Fair Oaks 6, Manhart 0 (League: 8-1, Overall: 18-4-1) - June 21 @ Bella Vista High, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks finished up its three-game series sweep of Manhart with a 6-0 victory at Bella Vista High School.

    Manhart loaded the bases on Oaks starter Zane Hemphill in the first inning off three walks, but the Oaks escaped without giving up a run and came to bat in the bottom of the inning to take a lead they'd never give up.

    In the bottom of the first, second baseman Josh Britt hit a ball to center that dropped in amongst three converging Manhart players. With right fielder Jon Lang at the plate, a bad pickoff sent Britt to second. Britt tried to steal third as Lang took a fourth ball for a walk, but was thrown out. Designated hitter Shawn Wheeler followed with a double to right field to score Land and give the Oaks a 1-0 lead.

    Hemphill settled down in the second, getting Manhart out in order and the Oaks came back to make it a 2-0 game in the bottom of the inning as shortstop Andrew Gutierrez led off with a solo home run over the left field fence.

    The Oaks continued to peck away in the third with one more run as Lang got a one out hit to left field. Wheeler followed with a walk and then with catcher Mike Nantze at the plate, a passed ball advanced both runners. Nantze popped the ball to second with the Manhart second baseman catching it facing away from home. Lang tagged out third and raced home to easily score and make it a 3-0 game.

    Post 383 extended its lead to 5-0 in the fourth, scoring a pair of runs after two were out. right fielder Taylor Sanders started things off with a hit down the left field line. Center fielder Ryan Dettman then hit a shot past first that partially deflected off the first baseman's glove allowing Sanders to reach third. With Britt at the plate, Sanders scored on a passed ball with Dettman advancing to third. Britt grounded to third, but a low throw was dropped at first base and Dettman scored to give the Oaks a 5-0 lead.

    Fair Oaks scored its final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth as Wheeler led off the inning with a walk. Nantze followed with a hit to right field and then a fly ball to right by Gutierrez allowed Wheeler to tag and advance to third. With two outs, left fielder Branden Lang walked to load the bases. The next batter, Sanders, also drew a walk to force in Wheeler to give the Oaks the 6-0 lead.

    Fair Oaks loaded the bases again in the seventh after two were out on a Gutierrez hit and walks to Branden Lang and Sanders, but couldn't bring any additional runs home.

    Cody Osburn replaced Hemphill on the mound in the top of the eighth and put Manhart down in order. In the ninth, Manhart managed a one out walk followed by a hit to left, but Osburn shut Manhart down, striking out the final two batters to end the game and improve Fair Oaks District 6 record to 8-1 with three games remaining.

Manhart: Pitching - Laino, Kunz (6) and Miles.
Fair Oaks: Pitching - Hemphill, Osburn (8) and Nantze. Top Hitters - Wheeler 2B; Gutierrez 2x3, HR; Sanders 2x2, 2B.