What a difference a year makes for the Washougal High School baseball team.
The Panthers could not win a league game in 2010. On Saturday, they sunk their teeth into two league victories over Woodland on the same day.
The outcome of the second game is one Washougal ballplayers, coaches and parents are going to be talking about for years to come.
The Beavers scored six runs in the top of the seventh inning to grab a 9-7 advantage with three outs to go. The first two Panthers struck out in the bottom of that last inning, before Ryan Erdwins roped a double into left field.
“We had two outs and needed to get something started,” Erdwins said. “I got a good pitch I could handle, and put it in the left corner. ‘Second, second, second’ is all I was thinking about as I rounded first base.”
The two-out magic continued, as Erdwins stole third base and Alec Fuller drew a walk. The tying and winning runs were on base when Jesse Stull stepped up to the plate a ripped a game-winning 2-run double into left center to give Washougal a satisfying 10-9 victory.