With a bulk of talent in the underclass ranks, Golden Valley was supposed to become a Foothill League baseball contender in the future.

To heck with the future. The Grizzlies are looking like one now.

Trailing by a run heading into the seventh inning, Golden Valley freshmen Riley Sherwood and Billy Fredrick hit back-to-back solo home runs to lift the Grizzlies past Saugus 6-5 on Wednesday at Saugus High School.

It’s Golden Valley’s first baseball victory over the Centurions, and it comes on the heels of a 3-1 stretch against league powers Valencia and West Ranch over the past two weeks.

“Of all the teams I’ve coached,” said Golden Valley head coach Scott Drootin, “this team gets along like a family more than the rest.”

Grizzlies designated hitter Brandon Smith went down on strikes to start the seventh inning, but Sherwood stepped up and smoked a pitch over the fence in left field to tie the game, and Fredrick belted a straight shot off the scoreboard for the go-ahead run.

After the game, Sherwood and Fredrick could barely put their emotions into words.

Drootin, however, didn’t mince his before Sherwood’s at-bat.

“He said since Brandon didn’t hit it out, I had to hit it out,” Sherwood laughed.

Sherwood came through, and Fredrick was next.

“I was just trying to make contact up the middle,” he said.

He ended up making contact off the scoreboard.

Saugus (13-8, 5-5) was ahead in that regard for most of the game. The Centurions jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, when Nick Lombardi led off with a single and wound up scoring on a throwing error that also allowed teammate James Threw to reach base and advance all the way to third.

Michael Soucy grounded out in the next at-bat but it was enough to score Threw.

Saugus scored again in the third when Matt Emerson singled home Threw, and Justin Sheehan drove in Threw and Soucy with a single in the fifth to put Saugus ahead 5-2.

All the runs seemed to be enough cushion for starting pitcher Tommy Kister, but Saugus stranded seven base runners in the game, potential scores that could have come in handy.

“Tommy gave us a solid start,” said Saugus head coach John Maggiora. “The formula was there. We’re just not getting enough production from our guys.”

Golden Valley’s rally began in the sixth, when Josh Smith doubled home Kamran Young and scored himself on a sacrifice fly by Justin Jamroz.

The Grizzlies held Saugus scoreless in the bottom of the frame to set the stage for the seventh-inning fireworks.

“Give credit to them,” Maggiora said. “They’re hungry players.”

Golden Valley scored its first run in the second when Anthony San Miguel singled home Jon Granado, and Josh Smith hit a solo shot in the fourth inning.

The Grizzlies got a solid start on the mound from Scott Barlow, who left after six innings and gave up five runs on seven hits.

“I said if we can stay close we’d have a chance, and our pitcher kept us close,” Drootin said.

Threw wound up 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs to lead Saugus, but he was also the losing pitcher after entering the game in the sixth. Lombardi and Sheehan each went 2-for-4.

For Golden Valley, Smith finished 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs, and he also pitched the seventh in relief of Barlow.

The Grizzlies will face Saugus again on Friday.

Who knows what they have in store next.

“Hopefully we come back Friday and play well,” Drootin said.