OSCODA – Oscoda nearly pulled off a big-time upset in their Division 3 baseball district semifinal at Pinconning on Saturday. Going up against the heavily favored Spartans, they led through four innings and pushed the eventual champion Spartans to eight innings, but unfortunately had their season ended with a 3-2 loss.

“The boys played a really good game against a really good team,” head coach Luke Williams said. “Logan Williams pitched a great game, and the boys made play after play in the field.”

Pinconning scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning. The Owls would take the lead in the top of the fourth though, as Zayne Alts hit a two-RBI single.

The Spartans answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth though, and it remained deadlocked through seven.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Pinconning was able to score a run to give them the walk-off victory.

L. Williams took the tough-luck loss, going seven and one-third innings and giving up three runs, two earned on there hits, two strikeouts and two walks. After L. Williams reached his pitch count limit, Jhonas Williams entered on the mound, retiring one batter before Pinny got its walk-off.

The Owls had J. Williams get three hits on offense and Alts had one hit and two RBI. L. Williams had one hit and walked once and Ashton Smith also reached thanks to a walk.

“The effort the boys played with was outstanding, and I couldn’t ask for more,” Williams said.

Oscoda won the North Star League Big Dipper this season, with a 7-2-1 record. A May 5 doubleheader at Tawas Area proved to be crucial, as they won game one 8-4 and tied game two 7-7. With both teams having the same league record, Oscoda was given the championship thanks to the head-to-head tiebreaker.

“It meant a lot to the boys,” Williams said. “It was a goal we set at the beginning of the year, and they made it happen. We had a rough start and finished strong. Then they carried that to districts and played like league champs only losing by one run to Pinconning who mercied us two games in a row earlier this season.”