The Oak Harbor baseball team scored seven runs in the final two innings, but it wasn’t enough as the Wildcats fell at home 9-8 to Snohomish Thursday, March 25.

The Wildcats followed their common theme this season: fall behind and then mount a late rally. This time the rally fell short as the Panthers clubbed a double and three triples to help build a 9-1 lead going into the sixth inning.

A six-run sixth helped Oak Harbor get back into the game. The ‘Cats scored again in the seventh to trim the lead to one, but couldn’t bring home the tying run which was left stranded at third as the game ended.

Pat Higbee had a huge day for Oak Harbor. The senior went 4-for-4 with two doubles and a triple. Brad Farnum and Josh Evans added two hits each.

The Panthers (2-0, 4-1) roughed up Wildcat starter Gabe Clark and reliever Ryan Byrne for 11 hits. Clark, coming off a strong outing against Mount Vernon, “got everything up,” according to coach Tyson VanDam.

VanDam said the Panthers mixed in big hits with Oak Harbor errors (the Wildcats had four) to build their lead. He said mistakes in “little things” just added up to hurt his club.

Oak Harbor plays three league games next week. League favorite Marysville-Pilchuck (2-0, 4-0) comes to town Tuesday, March 30, at 4 p.m., then Oak Harbor travels to M-P Wednesday. Everett (0-0, 1-3) visits Friday, April 2, at 4 p.m.