Designated hitter Mickey Weisser watches a pitch come in from Merced's Broderick Floro in the Oaks State Championship playoff game against the Volunteers at Borman Field in Yountville, California.
Merced 8, Fair Oaks 4 (League: 16-4, Overall: 25-9) - July 31 @ Yountville, Calif. - Merced broke open a close game in the eighth inning to claim an 8-4 victory over Fair Oaks in the opening round of the American Legion State Championship at Borman Field in Yountville, California.
The Oaks took a 1-0 lead for starter Brian Janowiak in the first inning after two were out as second baseman Chris Rinaudo walked to lead off the inning. He was erased on a bunt back to the pitcher by center fielder Kyle Richardson. With designated hitter Mickey Weisser at the plate, Richardson stole second and then scored on first baseman Tyler Robertson's hit to left field.
Janowiak held Merced scoreless into the fourth inning when the Volunteers scored twice to take a 2-1 lead. The Oaks tied it up in the bottom of the inning, however, as left fielder Charles Smith got a two out infield hit to start things off. With
Brian Janowiak
third baseman Jason Lomascola at the plate, Smith stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Lomascola was hit by a pitch to give the Oaks runners at the corners and then right fielder Joe Burson's hit down the left field line scored Smith to tie the game at 2-2.
The game remained knotted up until the sixth when Merced scored another pair of runs for a 4-2 lead. The Oaks got one back in the bottom of the inning as Lomascola led off with a ball to short that rolled between the fielder's legs. Lomascola moved to third on a hit to left by Burson, but then was erased as shortstop Derek Chase put down a bunt that was fielded by the pitcher. The throw went home to get a sliding Lomascola at the plate. The next batter, catcher Joe Gaggero, hit a ball to short. The throw went to second to get Chase, but the relay to first was bad and Burson came in to score to make it a 4-3 game.
Merced cushioned its lead in the seventh with another run to make it a 5-3 game, and then broke the contest open with three runs in the eighth to take an 8-3 lead. Smith replaced Janowiak on the mound after the first run of the inning scored, but a hit, error and a pair of walks resulted in the other pair of runs scoring.
The Oaks got one run back in the bottom of the eighth as Chase got a one out hit to left. A Gaggero hit to right sent Chase to third and with Rinaudo at the plate, a passed ball allowed Chase to score to make it 8-4.
Unfortunately, that was it for the Oaks, as Post 383 couldn't muster any more runs in the eighth or ninth and Merced took the 8-4 win.
TEAM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
MERCED
0
0
0
2
0
2
1
3
0
8
10
4
FAIR OAKS
1
0
0
1
0
1
0
1
0
4
11
3
Merced: Pitching - Floro, Urnberg (8) and Euker. Top Hitters - Euker 2x4, 2B; Bone 2x3, HR, 2 RBI; Urnberg 2B. Fair Oaks: Pitching - Janowiak, Smith (8) and Gaggero. Top Hitters - Smith 3x5; Burson 2x5, 2B; Gaggero 2x4.
