Tahoma’s 6-5 win Wednesday night over Kentlake was an instant classic.

And it was just the first installment of a two-part series with the second part slated for 7 p.m. Thursday at Kentlake.

But it was Kentlake who looked good to start the game as it scored three runs in the first frame on an error and a series of singles by Erin Crowley, Jessie Richardson and Brittany Styger.

Kentlake had a 5-2 lead as Tahoma came up to bat in the bottom of the third.

This was the turning point for the Bears on their Senior Night.

Hayley Beckstrom smacked a double to right center field followed by an RBI double to center field by Shelby Carter. Lisa Maulden was put on first base when she was hit by a pitch then Sammii Jimenez ripped a triple to right center field sending in two more runs to tie it up 5-5.

From there it was ground outs for Kentlake and pop flies for Tahoma.

It even looked like pop flies would be Tahoma’s undoing until Jordan Walley stepped to the plate with one out in the bottom of the seventh.

Walley said she wanted to “just hit it up the middle, get the play through… not pop it up in the infield so (Maulden) had a chance to score.”

Maulden was on third base while Jimenez was on second after she dropped a bloop single onto the grass in center field.

Walley, who has hit her share of home runs this season, hit a long fly ball to center field which was caught by Seattle University-bound Falcons center fielder Erin Crowley.

Scoring was Maulden’s priority.

“Anything that was hit, I was going to go hard,” Maulden said.

Walley’s sacrifice fly was far enough for Maulden to tag up and score easily from third to put the winning run on the board for Tahoma.

“I’ve hit home runs and everything,” Walley said. “To hit a sac fly, I don’t think I’ve been so excited. To hit it in the bottom of the seventh was huge. It was awesome especially being a part of the team we’ve got now.”

It was only the second time Tahoma has beaten Kentlake in the program’s history and to come on Senior Night with the team celebrating six members of the class of 2011 was particularly sweet for Jimenez.

Maulden said she wanted her squad to challenge Kentlake because for so long Tahoma hadn’t been considered contenders in the SPSL North.

“This team has been rivals with Kentlake since Little League,” Maulden said. “It feels good to beat Kentlake. We came out of nothing… to now we’re winning league. Tonight’s a good night.”

For a group of seniors who have played together since they were 9 years old, Jimenez added. the win meant a lot.

“The fact that it was on Senior Night means a lot since it’s been going on so long, this rivalry,” Jimenez said. “It’s a good momentum builder for tomorrow.”

Tahoma improved to 12-1 in league while Kentlake dropped to 13-2.

But the standings won’t stay that way for long if the weather holds out on Thursday.

And don’t be surprised if it’s another instant classic.