Today’s game at Arlington will most likely determine the playoff fate of the Oak Harbor baseball team.

Yesterday, Tuesday, April 27, the Eagles ripped Oak Harbor 13-4 on the Wildcats’ diamond to keep their own playoff hopes alive.

The top four teams from the Wesco North advance to the district tournament. The fifth-place team must defeat the Wesco South’s fourth-place club to advance. Oak Harbor entered Tuesday’s game at 5-7 and tied with Cascade in fourth. Arlington was next at 5-9. If Arlington beats Oak Harbor today in the Eagles’ final regular season game, it would put the Eagles up two games in the win column on the Wildcats. That would force Oak Harbor to win its final two games with Lake Stevens to tie Arlington in the standings.

Lakes Stevens is currently tied for first with Marysville-Pilchuck at 11-1 (Monroe is third at 9-5); therefore, the ‘Cats topping Lake Stevens twice would be a tall order.

Stanwood (3-9) and Snohomish (4-8) with four games left are also still mathematically in the playoff hunt.

Cascade ends the regular season with two-game series against Stanwood and Monroe.

Yesterday, Arlington held a 3-0 lead over Oak Harbor going into the sixth inning, then buried the Wildcats with four runs in the sixth and six in the seventh.

Oak Harbor picked up one run in the sixth when Sam Wolfe led off with a bunt single, Oak Harbor’s first hit since the first inning. He moved to second on an error, to third on Pat Higbee’s fly to right, and then scored on Yale Rosen’s sacrifice to left.

In the seventh, pinch hitters Peter Frannsen and Jack Richter each singled. They moved up on a ground out by Ben Cardinal. Frannsen scored on Wade Burns’ fly to right; Richter scored on a wild pitch.

The ‘Cats saw too much “Austin” from Arlington. Austin Taylor threw a four hitter, getting his first win in four decisions this year; and Austin Baker went 3-for-6 with two triples and two RBI.

Higbee doubled for Oak Harbor.

Today’s game at Arlington High School will begin at 4 p.m. Friday, April 30, Oak Harbor goes to Lake Stevens. Monday, May 3, the teams meet in Oak Harbor at 4 to wrap up the regular season.