By Tim Clinton
SPORTS EDITOR

The Highline Bears came within one strike of victory before their game against the North Sound Emeralds got away from them Saturday, 7-6.

Highline had a 6-5 lead with runners on first and second with two outs and two strikes and one ball on the Emeralds' Danny Head.

But the next three pitches went wild to walk Head and Peter Perkins stepped up and ripped a first-pitch fastball up the middle to bring in two runs.
North Sound held on in the bottom of the ninth even though Sam Trend-Beacom of the Bears hit into an error to lead off.

Highline's semiprofessional baseball record fell to 3-5 with the loss at Mel Olson Stadium at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center.

The Emeralds jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the game before Alex Sisley of the Bears singled in two runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 5-2 ballgame.

Highline tied it with three runs in the sixth with the help of two walks, three hit batters and two Emeralds errors.
Matt Stuart of the Bears lofted an RBI sacrifice fly for a 6-5 Bears lead in the bottom of the seventh.
Chase Hodkinson made the defensive play of the game in the top of the eighth, gunning out the tying run at the plate from left field. Hodkinson is normally the Bears' catcher.

Highline was held scoreless in the bottom of the inning, and North Sound started off the top of the ninth with a walk ahead of a bunt single by Ryan Cratsenberg.

Bears first baseman Chandler Michalek fielded a bunt and threw out the runner going to third and the next batter flew out.

But Head came in and changed the 1-2 count into a bases-loading walk and Perkins hit his decisive two-run single.
Highline only managed two hits in the game, but benefitted from 14 free passes of various kinds (walks, hit batters and Emeralds errors).