The second extra-inning win over Everett in four days helped the Oak Harbor High School baseball team take the three-game series with the Seagulls.
Oak Harbor came back twice to top visiting Everett 4-3 Friday, April 8, to win the series 2-1. Tyler Snavely ripped a double and triple, drove in the winning run and tossed eight strong innings to pace the Oak Harbor attack.
Tuesday, the Wildcats won 9-8 in 11 innings. It took the Seagulls the standard seven innings to claim the second game 9-6 Wednesday.
In Friday’s rubber match, Everett scored in the top of the ninth inning, but the Wildcats countered with two runs in their half to pull out the win. Oak Harbor also had to score in the bottom of the seventh to extend the game to extra innings.
Oak Harbor scored the game’s first run with a tally in the fourth. With two outs, Snavely tripled over the right fielder’s head. Steven Richards, after fouling off two two-strike pitches, dumped a soft liner into right field to score Snavely.
Everett came right back to even the game in the fifth on a single, bunt and single.
The Seagulls took the lead an inning later. A single, a two-base throwing error and a sacrifice fly made it 2-1.
Oak Harbor tied the game in the seventh. Dylan Bailey led off with a walk, stole second and eventually scored when Preston Rankin’s grounder scooted through the legs of the Seagull shortstop.
Kevyn Johnson took over on the mound for Snavely in the ninth. Snavely allowed only five hits and one earned run while striking out four and walking one in eight innings.
Everett (1-3, 4-5) scored in the ninth on a walk, bunt and single.
Chad Spradlin started Oak Harbor’s ninth-inning comeback with a single. Trent Benson moved Spradlin to second with a bunt. Johnson was intentionally walked to set up a force, then Rankin singled to load the bases. Snavely doubled to right to plate the winning runs.
Snavely, Richards and Rankin each finished with two hits. Benson had a single and stolen base.
Oak Harbor (2-2, 4-4-1) plays Marysville-Pilchuck (3-1, 6-3) three times this week. The Wildcats travel Tuesday and Friday and play at home at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
(Left: Second baseman Kevyn Johnson looks in a ground ball.
Below: Right fielder Rob Herring tracks a fly ball.
Photos by John Fisken.)
