Fair Oaks Post 383
opens American Legion season
By Joe Blenkle/Sports Editor
(This article originally appeared in the June 1, 1994 edition of The Orangevale News)
Out of the high school playoffs one day and right into American Legion play only a few days later. Some of coach Don Barney's CAL champ Bella Vista Broncos didn't get much rest, as the American Legion baseball season started on Saturday with its annual Memorial Day Tournament in William Land Park.
The Fair Oaks Post 383 team, coached by Barney and assisted by Casa Roble coach Jerry Crews, used the tournament as a live-action tryout more than anything else, as 25 players from Bella Vista and Casa Roble turned out and American Legion rules dictate an 18-man roster by opening day (today). Fortunately, Post 383 has a little more breathing room, as they received an opening day bye and won't begin play until Saturday when they host Citrus Heights at Bella Vista High School in a 10:30 a.m. doubleheader.
| FAIR
OAKS 1994 SCHEDULE |
| Date |
Opponent |
Score |
| Memorial Day Tournament |
| 5-28 |
Kennedy-Valley |
W, 6-5 |
| 5-29 |
Fort Sutter |
L, 11-5 |
| 5-29 |
Atwater |
L, 4-3 |
| 5-30 |
Winters |
W, 9-8 |
| District 6 League Games |
| 6-4 |
Citrus Heights |
|
| OVERALL: 2-2 LEAGUE: 0-0 |
Fair Oaks won its opening game of the Memorial Day Tournament, beating Kennedy-Valley 6-5, but then lost its next two games - an 11-5 decision to Fort Sutter and a 4-3 loss to Atwater. Monday, Post 383 rebounded for a tournament-closing 9-8 extra-inning win over Winters, after losing a 7-0 lead.
"We were short on pitching and didn't have anyone to put out the fire," said Barney.
In Fair Oaks' opening game, Casa Roble's Jason Chaney looked sharp on the mound in the early going as Post 383 took a 2-0 lead. Casa Roble's Dennis Hunt led off getting hit by a pitch and then scored as Bella Vista's Brandon Muskopf tripled into left field for a 1-0 lead. The Broncos' Eric Henrikson followed with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Muskopf to make it 2-0.
Kennedy-Valley tied the game up in the bottom of the second, but Fair Oaks held them in check into the sixth when Post 383 scored four runs for a 6-2 advantage. Casa Roble's Kevin McKeown led off with a hit to center and took off for second on passed ball with Bella Vista's Greg Efstratis at the plate.
Efstratis hit a ball to short, beat the throw to first, and McKeown made it safely into third on the play. The Broncos' B.J. Green then doubled to center, scoring both runners for a 4-2 lead. Casa Roble's Justin Massoth then sent a hit into left to score Green and make it a 5-2 game.
That run drove Kennedy-Valley's pitcher out of the game. With a new hurler on the mound, Bella Vista's Jason Wilkerson hit the ball short. The shortstop tried to step the bag for the force, but apparently missed as Massoth was ruled safe, but the throw to first got Wilkerson for the out.
A wild pitch sent Massoth third and then the Broncos' Shawn Lucchesi sent a fly into right that allowed Massoth to and score to make it 6-2.
Kennedy-Valley came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning to make it a 6-5 game. Neither team scored in the seventh, and Fair Oaks escaped with a 6-5 win.
Sunday, Post 383 again looked strong in the early going, taking 1-0 lead in the first against Fort Sutter. With one out, Muskopf got a bad hop hit over third and then stole second with Henrikson at the plate. A wild pitch sent Muskopf to third and with Green at the plate, a ball-four wild pitch allowed Muskopf to scamper home with the run.
Fort Sutter tied the game up in the second, however, and took a 3-1 lead in the third. Post 383 came back with a three-run third of their own to take a 4-3 advantage.
With two outs, Henrikson got a hit to left. Green walked and Casa Roble's Trevor Surratt also followed with a walk to load the bases. Lucchesi then hit a base-clearing double to score all three runners and give Fair Oaks a 4-3 lead.
Fair Oaks added another run in the fourth after the Broncos' Eric Hobbs walked. With one out, Muskopf hit a ball to third. The throw went to second for the force, but the throw to first was high and Muskopf was safe. Henrikson then doubled, scoring Muskopf for the 5-3 lead.
Fort Sutter came back to tie the game in the sixth, however, at 5-5, and then exploded for six more runs in the top of the seventh for an 11-5 lead.
Post 383's only offense in the bottom of the inning was a walk to Surratt, as Post 383 lost the game 11-5.
Post 383 begins American Division play on Saturday at 10:30 a.m., as they host Citrus Heights in a doubleheader. On Sunday, action switches to San Juan High School, for an 11 a.m. return matchup against Citrus Heights.
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