Getting the first win of the season is always thrilling, but to accomplish it with a furious final-inning rally against a favored opponent doubles the fun.

The Oak Harbor High School softball team scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat Stanwood 7-6 Friday, March 31, at Hillcrest Elementary. The win snapped a seven-game skid.

The Spartans came into the game with a 4-1 Wesco record (5-2 overall).

The Wildcats scored a run in the sixth inning to make it a one-run game, 3-2. The Spartans, however, tallied twice in the top of the seventh to strengthen their case.

Oak Harbor wasn’t deterred. It immediately responded and Stanwood couldn’t handle the pressure.

Cierra LeGendre started the rally with a walk, then back-to-back singles by Audrey Howard and Rylee Joseph loaded the bases. Lindsay Duchnowski’s ground out to second scored one run, then Brooke Wilson drove in two, tying the game. With two outs, an error off the bat of Taylor Wilson allowed the winning run to score.

“Everyone played great,” coach Tashina Tosh said. “The team kept their momentum up the whole game, (and) each player played a crucial part in this win.”

After Stanwood scored in the top of the first, Oak Harbor added its own run in the bottom half. LeGendre singled and Howard ripped a triple.

The Spartans scored single runs in the third and fifth to go ahead 3-1.

In the sixth, singles by Joseph and Megan Flood and an error resulted in a Wildcat run.

Howard, Joseph and Brooke Wilson each finished with two hits. Miranda Wilson added a triple; and Brooke Gilham, LeGendre and Duchnowski recorded singles.

LeGendre picked up the pitching win with six hits, three strikeouts, one walk and one earned run.

“Everything seemed to fall in place and everything we have been working on and fixing the last few weeks showed in this game,” Tosh said. “Our base running was strong, we were aware of situations and continued to fight and battle each inning. (I’m) very proud of the girls.”

Oak Harbor (1-5, 1-7) plays at Marysville-Pilchuck (3-2, 4-3) at 4 p.m. Monday, April 10.