Oaks first baseman Ben Schwefel holds a Manhart base runner close in the fifth inning of Post 383's game at Bella Vista High School. The Oaks overcame a 2-1 deficit to win the game 5-2 and stay unbeaten on the year. Photo by Joe Blenkle
Fair Oaks 11, Manhart 0 (League: 3-0, Overall: 8-0) - June 1 @ Bella Vista High - In an error-plagued game on both sides of the field, Fair Oaks came back from a 2-1 deficit for a 5-2 win over Manhart to stay unbeaten on the year.
    The Oaks staked starting pitcher Taylor Sanders to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as catcher Bret Gibson led off with a ball to short that was misplayed. Gibson moved to second on designated hitter Charlie Robertson's ground ball to second and then scored after two were out on a ball hit to third by left fielder Cole Carter. The throw to first was bad and Gibson scored with Carter taking second on the play.
    Manhart came right back, however, loading the bases in the top of the third and bringing home two runs on several Oaks errors to make it a 2-1 game.
    Neither team scored again until the bottom of the sixth when the Oaks retook the lead with two runs of their own.
    Center fielder Jon Lang led off with a bunt to third that resulted in no play at first. First baseman Ben Schwefel then hit a ball to second, again resulting in a tough play and no throw. Right fielder Bryce Bandilla then grounded to second, with the throw to short getting Schwefel, but Bandilla beat the relay to first to avoid the double play. With two outs and Robertson at the plate, the Oaks ran one of their favorite plays. Bandilla got picked off first, but the throw got away and Lang scored to tie the game at 2-2. Robertson then doubled to right to score Bandilla and give the Oaks the 3-2 lead. Shortstop Cameron Barr then hit a ball to short, beating the throw to first for a hit and   again putting runners on the corners. The Oaks again ran their "pickoff" play, with Barr edging off first enough to draw the throw. But Manhart didn't quite fall for the ploy this time and Robertson, who had come charging home, was thrown out at the plate.
    Andrew Gutierez, who replaced Sanders on the mound in the sixth, put Manhart out in order in the seventh for the second consecutive inning. The Oaks came back in the eighth for two more runs for a 5-2 lead.
    Lang led off with a hit to right that dropped in between the right fielder and second baseman. Then with one out, Josh Glaser walked, prompting a Manhart pitching change. A wild pitch to Gibson advanced the runners and then Gibson's hit up the middle scored Lang and Glaser to make it a 5-2 Oaks lead.
    Lyle Hobart came in to pitch the top of the ninth and put Manhart down in order to give the Oaks the victory and improve their league record to 3-0, 8-0 overall.

TEAM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
MANHART
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
3
FAIR OAKS
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
2
-
5
8
3


Manhart: Pitching - King, Ezaki (8) and Cooper.
Fair Oaks: Pitching - Sanders, Gutierez (6), Hobart (9) and Gibson, McCutchan (9). Top Hitters - Lang 2x4; Robertson 2x4, 2B; Gibson 2 RBI.