Fair Oaks' Josh Britt fires the ball to first base to complete the double play in the third inning of the Oaks game against East Sacramento. Photo by Joe Blenkle

Fair Oaks 7, East Sacramento 0 (League: 4-1, Overall: 12-4-1) - June 13 @ Bella Vista High, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks Post 383 hosted East Sacramento at Bella Vista on Saturday, beating the Babe Ruth team by a score of 7-0.

   The Oaks went up 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning for starting pitcher Taylor Hickman as Hickman aided his own cause by leading off with a hit to right field. Center fielder Ryan Dettman followed with a high bouncer through the infield that went off first baseman Tim Vanover's glove, sending Hickman all the way to third. With one out, right fielder Jon Lang tripled to right field to score both runners and give the Oaks a 2-0 lead. Then with two outs, first baseman Chris Harms doubled to right center to bring in Lang and up the Fair Oaks lead to 3-0.

    The Oaks added a single run in the fourth as third baseman Brian Kennedy got a one out double to right field to start things off. Hickman, the next batter, grounded to short, but the throw pulled the first baseman off the bag and Hickman was safe at first. With two outs, second baseman Josh Britt doubled to right field to score Kennedy and make it a 4-0 game.

    Branden Lang took over the pitching duties in the top of the fifth and held East Sacramento scoreless in both the fifth and sixth innings. The Oaks came back in the bottom of the sixth to score their final three runs of the game for the final tally of 7-0.

     Kennedy led off the inning by flying out to center field. With one out, Branden Lang got a hit to left field and then Dettman popped out to second. With Britt at the plate, Lang stole second. Britt got a hit to left field to score Lang and make it 5-0. Jon Lang was the next batter for the Oaks, but before he had a chance to hit, an errant pickoff throw from pitcher Jon Surratt got away at first and Britt advanced to second. It didn't really matter, however, as Lang sent the ball over the left field fence for a two-run homer to bring the score to 7-0 in favor of the Oaks. Shortstop Taylor Sanders ended the inning by striking out.

    Branden Lang was replaced on the mound by David Kennedy to start the top of the seventh. After striking out the first two batters he faced, Kennedy gave up a hit to left field to East Sacramento center fielder Brent Houser. With left fielder Jeremy Bunch at the plate, Houser tried stealing second, but was thrown out to end the game and give the Oaks the shutout victory.

East Sacramento: Pitching - Surratt and Cheney. Top Hitters - Houser 2x4.
Fair Oaks: Pitching - Hickman, B. Lang (5), D. Kennedy (7) and Wheeler . Top Hitters - Britt 3x4, 2 2B, 2 RBI; Lang 2x4, 3B, HR, 4 RBI; Harms 2x2, 2 2B.