Lanie Padbury stole the game.

It was the top of the 7th and the score was tied against rival La Conner.

Padbury inched her way off first base, keeping a cautious eye on the La Conner infielders, and then made a fast break for it. The La Conner catcher lobbed a desperate throw toward second base, but the ball sailed wild into center field and Padbury seized the day, flying past third and on home to clinch the game for Orcas.

“It was fantastic,” said pitcher Adria Garcia. “It got the whole team pumped up, which is really cool.

Just to see everyone working together really hard was really cool, to know that we had to win that game.”

It was another close game between old rivals, with three lead changes as Orcas came from behind again and again. Bobbi Lowry started the game in the circle and went four innings, with two strikeouts and three walks. Adria Garcia came in at the bottom of the 5th and finished the last three innings with two strikeouts. When Garcia entered the game with the bases loaded, a La Conner batter hit a pop fly to Padbury at short stop for the first out of the inning. The next batter hit a fly ball to Alison O’Toole, who threw to second base to double up the runner.

O’Toole went 2 for 4 at the plate, while Mackie Taylor went 1 for 4, with a double.

Along with her winning run, Padbury went 2 for 4 and hit a triple. Garcia went 1 for 2, with a double.

Assistant coach Jason Nichols said the team displayed great pitching, solid defense, and timely hitting.

“We hit the ball well off a real tough pitcher, probably one of the better ones in the league,” said Nichols. “Catcher Lindsay Anderson gunned down two would be base stealers. The first was a potential go-ahead run in the 6th; the second was a potential tying run in the 7th. Those were two pretty big plays late in the game.”

Initially scheduled as a double-header at Buck Park, the game was moved to La Conner after heavy rains soaked the diamond the night before. In exchange, the next game against the Braves will be played on Orcas, scheduled for April 20. The game was an important victory over La Conner as the teams contend for league title.

“It was a huge win for us and another good team effort,” said head coach Scott Harris. “I’m pretty excited for the girls. They did a great job.”