Ready For Anything... Oaks first baseman Taylor Sanders (right) and second baseman Chris Harms (left) are ready for anything that comes their way in Post 383's game against Manhart on Saturday. The Oaks completed a doubleheader sweep with a 2-1 victory. Photo by Joe Blenkle

Fair Oaks 2, Manhart 1 (League: 7-1, Overall: 17-4-1) - June 20 @ William Land Park, Sacramento - After collecting 13 hits in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader against Manhart, Post 383's bats quieted down a bit as Fair Oaks managed only five hits in a narrow 2-1 victory over Manhart at William Land Park.

    Fortunately for the Oaks, three of their hits were for extra bases and Manhart committed four errors while their pitchers walked five.

    The Oaks got on the scoreboard first with a single run in the top of the third inning after one was out. Right fielder Jon Lang got things going with a double to left center field and then came home as designated hitter Shawn Wheeler sent a single into left for the 1-0 lead.

   Oaks starting pitcher Taylor Hickman struck out the side in the bottom of the third, but as happened in the first game, the Oaks had to shuffle their lineup due to injury as catcher Mike Nantze had to leave the game. Wheeler took over as catcher, but the Oaks forfeited their use of the designated hitter and Hickman would have to bat in Nantze's spot in the lineup.

    Manhart came back in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 1-1 after a leadoff double and a pair of ground outs brought the runner around.

    Hickman again sent Manhart down in order in the fifth, striking out the first two batters he faced and then pitching a ground ball to short.

    The Oaks came back in the top of the sixth to squander what would be one of their best scoring opportunities of the game. Wheeler led off with a triple to deep left center and it appeared that he would be able to score, but was held at third base. Hickman then sent a ground ball to third with the throw coming home to easily get Wheeler at the plate. With first baseman Taylor Sanders stepping in, a wild pitch sent Hickman to second. But Manhart pulled the old "hidden ball" trick and tagged him out for the second out of the inning. Sanders walked and then moved to second as left fielder Josh Paige hit a ball back to the pitcher. The throw to first was high and pulled the first baseman off the bag, giving the Oaks two runners. The next batter grounded out, however, and a once promising inning was over.

    The Oaks luck finally turned in the top of the seventh as shortstop Brian Kennedy drew a leadoff walk. With center fielder Ryan Dettman at the plate, a passed ball moved Kennedy to second. Dettman then hit a ball to the second baseman, but it was misplayed and the Oaks had two runners on the bases with Dettman at first and Kennedy at third. With third baseman Josh Britt at the plate, Dettman stole second. Britt ran the count to 3-2 and then sent a ball right up the middle through the infield for a hit to score Kennedy and make it a 2-1 game. The Oaks had a chance for more as Britt stole second with Jon Lang at the plate. Lang grounded out for the first out of the inning and then Manhart intentionally walked Wheeler to load the bases, hoping for the double play. They didn't get it, but a strikeout and fly ball to right worked just as well and left the Oaks with a narrow 2-1 lead.

    Manhart managed a one out hit in the bottom of the seventh to put the tying run on base, but Hickman got the next batter to fly out and then threw a ground ball to second to get the final out of the game. Hickman finished the game with seven strikeouts.   

Fair Oaks: Pitching - Hickman and Nantze, Wheeler (3). Top Hitters - J. Lang 2B; Wheeler 2x3, 3B; Kennedy 2B.
Manhart: Pitching - Ono, Kunz (7) and Caselli. Top Hitters - Meyer 2B.