Seaside fans were on the edge of their seat in the bottom of the seventh … but the Gulls somehow got through it, and at 7:14 p.m., April 25, 2018, the Seaside baseball team finally brought a 12-year, 35-game Clatsop Clash losing streak to an end.

The Gulls jumped out to an early lead over Astoria at Tapiola Park, then held on for a 7-3 win over the Fishermen, snapping a very long dry spell in the Clash.

Seaside’s last victory over the Fishermen came at Tapiola Park on April 13, 2006 — or, Jordan Poyer’s freshman season.

But for coach Joel Dierickx and the Seaside players, it was just a much-needed win.

“That (losing streak) is not even a part of them,” Dierickx said of his players, many of whom were not even in school the last time Seaside defeated Astoria in a Cowapa League game. “Those things aren’t about us. It was just a really great way to bounce back after Monday’s (11-2) loss. The kids were really disappointed with the way we played in that one.”

The Gulls made a few adjustments (“nothing major,” Dierickx said) and collected 11 hits in Wednesday’s win.

Payton Westerholm had four of the hits, two singles and two doubles. He also drove in two runs and scored twice.

In the field, Seaside turned a 4-6-3 double play to end the fourth inning, and an even bigger 8-4-5 double play in the bottom of the seventh.

Trailing 7-2 to start the inning, Astoria loaded the bases with no outs.

A fly ball to center from Josiah Hirsch scored Trey Hageman from third, but the Astoria runner at second was thrown out at third after tagging.

“That showed how much one play can turn things,” Dierickx said. “That was a big second out, and really stalled things for Astoria.”

Brayden Johnson started on the mound for the Gulls and pitched into the seventh inning.

Astoria’s second batter of the inning, Burke Matthews, sent a line drive right back to Johnson, who was hit on the arm and had to leave the game.

Johnson scattered five hits with four strikeouts and four walks, and was replaced by Duncan Thompson, who closed out the win.

“Brayden threw a fantastic game,” said Dierickx, whose team improves to 3-5, 6-9 overall.

At the plate, Thompson had a single and a double, and drove in three runs — including a huge two-run single with two outs in the top of the fifth.

Other than that, the Gulls stranded 13 baserunners. They left two runners on base in each of the first four innings.

Alex Teubner also had a single and a double for the Gulls, and Gage McFadden had two singles. Four Astoria pitchers combined for seven strikeouts and just three walks, but hit five batters, including Dawson Blanchard twice.

Hageman and Matthews had two hits apiece for the Fishermen, who fall one game behind Banks in the league standings. The Braves and Fishermen will play each other Friday and Monday.

Astoria has played just two league games this season at Tapiola Park, both losses.