Fair Oaks 23, Auburn 0 (League: 11-1, Overall: 21-4-1) - June 28 @ James Field, Auburn - Yikes! Twenty-three runs. Not bad for a 9-inning game...errr... would you believe a 7-inning game? How about a 5-inning game? ....keep going...

    Fair Oaks Post 383 closed out its league season with a 23-0 win over Auburn Post 84 at James Field on Sunday. The win, in the second game of a doubleheader, came after the Oaks demolished Auburn in the first game 14-7...and it could have been much worse.

    Fair Oaks manager Jerry Crews approached Auburn's manager about ending the game after two complete innings with the Oaks leading 22-0. Auburn wanted to continue, however, for one more inning, but after the Oaks got their first three batters on base, almost scored on a force out at home and then did score as a hit batter forced in a run, Auburn waved the white flag and surrendered trailing 23-0.

    The Oaks collected 15 hits, but Auburn also committed three errors, hit four batters and walked nine others in the shortened game.

    Fair Oaks scored seven times in the opening inning as shortstop Ryan Dettman led off bunting for a base hit off Auburn starter Vince Viola. With second baseman Nick Anicich at the plate, a passed ball moved Dettman to second. Anicich also bunted with the pitcher fielding, but the throw to first went wide and Dettman scored to make it 1-0. With one out, right fielder Jon Lang got a hit to left to score Anicich. Lang moved to second and third on passed balls with first baseman Taylor Sanders at the plate. Sanders eventually walked and catcher Mike Nantze also followed with a walk to load the bases. Viola walked pitcher Cody Osburn to force in Lang to make it 3-0 and then left fielder Taylor Hickman doubled to right center to bring home Sanders and Nantze for a 5-0 lead. Right fielder Josh Paige followed with a hit to right to score Osburn and Hickman and improve Fair Oaks' lead to 7-0.

    Osburn sent Auburn down in order in the bottom of the inning and the Oaks came back in the top of the second to score 15 times for a 22-0 lead.

    Lang led off with a home run to right field to make it 8-0 and Sanders followed with a high fly to right that Auburn right fielder Cody Gandy apparently lost in the sun and it dropped in for a double. Nantze got a hit up the middle to move Sanders to third and then he scored as Osburn sent a ball to third that was booted to make it a 9-0 game. Hickman was hit by a pitch to load the bases and then a double by Paige brought in Nantze and Osburn for an 11-0 lead. Dettman scored Hickman with a hit past first base and a ground ball to short that went to second to get Dettman allowed Nantze to score to make it 13-0. With two out, Lang homered for the second time in the inning to bring in three more runs for a 16-0 Oaks lead. Sanders walked and Nantze flew to center with the ball dropping in for another Fair Oaks double. Osburn then homered to left to bring in two ore runs and make it 18-0. Hickman was hit by a pitch, finally prompting a pitching change as  Viola was replaced on the mound with Zane Butler. Butler didn't have any more sucess than his predecessor, however, as he walked Paige and then gave up a home run to Dettman to score three more runs for a 21-0 lead. Walks to Anicich, third baseman Josh Britt and a hit to center by Lang, collecting his third hit of the inning, loaded the bases and then Sanders was hit by a pitch to force in Anicich for a 22-0 lead. Mercifully, the inning finally ended on a ground ball to third.

    Auburn had collected only one hit in the first inning on a leadoff single past second by catcher Matt Ryan. But a double play and ground out ended the inning. In the bottom of the second, Auburn got their second base runner of the game as first baseman Griff Quick got on base after striking out. A dropped ball by the catcher and misfire to first allowed Quick to make it to second. Quick moved to third on a ground ball to short, but that was the extent of Auburn's offensive output as Osburn struck out the next batter to end the inning.

    Crews approached Auburn about ending the game, but as was mentioned in the first part of this story, the teams agreed to play one more inning. It wasn't to be though, as Osburn and Hickman drew back-to-back walks to start the second and Paige got a hit to right to load the bases. Dettman hit a comebacker to the mound with the throw going home to get Osburn. Butler then hit Anicich, however, to force in Hickman and give the Oaks a 23-0 lead. Auburn finally waived the white flag, calling an end to the nightmare game as the Oaks finished their District 6 season with an 11-1 record.

    Auburn never even had a chance to get completely through their batting order as only seven players came to the plate over the first and second innings.

Fair Oaks: Pitching - Osburn and Nantze. Top Hitters - Dettman 3x5, HR, 4 RBI; J. Lang 4x4, 2 HR, 5 RBI; Sanders 2B; Nantze 2x3, 2B; Osburn HR, 3 RBI; Hickman 2B, 2 RBI; Paige 3x3, 2B, 4 RBI; Anicich 2 RBI.
Auburn: Pitching - Viola, Butler and Ryan.