Amara, Hillmen stop Oakdale in opener

The Placer High baseball team took a big step toward knocking out the defending Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV champions Saturday, thanks in large part to junior Anthony Amara.Amara tossed a four-hitter and struck out 12 as the Hillmen doubled up Oakdale 4-2 to open their best-of-three semifinal series at McAuliffe Park in Sacramento. Amara walked just two."He was the story," Placer coach Larry Prewitt said. "To strike out 12 against that team, he had a great game."Amara got it done at the plate too with a double and two RBIs. Griffin Quick had an RBI-double in the first inning to put Placer on top and Lane Turner knocked in a run for the Hillmen. Matt Ross was 2-for-4 while Jordan Arndt and Jake Lopez added singles.The Hillmen are one win away from their first section title game appearance since 1993, when Placer won its first and only section championship on the diamond. Placer will be back on the field against the Mustangs on Wednesday at 4 p.m. If Oakdale wins that game, the series-deciding contest will follow at 7 p.m.