Mistakes lead to Wildcat loss | Baseball

Published 10:33 am Friday, April 1, 2016

Oak Harbor out-hit the visiting and unbeaten Ferndale High School baseball team but couldn’t overcome its mistakes in an 8-4 loss Thursday, March 31.

The Wildcats had 10 hits, four more than the Golden Eagles, but Oak Harbor committed five errors, which led to three unearned runs, walked five, with three coming around to score, and hit two batters. The Wildcats also left nine runners stranded, five in scoring position.

Ferndale scored in the first inning on a walk and two singles.

Oak Harbor matched the run when Trent Benson singled and scored on Robert Herring’s double.

The Golden Eagles scored twice in the second inning with the help of three Wildcat errors.

The Wildcats made it 3-2 with a run in the third. Benson and Kevyn Johnson singled and moved up on Tyler Snavely’s bunt. Herring’s groundout scored Benson.

Ferndale (7-0) scored three runs in the fourth on two hits, two walks and a groundout. It added a run in the fifth on two hits and a sacrifice fly to make it 7-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, Oak Harbor scored its final two runs. Snavely singled and scored on Preston Rankin’s hit. Rankin later scored on Brandon Philp’s single.

Two errors allowed Ferndale to plate one run in the seventh.

Oak Harbor used four pitchers. Benson got the start and worked three innings, giving up three hits and three runs (one earned). He fanned two and walked two.

Oak Harbor coach Tyson VanDam gave mixed reviews for this three relief pitchers, noting that he liked what he saw from Rankin, who allowed only one unearned run over the final two innings.

VanDam added that he was disappointed in the lack of focus and leadership from his team.

Benson, Johnson and Herring all finished with two hits. Snavely, Rankin, Dylan Bailey and Philp all singled.

Oak Harbor (2-2-1) opens conference play when it goes to Marysville Getchell (0-5) at 4 p.m. Friday, April 1.

(Coach Tyson VanDam confers with Kevyn Johnson. Photo by Jim Waller.)