Catcher Joe Gaggero sends a fly ball into left field during the eighth inning of the Oaks 5-4 loss to Los Alamitos in the State Playoffs in Yountville.

Los Alamitos 5, Fair Oaks 4 (League: 16-4, Overall: 25-10) - Aug. 1 @ Yountville, Calif. - Despite having the tying and potantially winning runs on base with only one out in the ninth, Fair Oaks couldn't quite pull out the victory and were eliminated from the State Playoffs by Los Alamitos, 5-4.
    The Oaks got on the scoreboard first against the Area 4 champs as Oaks second baseman Chris Rinaudo led off the game with a double to left center field. Rinaudo advanced to third on a ground ball to second by center fielder Kyle Richardson and then scored on a groundout by first baseman Mickey Weisser.
    Los Alamitos scored twice off Oaks starter Tyler Robertson in the third and held the lead until the Oaks tied the game in the fifth with another single run.
    With one out, Rinaudo grounded to short, but beat the throw to first for a hit. Richardson followed with a hit to left and then with two out and Robertson at the plate, Rinaudo scored on a confusing series of events that started with the ball rolling away from the catcher. Rinaudo took third on the play, beating the throw to the bag. At the same time Richardson headed to second. The throw there was late and Rinaudo came home. The throw back to the plate got away and Rinaudo scored - we think! With runners and the ball going every which way the only thing we are certain of is that Rinaudo scored to make it a 2-2 game.
    Los Alamitos, however, came back to take the lead in the bottom of the inning with another run, but again the Oaks rallied to go in front 4-3 with two runs of their own in the top of the sixth.
    Smith led off with a double to left field and with one out, right fielder Joe Burson was hit by a pitch. With shortstop Derek Chase at the plate, Los Alamitos' catcher dropped the ball on a pitch and it rolled away allowing Smith to make it in to third. Smith scored on Chase's fly to right to tie the game at 3-3. The next batter, catcher Joe Gaggero walked, as did Rinaudo to load the bases. Richardson then hit a ground ball to second for a force of Rinaudo, but Richardson beat the relay to first to avoid the double play and Burson scored to make it 4-3.
    Los Alamitos tied the game in the seventh and took the lead again with a single run in the eighth.     Chase got a leadoff hit in the top of the eighth, but the Oaks couldn't score, and then it came down to the ninth for Post 383 to either tie or go ahead - or be eliminated from the tournament.
    Weisser led off with a double into left field and after Robertson flew to center, Los Alamitos sent its fourth pitcher of the day to the mound. With Smith at the plate, a wild pitch moved Weisser to third and then Smith drew a walk to put the go ahead run on base. Third baseman Jason Lomascola was the next batter and after looking at three straight balls, he looked at three straight called strikes for the second out of the inning. With only one out left, Burson lifted a fly ball into center that was caught, ending the game and the Oaks otherwise tremendous season.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
FAIR OAKS	1	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	4	11	1
LOS ALAMITOS	0	0	2	0	1	0	1	1	-	5	13	2

Fair Oaks: Pitching - Robertson and Gaggero. Top Hitters - Rinaudo 3x4, 2B; Weisser 2B; Smith 2x4, 2B; Burson 2x3, 2 2B.
Los Alamitos: Pitching - Simon, Farris (6), Hansen (6), Pretchl (9) and Rocha, Lehman (6). Top Hitters - Gramenz 3x4; Denton 2x5; Rocha 2x4; Yanaki 2B.