Fair Oaks' Cody Osburn swings for a base hit in the third inning of the Oaks game against Santa Rosa. Osburn also later collected a grand slam home run in the same inning as the Oaks went on for a 16-1 victory in the opening game of the W.A.B.F. Tournament in Fairfield. Photo by Joe Blenkle

Fair Oaks 16, Santa Rose 1 (League: 11-1, Overall: 22-4-1) - June 30 @ Laurel Creek Park, Fairfield - Fair Oaks opened Western Amateur Baseball Federation tournament play in Fairfield on Tuesday with a 16-1 win over the Santa Rosa American Athletics. The Oaks scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back as Justin Haley pitched his way to the complete-game five-inning win.

    Santa Rosa pitchers had problems from the first Oaks batter they faced as Craig Lymon walked second baseman Josh Britt to start the game. Britt went to second on a passed ball with center fielder Ryan Dettman at the plate and then moved to third on Dettman's sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher. Right fielder Jon Lang followed with a hit up the middle to score Britt and with first baseman Chris Harms at the plate, Lang stole second base. Harms was hit by a pitch and then with two outs, shortstop Andrew Gutierrez walked to load the bases. Left fielder Cody Osburn also followed with a walk to force Lang in from third and then Haley was hit by a pitch to force Harms in to make it a 3-0 game.

    Santa Rosa managed a run in the bottom of the inning, but that would be all they got as Haley gave up a walk and a hit, but struck out the other three batters he faced to end the inning.

    The Oaks added another run in the top of the second as Britt led off with a ball to short that was booted for an error. With Dettman at the plate, Britt stole second and advanced to third as the throw from catcher Cory Horton went into center field. With one out, Lang walked to put runners at the corners and then with two outs and catcher Mike Nantze at the plate, Lang went to second and Horton's throw again went into center field allowing Britt to score to make it a 4-1 game.

    Haley struck out the side in the bottom of the inning and the Oaks came back in the top of the third to score 11 runs and take a 15-1 lead.

    Gutierrez led off with a double to center field and Osburn followed with a hit to center to score Gutierrez and force a Santa Rosa pitching change. The new hurler, Tony Decosta got Haley to fly out to center, but then third baseman Brian Kennedy tripled past a diving center fielder to score Osburn and make it 6-1. With two outs, Dettman got a hit to right to score Kennedy and then Lang hit a ball to short that Santa Rosa shortstop Brandon Baranzini couldn't pick up and was safe at first base as Dettman scored for an 8-1 lead. with Harms at the plate, Lang stole second. Harms eventually walked and Nantze followed with a hit to left to score Lang and make it 9-1. Gutierrez walkd to load the bases and then Osburn came to the plate and hit the ball over the left field fence for a grand slam to give the Oaks a 13-1 lead. Haley followed with a double and Kennedy got a hit to left that just cleared a leaping third baseman. Nick Anicich came in to hit for Britt and drew a walk to load the bases. Dettman got a hit to left to score Haley and then Josh Paige walked to force in  Kennedy for a 15-1 Oaks lead.

    Santa Rosa went out in order in the bottom of the third and the Oaks came back in the top of the fourth for their final run of the game off Santa Rosa's third pitcher of the contest. With two outs, Osburn collected his third hit of the game with a single into left field. Haley then doubled down the right field line to send Osburn to third and he scored on Kennedy's hit to right for the final 16-1 tally.

    Santa Rose couldn't get anything going in the bottom of the fourth or the fifth and the Oaks went to 1-0 in tournament play.   

Fair Oaks: Pitching - Haley and Nantze. Top Hitters - Dettman 2x4, 2 RBI; Paige 2B; Gutierrez 2B; Osburn 3x3, HR, 6 RBI; Haley 2x3, 2 2B; Kennedy 3x4, 3B, 2 RBI.
Santa Rosa: Pitching - Lyman, Decosta (3), Vierra (4) and Horton.