North Whidbey splits first two games in 11-12 tournament

The North Whidbey 11-12 all-star team rebounded from a first-round defeat to thump Anacortes 12-2 Sunday, July 11, at the district tournament at Windjammer Park.

Today, July 13, the local club meets South Skagit at 6 p.m. in a loser-out match. South Whidbey defeated South Skagit 10-2 Sunday.

North Whidbey opened the tournament Saturday with a 7-0 loss to South Whidbey.

The winner of today's North Whidbey/South Skagit game faces the loser of the South Whidbey/Sedro-Woolley game Tuesday at 6 p.m.

In the win over Anacortes, North Whidbey built a 5-2 lead heading into the fifth then erupted for seven runs to bury the visitors.

Singles by Preston Rankin and Blake Smith helped produce a run in the first. NW picked up two more in the second on walks and Anacortes errors.

In the third, a double by Tyler Snavely highlighted a two-run inning.

North Whidbey mixed four hits, three walks and a hit batter to produce its seven-run fifth. Snavely's second double and singles by Quentin Tungate, Jared Hunt and Shane Huttula sparked the uprising.

Pitchers Kellan Mebane, Rankin, Alex Harrison, Tungate and Smith combined for a nine-strikeout one hitter.

Coach Jerry Newton said, "The big thing was getting the guys to understand the team concept. Today was different (than Saturday's loss)."

In the loss to South Whidbey, Newton said, "We didn't swing the bat." A trio of South Whidbey pitchers, led by Brent Phiehler, fired a one-hitter and struck out 13.

Tungate picked up the only NW hit.

South Whidbey led 3-0 going into the fourth, then tacked on four more runs to put the game away.

Newton said South Whidbey got "key hits" when they needed them.

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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