Lynnwood parlayed seven Oak Harbor errors and 12 hits into an 8-7 win on the Wildcats’ diamond Tuesday, April 17.
The loss wiped out what would have been a feel-good win for Oak Harbor as the Wildcats erased a 3-0 deficit with a five-run rally in the third inning that began with two outs and no one on. Only two of Lynnwood’s eight runs were earned.
Oak Harbor pushed the lead to 7-4, then the Royals rallied for four runs in the sixth to grab the win.
The two teams play at 4 p.m. in Lynnwood today, April 18, in a scramble for a playoff spot. Oak Harbor (4-7, 6-8) and Lynnwood (4-5, 5-8) sit in a six-team bunch trying to grab the final three district slots.
The Royals scored single runs in each of the first three innings.
With two outs in the bottom of the third, and after the first eight Oak Harbor hitters failed to reach base, the Wildcat offense finally broke through when seven consecutive batters got on board.
Anthony Stewart lined a single to left and Grant Schroeder and Mitch Mertins walked. Jack Richter ripped a two-run single, and Sam Glavick and Austyn Walker followed with RBI base hits. Andrew Snavely finished the rally with a two-run single.
Dimitri Munoz replaced starter Richter on the mound for Oak Harbor in the fourth, and Lynnwood picked up an unearned run to make it 5-4.
In the fifth the Wildcats added two runs. With one out, Richter and Glavick each singled, then Walker dropped a double on the right-field line for one run. Glavick scored on a wild pitch for the final Oak Harbor tally.
Lynnwood’s four-run sixth-inning rally started and finished with errors. After a fly ball was dropped in the outfield, the Royals ripped off three hits that recorded two runs. Zach Zimmer replaced Munoz and got two quick outs. Then a Royal grounder was misplayed for one run, and on the same play, a wide throw to the plate allowed the game-winner to score.
Oak Harbor went down in order in the sixth and seventh.
Coach Tyson VanDam said, “If you have seven errors and three passed balls, you don’t deserve to win.”
Walker was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Richter and Glavick finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.
