A Southside batter waits on a pitch from Kyle Richardson in the fifth inning of the Oaks 3-2 loss on June 27.

Southside 3, Fair Oaks 2 (League: 11-3, Overall: 15-3-1) - June 27 @ Bella Vista High - Fair Oaks dropped out of first place in District 6 with a narrow 3-2 loss to Southside at Bella Vista High School.
    Southside was playing as the home team as the game was originally scheduled for Land Park, but the change of field didn't seem to help Fair Oaks as Post 383 lost only its third game of the year.
    The Oaks managed a 1-0 lead in the first for starting pitcher Mark Lincoln as third baseman Steve Rinaudo led off with a single and moved to second on second baseman Kyle Richardson's ground ball to short. First baseman Andrew LeDuc followed with a walk and then right fielder Mike Sanchez's hit score Rinaudo for the 1-0 lead.
    Three consecutive Southside hits drove Lincoln off the mound in the third and accounted for two Southside runs. The Oaks' new pitcher - Brian Garber - maanged to squeeze out of the inning with no further damage.
    The Oaks came back to tie the game in the fourth as catcher Jesse Olson led off with a single. He moved to second on designated hitter Bret Gibson's bunt and then with two outs scored on Rinaudo's hit to center field. Rinaudo went all the way to third on the throw home, but the Oaks couldn't bring the go-ahead run home.
    Southside went out in order in the bottom of the fourth, as did the Oaks in the top of the fifth. Richardson moved from second to the mound to start the bottom of the fifth and unfortunately for the Oaks, Southside managed to string together a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly to center to go ahead 3-2.
    The Oaks again went out in order in the top of the sixth and Southside followed in the bottom of the inning, setting up one final chance for Fair Oaks to either tie or go ahead.
    With one out in the seventh, Rinaudo hit a ball to third that was bobbled allowing him to reach first safely. He was erased, however, as Richardson hit a ball to short with the throw going to second. The double play try failed though, leaving Richardson safe at first. LeDuc was the next batter, popping up on the infield to end the game and send the Oaks down to their third league loss of the year.

TEAM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
FAIR OAKS
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
2
7
2
SOUTHSIDE
0
0
2
0
1
0
-
3
6
1


Fair Oaks: Pitching - Lincoln, Garber (3), Richardson (5) and Olson. Top Hitters - Rinaudo 2x3, 2B; Sanchez 2x3; Olson 2x3.
Southside: Pitching - Mayer and Simas. Top Hitters - Rivera 3x3; Jorin 2x2.