Picking up its offense at the right time, the Oak Harbor High School baseball team thumped visiting Shorecrest 10-1 in five innings Wednesday, March 26.

The Wildcats began the season by combining for only three runs and 13 hits in three non-league losses, but they revved up their bats in the league opener with nine hits, including four doubles.

The big explosion against Shorecrest (0-1, 1-3) came in the third inning when Oak Harbor scored seven runs with two outs. With no one on, Clay Doughty walked, Danny Wolfe reached on an error and C.J. Meders singled in the first run.

Teddy Peterschmidt doubled in another score and Brandon Bailey singled in two more. After Tyler Snavely singled, Kevin Johnson hit a two-run double. Brent Mertins followed with another run-scoring double to finish the rally.

Oak Harbor’s first run came an inning earlier when Wolfe doubled and courtesy runner Koby Cosper scored on an error off the bat of Bailey.

The Wildcats finished the game in the bottom of the fifth with three runs put the 10-run mercy rule into play. Johnson was hit by a pitch, Mertins singled and Nate Stanford walked to load the bases. Doughty reached while driving in a run on a fielder’s choice that failed to get Johnson at the plate. Wolfe singled in a run, and then Meders was hit by a pitch to force in another.

Peterschmidt tossed a strong game, limiting the Scots to five hits and no earned runs while striking out six and walking none. Three of the hits came in the first inning with one out, but Peterschmidt blanked Shorecrest with a pair of strikeouts.

Oak Harbor (1-0, 1-3) goes to Mountlake Terrace (0-1, 1-3) at 4 p.m. Friday, March 28.