A wild finish capped a fantastic pitching duel as the Oak Harbor High School baseball team won 3-2 in nine innings at Monroe Friday, March 27.

The teams battled through eight scoreless innings. When Oak Harbor pushed across three runs in the top of the ninth inning in a game where just getting runners aboard was a task, it appeared the Wildcats had the contest wrapped up.

The Bearcats, however, staged their own rally, scoring twice and leaving the bases loaded to end the game in heart-thumping fashion.

The game almost didn’t reach the ninth. Oak Harbor had to cut down a Monroe runner at the plate in the bottom of the eighth. The Bearcats hit two singles and had runners at the corners with one out, but a blown squeeze play blew up the chance.

Tyler Snavely threw an outstanding game for Oak Harbor. The junior right-hander allowed only four runners (all singles) over the first seventh innings. The only time Monroe had a runner in scoring position before the eighth inning was in the fifth when it hit back-to-back singles.

Snavely finished with eight strikeouts and one walk.

The Wildcats defense, which had been flawless, let Snavely down in the ninth, committing three errors and allowing the Bearcats to get back into the game.

A single, three errors and another single accounted for a run and chased Snavely in the ninth. Kevyn Johnson took over, and a sacrifice fly scored the second run.

A walk and single loaded the bases, but a pop out and a strikeout ended the threat.

Johnson threw three straight change-ups to the Bearcat leadoff hitter to earn the game-ending “K,” according to assistant coach Kyle Isaacson.

Alex Spahman started for Monroe and Jared Cogar took over in the fifth. The pair, which led Monroe to the state playoffs last year, blanked Oak Harbor until the ninth and combined for 15 strikeouts. Tyler Koontz pitched in the ninth and struck out two more.

Brent Mertins started the Oak Harbor uprising in the ninth with a single. After he was bunted to second by Danny Wolfe, Trent Benson walked.

C.J. Meders beat out a bunt single, and an error on the play allowed Mertins to score. Fittingly, Snavely followed with a two-run base hit.

Johnson and Mertins each finished with two base hits.

Oak Harbor (2-1) goes to Everett to face Cascade (1-4) at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 31.