Ryan Dettman tries to tag out the runner on second on a fifth inning pickoff play from pitcher Cody Osburn in the Oaks game against West Sacramento at Bridgeway Lakes Park. Photo by Joe Blenkle

Fair Oaks 3, West Sacramento 2 (League: 13-2, Overall: 28-7) - July 10 @ Bridgeway Lakes Park - Fair Oaks survived a scare by West Sacramento as the Oaks scored twice in the ninth inning to escape with a 3-2 win at Bridgeway Lakes Park.
    Fair Oaks starter Cody Osburn put West Sacramento down in order in the first three innings of the game before West Sac. finally strung together a pair of hits with one out in the bottom of the fourth. But a double play erased the threat and the game remained scoreless until the fifth when West Sacramento took a 1-0 lead.
    The Oaks loaded the bases in the top of the sixth as second baseman Ryan Dettman led off with a ground ball to second. The throw to first was wide, however, and Dettman was safe.  Shortstop Cameron Barr followed with a ground ball to the shortstop behind second base, but the ball was booted and the Oaks had two runners on. Catcher Ben Schwefel walked to load the bases, but a strikeout and double play ended the inning without the Oaks scoring.
    West Sacramento added another run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 2-0 lead, but the Oaks managed to cut the deficit in half as they scored their first run in the top of the seventh.
    With one out, left fielder Michael Garber hit a ground ball to third, but beat the low throw to first for a base hit. Pitcher Andrew Gutierez who took the mound in the sixth after starting the game at third base, followed with a double that sent Garber to third. A fly ball to center by Taylor Sanders allowed Garber to tag and score to make it a 2-1 game.
    Lyle Hobart came in to pitch the seventh for the Oaks and sent West Sacramento down in order. The Oaks tried to get something going in the top of the eighth as Schwefel got a one out hit to center. With Tyler Robertson at the plate, Schwefel was called out stealing by the base umpire on a close play at second that drew the ire of Post 383's coaches, fans and players. Manager Jerry Crews and Coach Ryan Mink argued the point with Mink eventually getting tossed as the argument became heated and face-to-face with the umpire.
    Robertson eventually walked and right fielder Josh Glaser followed with a hit, but it went for naught as the next batter popped to first to end the inning.
    The Oaks weren't done, however, and in the top of the ninth took the lead for the first time in the game.
    Garber led off with a grounder to short, but beat the throw to give the Oaks a base runner. Pinch hitter Cole Carter then ran the count to 3-1 before taking a ball four for a walk. He was replaced on the bases by Josh Britt. Sanders, the next batter, bunted the runners over, and then with two outs, a hit to center field by Barr brought in Garber and Britt to make it a 3-2 game.
    Sanders took the mound for the Oaks in the bottom of the ninth and struck out the first two batters he faced before giving up back-to-back walks to put two runners on with two outs. Sanders ran the count to 3-2 on the next batter before striking him out to end the game and give the Oaks the victory.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
FAIR OAKS	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	3	10	2
WEST SACRAMENTO	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	6	2

Fair Oaks: Pitching - Osburn, Gutierez (6), Hobart (7), Sanders (9) and Gibson, Schwefel (4). Top Hitters - Barr 2 RBI; Lang 2x4; Garber 3x4; Gutierez 2B.
West Sacramento: Pitching - Wagner, Gualco (6) and Deitrick. Top Hitters - Wagner 2x3.