This time the Oak Harbor Legion baseball team was the heartbreaker.
After a disappointing extra-inning loss to Anacortes in the opening round of the district tournament in Mount Vernon Wednesday, Oak Harbor scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to win 4-3 in the second round Thursday and hand Stanwood its own crushing defeat.
Oak Harbor will attempt to win another loser-out game with Bellingham at 3:30 p.m. Friday, July 19, at Skagit Valley College’s Dream Field in Mount Vernon.
If Oak Harbor wins, it will play Saturday at either 11:30 a.m. or 2 p.m., depending on the outcome of other games.
Against Stanwood, things looked dreary for Oak Harbor as it trailed 3-1 heading into its final at bat.
Brent Mertins continued his hot hitting in the tournament and started the rally with a single. Teddy Peterschmidt worked to a full count, fouled off a pitch and then walked. An error allowed Mertins to move up.
Brandon Bailey’s fly ball to center field scored Mertins.
Jack Richter reached on an error, then Clay Doughty, like Peterschmidt, reached a full count. After hitting two foul balls, walked to load the bases.
Rhys Mattila walked to force in the tying run, setting up Anthony Stewart’s sharp single off a defender’s glove for the winning run.
Stewart not only produced the winning RBI but provided Oak Harbor’s top defensive play, according to coach Tyson VanDam. Centerfielder Stewart ran down a line drive in the gap late in the game to save two runs.
Oak Harbor’s other run came in the first inning when Mertins opened with a double, went to third on Bailey’s single and scored on a passed ball.
Stanwood scored single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings, two coming via squeeze bunts and another off Oak Harbor’s only error.
Danny Wolfe pitched the first five and a third innings and received strong relief from Tyler Snavely. The pair combined for a six hitter and struck out six.
Oak Harbor, which left 12 men on base in the Anacortes loss, again missed on several scoring chances, stranding 11.
Oak Harbor finished with five hits, two each by Mertins and Bailey, and Stewart’s game winner.
