The Enumclaw High baseball squad was one of the few groups to beat out the inclement weather and squeeze in its season opener Friday when it hosted Class 4A Federal Way at Osborne Field.

The Hornets put on quite a hitting display, trimming the Eagles’ tail feathers 11-10.

In what was a wild affair offensively, Enumclaw fell behind 4-1 going into the bottom of the third frame, but EHS senior third baseman Berent Hagen regained the lead for the Hornets when he crushed a grand slam to put Enumclaw ahead 6-4.

Federal Way instantly retaliated with four runs in its half of the fourth and held an 8-6 advantage, but not for long. Enumclaw had the Eagle pitcher’s number as in the bottom of the fifth, he relinquished three walks and the Hornets strung together a trio of base knocks to regain a 10-8 lead.

As expected in both teams’ initial outing of the season, there were a few miscues as there were five errors committed between the two clubs. Starting EHS hurler, senior righty Kyle Messer, hit his pitch count in the fifth inning and when Cody Hart came in to relieve Messer, Federal Way managed to tie the score at 10 apiece, manufacturing another tandem of runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Enumclaw scored once more in the bottom of that same frame to take the 11-10 lead and Hart’s pitching held up in the top of the seventh, earning the win.

Enumclaw skipper Eric Fiedler said while none of the Eagle players remain from his days of coaching at Federal Way, his boys were going against some of those players’ little brothers and he was coaching against one of his best friends.

“It felt good to start out the season with a win and it is always fun to go against 4A competition,” said Fiedler, adding that, “my guys’ play was very encouraging and the attitude in the dugout was great. I especially liked our aggressiveness on the base paths. I think we stole eight bases on them.”

The results of Enumclaw’s scheduled contest at 4A Auburn High Monday came too late to be included here. The Hornets next play at 4 p.m. Thursday when they host Capital High at Osborne Field and the South Puget Sound League 3A campaign gets under way at 7 p.m. Friday when Enumclaw hosts Bonney Lake.

Reach John Leggett at jleggett@courierherald.com or 360-802-8207.