Zane Hemphill delivers toward home in the Oaks game against West Sacramento. Post 383 won the game 12-2 to even their league record at 1-1. Photo by Joe Blenkle

Fair Oaks 12, West Sacramento 2 (League: 1-1, Overall: 5-2-1) - May 30 @ Bella Vista High School, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks rebounded from a loss in the first game of their doubleheader against West Sacramento with a 12-2 victory in the second game to even their league record at 1-1.

    West Sacramento scored twice in the second inning off Oaks starting pitcher Zane Hemphill, but the Oaks came back in the bottom of the inning with five runs to take a lead they would never give up.

    With one out, first baseman Chris Harms started things off with a double to left center field and scored as third baseman Ryan Hall followed with a base hit up the middle. The next batter, center fielder Branden Lang, then hit a ball to deep short, beating the throw to first for a hit. Catcher Shawn Wheeler bunted back to the pitcher, also beating the throw to first to load the bases for Fair Oaks. Shortstop Ryan Dettman grounded to second, but the ball was booted and Hall scored to tie the game at 2-2 and keep the bases full. Second baseman Josh Britt followed with a hit to left to score Lang and then right fielder Jon Lang got a hit to center to score Wheeler and Dettman to give the Oaks a 5-2 lead.

    Hemphill put West Sacramento down in order in the top of the third and the Oaks came back with another run in the bottom of the inning. With one out, Harms drew a walk and moved to second on a hit to right by Hall. Branden Lang then sent a fly ball to center that allowed Harms to tag and move to third. With two outs and Wheeler at the plate, the Oaks pulled one of their favorite plays with runners at first and third. Hall got a big lead at first and drew the pickoff throw with Harms charging for home. Harms scored before Hall got tagged out and the Oaks owned a 6-2 lead.

    Hemphill again sent West Sacramento down 1-2-3 in the fourth and again the Oaks came back to score in the bottom of the inning, this time with four runs for a 10-2 advantage.

    Dettman led off with a hit to center and with Britt at the plate stole second. Britt flew to right allowing Dettman to tag and advance to third. Jon Lang followed with a hit to right center to score Dettman and make it 7-2. With designated hitter Taylor Sanders at the plate, Lang stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. Sanders then sent a double down the line at third to score Lang and make it 8-2 and force a West Sacramento pitching change. Left fielder Andrew Gutierrez drew a walk from the new hurler and a hit by Harms brought in Sanders to up the score to 9-2. With Hall at the plate, a wild pitch brought in Gutierrez and the Oaks had a 10-2 lead.

    West Sacramento caused a stir with two hits to open the fifth, but couldn't score, and in the sixth, Hemphill again faced only three batters despite giving up a one out hit.

    The Oaks came back for their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth as Harms led off with a ground-rule double that bounced over the outfield fence. With two outs, Wheeler hit a ball to short that was bobbled, beating the throw to first. Dettman then sent a triple into center to score Harms and Wheeler to make it a 12-2 game.

    Gutierrez came in to pitch the seventh for the Oaks and West Sacramento again went down in order to end the game and give the Oaks the victory.

West Sacramento: Pitching - Mainchi, Coulter (4), Connoly (5) and Chapan. Top Hitters - Chapan 2x3, 2B.
Fair Oaks: Pitching - Hemphill, Gutierrez (7) and Wheeler. Top Hitters - Dettman 2x4, 3B, 2 RBI; Britt 2x3; Lang 2x4, 3 RBI; Sanders 2B; Harms 3x3, 2 2B; Hall 3x3.