Timberline nearly erased a five-run deficit but Tumwater was able to hold on and gut out an 11-9, non-league victory over the Class 3A Blazers at home on Friday.
The Thunderbirds scored 10 of their 11 runs in the first two innings, including a seven-run second inning to take a commanding, 10-5 lead that they held through four innings.
But the Blazers responded by plating four runs in the fifth to cut their deficit to one before the T-Birds scored once in the fifth then clung on the rest of the way for the win.
Brayden Oram led the T-Birds’ attack, going 2 for 3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs, while Alex Overbay went 1 for 1 with two RBIs and Derek Thompson was 1 for 3 with two RBIs and a run.
The Thunderbirds used six pitchers, who combined to strike out 12 Blazer batters. Ayden Ramsay had three punchouts, while Thompson, Trenton Gaither, Overbay and Landon Roy each struck out two batters.
Tumwater (5-3) next hosts 2A Evergreen Conference foe Aberdeen on Tuesday.
