Oak Harbor booters win thriller

Wildcats get needed booster shot; prep digest

“The Oak Harbor soccer team was in need of a booster shot entering Tuesday’s 4-A Western Conference with visiting Kamiak. And the Wildcats, who had been reeling, might have gotten it.In their most thrilling game of the season, the Wildcats posted a 3-2 two-overtime victory to snap a three-game losing streak.This was a huge victory for us. It keeps us in the running for fourth place, Oak Harbor coach Steve Barker said as the Wildcats evened the league record at 3-3.The top four teams in the league qualify for post-season competition. The league champion automatically goes to the state playoffs, while the three other teams battle it out for the league’s No. 2 berth.Kellen Ward, who scored two goals, knocked in the game-winner to keep the Wildcats in the running. Jess Barker set up the winning play with a cornerkick. Chris Olson headed the ball and Ward finished it off.Olson also assisted on Ward’s first goal. Brent Thompson scored Oak Harbor’s other goal. The Wildcats outshot Kamiak 22-12.We got the shots, we just had troubles finishing them off, Barker said. But we got enough in to get the W. This was a great comeback for the team.Barker said he’s been impressed with the team’s courage.These kids never let down. They are mentally tough, Barker said. After some tough losses, they keep coming back. They haven’t given up all season.BOYS GOLF: Oak Harbor defeated Edmonds-Woodway 422-453 Tuesday in a four-team 4-A Western Conference match at Cedarcrest Golf Club.Cascade and Marysville-Pilchuck also competed in the match. Duse Dronen led the Wildcats with a 78 and Shane Wells had a 79.Kyle Gochnour of Cascade and Dom VanDaveer of Marysville-Pilchuck each shot a 76 to tie for medalist honors.Thursday, he boys team finished third at Whidbey Golf and Country Club. Kamiak won the conference meet with 390 followed by Marysville-Pilchuck at 413, and Oak Harbor last with 424. Kamiak’s Travis Stoddard and Kyle Patterson took medalist honors, shooting 74s.Wells led Oak Harbor with a 79.GIRLS GOLF: Lindsey Jackson shared medalist honors Wednesday as she sparked Oak Harbor to a 4-A Western Conference victory over Kamiak and Marysville-Pilchuck.Jackson and Kamiak’s Emily Balch each had 41 points.Thursday, the Wildcats overwhelmed Everett 130-87 in a nonleague match at Everett Legion Memorial Course. Karissa Gavigan took medalist honors with 28 points.TENNIS: The Oak Harbor girls team continued its dominance in the 4-A Western Conference Tuesday with a 6-1 victory over visiting Cascade.No. 1 singles Stacie Pate remained undefeated as did the No. 1 doubles team of Jenna Wehrell and Nicole Nolte. Pate defeated Sena Lee 6-1, 6-0. Wehrell and Nolte downed Luahn Anderson and Alia Anderson 6-0, 6-1.The Wildcats boosted their North Division-leading record to 10-1.SOFTBALL: Coupeville’s softball team rallied for three runs in the top of the sixth Tuesday but still fell short, losing to host Granite Falls 6-5.Suzie Zustiak had a triple for Coupeville. The loss didn’t hurt Coupeville’s Northwest A League standing as Granite Falls is a member of the league’s AAA-AA division.FASTPITCH: Oak Harbor lost to powerful Snohomish 6-0 Wednesday in 4-A Western Conference action. The Wildcats mustered just one hit off Snohomish pitcher Andrea Williams, who struck out 16.BASEBALL: Wednesday, the Oak Harbor baseball team frittered away a six-run lead and dropped its home finale to Snohomish 7-6. It was yet another disappointing loss for the Wildcats, who were scheduled to finish their 4-A Western Conference season Friday at Snohomish.Snohomish scored three times in the top of the seventh to beat the Wildcats, who seemingly had the game in hand after the third inning.Matt Black, starting at second base, had two hits. Catcher Jay Hartman, a three-year starter, drove in two runs. In fact, every starter, except one, reached base during the first three innings. Hartman’s towering double to left in the first inning scored Black with Oak Harbor’s first run. In the second inning, the Wildcats scored four runs. Garrett Stone, Black, Hartman, and Justin Baeyen drove in the runs.In the third inning, Oak Harbor got its final run when B.J. McElroy ripped a triple to left-center to score Brett Waller.Meanwhile, Oak Harbor starting pitcher Ryan Elvebak was sailing along. He had allowed three hits and struck out five through the first three frames.The fourth inning was costly for Oak Harbor as the Wildcats committed four errors, allowing Snohomish to score three unearned runs. It was the lift Snohomish needed as the momentum changed.Tuesday, the Wildcats had another heartbreaking loss when Snohomish won 3-2. Stone and David Walton each had two hits for the Wildcats. Snohomish pitcher Mike Warmbrodt struck out 10, and hit a three-run homer in the first inning. Oak Harbor pitcher Tyson Van Dam then settled down and threw five scoreless innings. However, the Wildcats were unable to overcome the early deficit.”