With two thirds of the league’s deepest pitching staff returning, a catcher who has signed to play in college and a huge turnout of players — including 12 seniors — the Hood River Valley baseball program is arguably in need of only one thing: Good weather.

Pendleton High’s “next-man-up” mantra was on display in the second half Friday, when the Buckaroos scored 29 unanswered points to beat Hood River Valley, 35-21, in a key Intermountain Conference football game at Henderson Stadium.