Legion: Oak Harbor loses by a field goal — in baseball

The final score was 21-18, and, no, it wasn't a football game.

By Jim Waller • July 8, 2010 12:16 pm

The final score was 21-18, and, no, it wasn’t a football game.

The Oak Harbor Legion AA baseball team fell a field goal short against visiting Sequim Wednesday, July 7, in a nine-inning, nonleague game.

It was ugly. The teams combined for 18 errors (11 by Oak Harbor), 13 walks and four hit batters.

Oak Harbor out hit Sequim 19-18.

After four innings, the game was a reasonable 5-3 (with Sequim on top) and each team had committed only one error. Both sides went 1-2-3 in the fourth inning — the only time each side was retired in order in the game.

Oak Harbor fell behind 5-0 heading into the bottom of the third, then a two-base, three-run error off the bat of Josh Evans made it to 5-3.

Sequim racked up four runs in the fifth, then Oak Harbor took its first lead, 11-9, with eight runs in the bottom half. The Wildcats mixed a triple by Evans, a double by Yale Rosen, singles by Gabe Clark and Ryan Byrne, three walks, three errors and a hit batter for the eight spot.

Sequim scored five in the seventh to make it 14-11 before Oak Harbor tacked on four more to regain the lead. Zach Zimmer singled, Justin Counts doubled and Peter Franssen walked. Jay Stout was hit by a pitch to force in one run,

Rosen singled in two more and Clark added another with a sacrifice fly.

Sequim responded to take the lead for good with a six-run eighth. Oak Harbor got three back to trim the lead to 20-18. Sam Wolfe doubled and scored on Counts’ single. Spencer McBride added a bunt single. A wild pitch and error produced the final Oak Harbor runs.

Oak Harbor put two aboard in the bottom of the ninth but couldn’t score.

Rosen finished 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Evans was 3-for-5 with a triple and RBI. Clark, Sam Glavick and Counts each had two hits.

Oak Harbor (18-10, 6-3) now returns to league action where it is in a battle for the league title with three games left. Oak Harbor is a half game behind Burlington (6-2) and meets the Sox there Monday, July 12, at 6 p.m. Before that matchup, Oak Harbor plays two at Snohomish (0-7) at Glacier Peak High School at noon Saturday, July 10.