Catcher Bret Gibson fouls off a pitch in the fifth inning of the Oaks 7-0 loss to Petaluma at the WABF Tournament in Fairfield. Photo by Joe Blenkle

Petaluma 7, Fair Oaks 0 (League: 9-2, Overall: 20-6) - June 30 @ Laurel Creek Park, Fairfield - For the first time this season Fair Oaks Post 383 was on the wrong end of a shutout as Petaluma handed the Oaks a 7-0 loss in the Western Amateur Baseball Federation Tournament in Fairfield.
    The Oaks didn't do a bad job hitting Petaluma starter Josh Horner, but most of what they hit went right at a Petaluma fielder for an out. Post 383 had base runners in every inning but the sixth, but just couldn't put anything together the whole game.
    Petaluma went out to a 3-0 lead off Oaks starter Josh Glaser in the bottom of the second as a walk, hit and an error resulted in Petaluma's first run. A walk to left fielder Cameron Ross then loaded the bases and a Tarik Kassis double just over the third base bag brought in two more runs for a 3-0 lead.
    Catcher Bret Gibson had a two out first inning hit for the Oaks, but Post 383 was unable to bring him around. In the second, center fielder hitter Brian Stamps led off with a bunt down the first base line. He was originally ruled out on a tag, but after a discussion between the umpires, he was given first base with a hit. But again, the Oaks were unable to move him around the bases as three straight outs followed.
    The Oaks' right fielder Troy Spivey picked up a two out hit to left in the third, but a line drive to seconf by Gibson ended the inning. Petaluma picked up another run in the bottom of the third to make it 4-0.
    Post 383's leadoff hitter first baseman Mike Sanchez was hit by a pitch to start the fourth, but two fly balls and a line out to third left him stranded. Meanwhile, Petaluma scored another two runs in the fourth after loading the bases with no outs to make it a 6-0 game.
    The Oaks looked like they might actually score in the fifth as third baseman Josh Britt led off with a hit to right center. With one out, second baseman Keith Jennette doubled to left, moving Britt to third. But again, the Oaks couldn't bring the run in as a pop out to first and ground ball to short ended the inning.
    Mark Lincoln took the mound in the bottom of the fifth, but Petaluma loaded the bases off him with one out on a hit, hit batter and walk, prompting another pitching change as Ben Schwefel took the mound.
    Schwefel gave up a hit to the first batter he faced to score one run and make it 7-0, but then got a ground ball back to the mound with the throw going home and then to first for an inning-ending double play.
    The bottom of the sixth was the only inning the Oaks went out in order and although Petaluma got a leadoff hit in the bottom of the sixth, the runner was picked off for the first out of the inning. Schwefel then struck out Petaluma third baseman Andrew Ross. A walk put another runner on, but a pop up ended the inning to keep the score at 7-0.
    The Oaks only base runner in the top of the seventh came off an error as Britt reached base with one out after hitting the ball to short. The throw to first was high and Britt was able to take second on the play. Britt made it to third on a ground out by left fielder Greg Polanski, but then the game ended as Jennette sent a fly to center that saw Petaluma's Kevin Markovich make a diving catch for the final out.
    The Oaks fate is still in their hands if they are able to beat Merced on Sunday. A win would give the Oaks a 3-1 record in their division. Sonoma plays Petaluma on Sunday. A Sonoma win would also give then a 3-1 record, but the Oaks have the tie-breaker over them as Post 383 beat them on Thursday at Yountville, 3-2.
    In any case, even with a loss, the Oaks should advance to the championship round which begins on Monday as the top four teams in each five-team division move on.

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

Fair Oaks: Pitching - Glaser, Lincoln (5), Schwefel (5) and Gibson. Top Hitters - Jennette 2B.
Petaluma: Pitching - Horner and Kassis. Top Hitters - LaBrucherie 2x4; Kasch 2x4; Kassis 2x2, 2B, 2 RBI.