Overcoming a rugged start, the Oak Harbor High School baseball team tripped Mount Vernon 5-3 in the season opener Tuesday, March 12, on the Wildcats’ diamond.

The beginning was bad for Oak Harbor. The first three Bulldog hitters reached base and all three scored. The finish, however, was better. Undaunted, Oak Harbor blanked Mount Vernon the rest of the way and rallied for the win.

A hit batter, two singles, an error and a sacrifice resulted in the Bulldogs’ three runs.

From that point, Oak Harbor starter Jacksyn Pawlowiczs settled in, and he and reliever Jack Lovendale, who pitched the final four innings, scattered three hits and did not allow a runner past second base.

Oak Harbor responded to Mount Vernon’s big first inning by scoring two runs in the bottom half to jump right back into the game.

With one out, Noah Meffert singled and scored on Donny Kloewer’s double. Singles by Thomas Anderson and Aidan McCarthy loaded the bases, and Kloewer scored on Caleb Fitzgerald’s fielder’s choice.

In the second inning, the Wildcats scored twice to take the lead for good. Taylor Rummel hit a one-out double and scored on Meffert’s two-out single. Singles by Kloewer and Anderson pushed Meffert around the bases.

Kloewer reached on an error in the fifth inning and eventually scored on McCarthy’s sacrifice fly to complete the scoring.

Meffert, Kloewer, Anderson and Rummel all finished with two hits.

Dylan Carter had three of Mount Vernon’s five hits.

Oak Harbor (1-0) begins Wesco play at Marysville-Pilchuck (0-1) at 4 p.m. Friday, March 15.