American Legion coach Tyson Van Dam did things a little differently hosting Sedro-Woolley in Tuesday’s AA American Legion baseball game.
Making preparations for the big Walla Walla Tournament that begins today, Van Dam used five different pitchers in the seven inning game, but the Wildcats continued their winning streak topping Sedro-Woolley 9-2.
Oak Harbor has a 16-3 overall record on the season.
“We kept our winning streak going, hit the ball well and continued to play good defense,” Van Dam said.
Left-hander Jay Stout started on the hill for Oak Harbor and pitched the first two innings, striking out a pair of Sedro-Woolley batters while surrendering one hit.
His teammates staked the junior hurler to an early lead, putting four runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning.
Sam Wolfe led the game off with a walk and after J.D. Wilcox popped out trying to lay down a a sacrifice bunt, Stout drew the second walk of the inning to put runners on first and second.
Cleanup hitter Yale Rosen singled sharply to right field to plate Wolfe with the first run, sending Stout to third.
After Rosen stole second, Wade Burns was hit with a pitch to load the bases and Shea Weaver walked to plate Stout with the second run.
Ryan Byrne fanned for the second out, but catcher David Tillotson came through bouncing a 3-1 pitch through the hole at shortstop to score two additional runs and make the score 4-0.
Kian Mebane took over the pitching duties for Oak Harbor in the top of the third inning, surrendering a run without the benefit of a hit. Mebane hit a batter to open the inning and then committed a balk. A passed ball moved the runner to third and an infield out scored Sedro-Woolley’s first run.
Leading 4-1, Oak Harbor put two more runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth on a Byrne single, a walk to Tillotson, a single by Josh Evans and a sacrifice fly by Wilcox.
Sedro-Woolley scored its final run off relief pitcher Rosen in the top of the fifth on a single, Oak Harbor’s only error of the game, and a two-out single by Harley Lee.
The Wildcats played add-on with two runs in the bottom of the fifth and one more in the bottom of the sixth before Wilcox came in to put the game away, setting down the final three Sedro-Woolley batters in the top of the seventh.
Stout smacked a double for Oak Harbor in the bottom of the sixth inning and Lee had a pair of hits for Sedro-Woolley.
“I’m sure we are going to see better competition in the Walla Walla tournament, but things are coming together for us,” Van Dam said.
