“There have been afternoons in the numbing cold, and numerous windy, rainy days. Oak Harbor senior Jay Hartman has played baseball in various types of weather during his high school baseball career. Yet, the Oak Harbor senior couldn’t recall a more horrible day than Thursday when Mother Nature emptied her clouds.^P>At first it was a gentle Whidbey mist, then a drizzle, and eventually a downpour. However, Oak Harbor and Sehome played on throughout the rain. When the contest was over, Hartman and his soaked teammates were grinning. That’s because Oak Harbor edged Sehome 4-3 in a 4-A Western Conference game.^P>It was Hartman’s clutch two-out single in the bottom of the seventh that scored Eric Collins with the winning run as Oak Harbor handed Sehome its first league defeat of the season. Oak Harbor, meanwhile, snapped a four-game losing streak.^P>Sehome, 10-2 on the season, entered the contest ranked third in the 4-A Washington State coaches’ poll and as the Wesco North Division leader. Earlier in the week Sehome had defeated Oak Harbor twice.^P>But the Wildcats, according to Hartman, were confident they would win Thursday.^P>Sehome is a good club but I knew we were going to win, Hartman said. We should have beaten them Tuesday.^P>The Wildcats let Sehome escape with a 11-9 victory Tuesday in Oak Harbor. Wednesday, Oak Harbor lost to Sehome 4-1 in Bellingham.^P>We decided we just had to go out and get after them right away, Hartman said.^P>Oak Harbor did just that, scoring twice in the bottom of the first inning. Hartman blasted a triple to left, scoring Doug Cann with the first run. Then David Walton followed with a single to right, scoring Hartman.^P>Sehome tied the score in the top of the third, but Oak Harbor regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Justin Baeyan’s two-out single to left scored Hartman with the lead run.^P>Walton, Oak Harbor’s pitcher, protected that lead through the sixth inning. Then the game was halted. After a 30-minute rain relay, the game resumed. Sehome tied the score in the top of the seventh on a two-out single by Jessy Tweit.^P>After the final out of the inning, Walton huddled next to a heater and told a teammate We are not going to lose this game!^P>Eric Collins, who was inserted into the game for defensive purposes in the top of the seventh inning, began the Wildcats’ winning rally with a one-out single to right. Collins advanced to second when Tweit, Sehome’s shortstop, bobbled a grounder by Garrett Stone. After Cann popped up, Hartman lashed a single to left off Sehome reliever Zapper McCrath. Collins, breaking from second once the ball was hit, raced around third and did a headfirst slide into homeplate for the winning run. Then the entire Oak Harbor dugout erupted as players mobbed Collins and Hartman.^P>None of the players minded the rain one bit.^P>This is by far the worst weather I’ve actually played in, Hartman said. I really thought the umpires were going to call the game. I’m glad they didn’t.^P>Walton, making his first start since before spring vacation, went the distance to earn the victory. He struck out four and was supported by outstanding defensive play.^P>He (Walton) really threw well. He still had good stuff in the seventh, Hartman said.^P>On such slippery, wet day, the Wildcats played flawless defense.^P>Defense is really the strength of our team, Oak Harbor coach Jim Waller said.^P>Oak Harbor’s record went to 2-4 in league and 6-8 on the season.^P>We have beaten the best teams in the league, Waller said. When we have solid pitching, play solid defense, and get the clutch hits, we can play with any team.^P>^P>^P>^P>^P>^P>^P>”