Mountlake Terrace crammed all of its offense into the first three innings and then held on to beat the host Oak Harbor High School baseball team 7-4 Friday, April 21.
The Hawks (8-6, 9-8) produced 14 baserunners in a span of 20 batters in the first three innings, then two Oak Harbor pitchers retired the final 14 Terrace hitters over the second half of the game.
The Wildcats offense, however, couldn’t generate enough runs to recover. Mountlake Terrace used two double plays and several stellar defensive plays to stymie the Oak Harbor comeback.
Oak Harbor scored first in the opening inning. Dylan Bailey and Steven Richards singled, then Bailey scored on an error.
Terrace turned the tide in the second inning with six runs. Oak Harbor starter Trent Benson sandwiched two hit batters around a walk and then the Hawks rapped four consecutive ground-ball hits. Another walk and a passed ball, both with the bases loaded, helped the Hawks.
Terrace added another run in the third, then reliever Ethan Pace, who entered the game in the second, settled in and retired the next 11 batters.
Chad Spradlin pitched the seventh and put Terrace down in order.
Oak Harbor scored its second run in the fourth on back-to-back doubles by Kamren Mebane and Aaron Martinez.
In the sixth, the Wildcats finished the scoring. Austin Boesch and Martinez singled and both scored on Pace’s double.
Pace, Martinez and Bailey all finished with two hits.
Oak Harbor (2-12, 2-14) plays Marysville Getchell (2-11, 2-13) at Marysville-Pilchuck High School at 4 p.m. Monday, April 24.
Dyan Bailey puts down a bunt for a base hit. (Photo by John Fisken)
Trent Benson runs down a pop-up. (Photo by John Fisken)
Kamren Mebane slaps a double for the Wildcats. (Photo by John Fisken)
