Ryan Dettman takes a lead off first base in the third inning of the Oaks game against Yolo Friday night. Dettman reached base on an infield hit, but did not score. The Oaks won the game 1-0 with a single run in the bottom of the ninth inning. Photo by Joe Blenkle

Fair Oaks 1, Yolo 0 (League: 11-1, Overall: 25-8-1) - July 10 @ Clark Field, Woodland - Bryce Bandilla came in to pitch the Oaks out of an eighth inning jam and then doubled in the ninth inning to drive in Brian Kennedy to lead the Oaks to a 1-0 victory over Yolo Friday night in the District 6 Championship Tournament in Woodland.

    It was a pitcher's duel for most of the game, with both teams unable to get a run across the plate in the limited opportunities they had.

    Yolo actually got two runners on base with no outs in the opening inning as pitcher Suavae Cook reached on an error and a walk to shortstop Jeff Boulware gave them an early chance to score. But Oaks starting pitcher Cody Osburn got Yolo third baseman Luke McDonald out on an infield fly call and then got first baseman Wyatt Moreland to fly out to center field. Cook was running on the play and was easily doubled off second to end the inning.

    Fair Oaks had at least one base runner in every inning except the second and seventh, when the Oaks went out in order.

    In the first, right fielder Jon Lang reached base on a ball that was misplayed at short.

    In the third, center fielder Ryan Dettman beat out a ground ball to short, but was thrown out stealing with second baseman Josh Britt at the plate. Britt walked and Osburn followed with a hit to center, but the Oaks were unable to score as the next batter struck out.

    Third baseman Taylor Sanders got a one out hit past short in the fourth and then the Oaks found themselves with two runners on base as catcher Mike Nantze hit a grounder to second. Yolo second baseman Jay Puckett tried to tag Sanders as he went by, but missed and both runners were safe. But Cook then threw a double play ball to get Yolo out of the inning.

    A leadoff walk to left fielder Branden Lang was all the Oaks could get in the fifth and in the sixth, a two out hit by Sanders and a walk to Nantze put two runners on, but still saw the Oaks fail to bring them around.

    Yolo's best chance to score came in the eighth inning as Cook led off with a double to center field. Dettman tried for a diving catch of the ball, but just missed and Post 77 had a runner on second with no outs. Boulware bunted Cook over to third and Fair Oaks decided it was time for a new pitcher as Bandilla replaced Osburn on the mound.

    Bandilla got McDonald to ground the ball to shortstop with the throw going to first. Oddly enough, however, the speedy Cook stayed on third and didn't even try to score on the play. This could have been a costly mistake for Yolo as Bandilla struck out Moreland to end the inning and leave the game knotted at 0-0.

    In the bottom of the eighth, Cook again held Fair Oaks scoreless, allowing only a two out walk to the Oaks. Bandilla came back in the top of the ninth to return the favor, striking out the first two batters he faced before giving up a base hit to left to Puckett. Bandilla then finished Yolo off, striking out Max Perea to end the inning.

    Yolo changed pitchers as Catchet Duncan came in to face the Oaks in the bottom of the ninth. Duncan struck out Nantze before giving up a hit to right to Kennedy. Bandilla then came to bat for the first time in the game and rocketed a three ball, one strike pitch into center field for a double that scored Kennedy to give the Oaks a 1-0 victory over Yolo.

    Game Notes: Seems like every time the Oaks beat Yolo in a big game, Post 77 manager Matt Castles starts whining about how the Oaks cheat or bend the rules. For his latest rant, visit the Woodland Democrat article by Sean Swaby HERE. This same act has gone on for years and if it's not "cheating," Castles has some other excuse why the Oaks beat Yolo. As it was explained to us, the "rule" that is mentioned in this story does not apply to players who are injured or away at school...and the player in question was away at school. 

Yolo: Pitching - Cook, Duncan (9) and Ryan. Top Hitters - Cook 2B; Moreland 2B; Puckett 2x4.
Fair Oaks: Pitching - Osburn, Bandilla (8) and Nantze. Top Hitters - Sanders 2x4; Bandilla 2B.