hit a ball that went off the first baseman's glove for a hit. Robertson followed with a double to center and both runners scored as Smith hit a triple to right center over the right fielder's head. This prompted a Chico pitching change as Dan Miller took the mound. He struck out the first batter he faced for the inning's second out, but then gave up a double to Burson to score Smith and give the Oaks their 9-4 lead.
    Robertson got Chico out in order in the bottom of the eighth and despite a ninth inning double by the Nuts with one out, held Chico scoreless to preserve the Oaks win.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
FAIR OAKS	1	1	1	0	0	1	1	4	0	9	15	1
CHICO	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	4	9	4

Fair Oaks: Pitching - Fuhrman, Smith (7), Robertson (7) and Gaggero. Top Hitters - Robertson 3x5, 2 2B; Smith 3x5, 3B, 3 RBI; Burson 2B, 2 RBI; Gaggero 4x5, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI.
Chico: Pitching - Bryant, Harvey (4), Miller (8) and Jacop. Top Hitters - Pembroke 2B; Bitker 2x4, 2B; Smyth 2x4.