Justin Haley sends a pitch toward home plate in the Oaks Memorial Day Tournament win over Manhart, 8-1.  Photo by Joe Blenkle

Fair Oaks 8, Manhart 1 (League: 0-0, Overall: 2-0) - May 23 @ William Land Park, Sacramento - Almost, but not quite. That pretty much sums up the Oaks win over Manhart in the District 6 Memorial Day Tournament in William Land Park today.

    The Oaks won the game, but they couldn't quite manage the shutout as Manhart got a lone run in the bottom of the seventh to bring the final score to 8-1.

    The Oaks didn't waste any time scoring against Manhart as Post 383 put its first run on the board in the top of the first inning. Designated hitter Josh Britt led off with a walk and moved to third on a one out hit to right center by shortstop Ryan Dettman, eventually coming around to give the Oaks and starting pitcher Justin Haley a 1-0 lead.

    Post 383 increased its lead to 5-0 in the second inning as catcher Shawn Wheeler led off with a  ground ball to third that was bobbled allowing him to reach base safely. Left fielder Brian Kennedy followed with a ground ball to first. The throw went to shortstop to try to get Wheeler, but was dropped and both runners were safe. With one out, Britt walked to load the bases and Wheeler scored as the next batter, Dettman, also drew a walk to force the run in. Jon Lang then got a hit to left to score Kennedy to make it 3-0 and keep the bases loaded. Then with two out, both first baseman Ryan Hall and center fielder Branden Lang were hit by pitches to bring home Britt and Dettman and give the Oaks a 5-0 lead.

    Fair Oaks added another run in the fourth as Jon Lang drew a leadoff walk. With one out and Hall at the plate, Lang stole second and then a Hall hit to right center brought him home for the 6-0 lead.

    The Oaks picked up another run in the fifth with a leadoff hit to left by second baseman Nick Anicich. With Andrew Gutierrez at the plate, a wild pitch sent Anicich to second. Gutierrez flew out to right, but Dettman followed with a hit to center to score Anicich and make it a 7-0 game.

    David Jones took over the pitching duties for the Oaks in the bottom of the fifth, sending Manhart down in order with a flyball and two strikeouts.

    Post 383 scored its eighth and final run in the top of the sixth as back-to-back walks put Hall and Branden Lang on base with no outs. Wheeler followed with a bunt that went back to the pitcher, but the throw to first was a little off line and pulled the Manhart first baseman off the bag to load the bases. Kennedy then had the misfortune of hitting into a double play, but still got an RBI as Hall scored to make it an 8-0 game.

    Jones struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth and the Oaks appeared to be headed for a shutout until Manhart put together a mini-rally in the bottom of the seventh.

    A leadoff hit and a one out walk put two runners on and with two out a passed ball moved them to second and third. The next batter put the ball in play and a run came home - just barely - as the throw went to third to tag out the runner sliding in there for the third out. The run scored, however, as the Manhart player had crossed the plate before the out was recorded bringing the final score to 8-1.

Fair Oaks: Pitching - Haley, Jones (5) and Wheeler. Top Hitters - J. Lang 2x2; Dettman 2 RBI; Hall 2 RBI.
Manhart: Pitching - Lund, Kunz (4), Kipp (6) and Cooper, McFadden (6). Top Hitters - Laino 2x3.