In a dramatic and controversial finish, the Burlington-Edison Little League 9-11 baseball team nipped North Whidbey 8-7 in the first game of the district tournament Thursday, June 21, at Oak Harbor’s Windjammer Park.

The best-of-three series continues at 6 p.m. Friday, June 22. Game three, if necessary, is set for noon Saturday.

North Whidbey trailed 6-4 heading into the top of the final inning, then rallied for three runs with two outs to take a 7-6 lead.

Burlington scored the tying run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth.

The game appeared to be heading into extra innings after the batter who drove in the tying run was caught in a run down between first and second and tagged out by North Whidbey.

The hitter, however, ran into the NW first baseman rounding the bag before the rundown. The umpires gathered and ruled the runner was obstructed, keeping the game alive. The next batter stroked a game-winning single.

Tripp Radford led North Whidbey with three singles, including a two-run base hit that gave the Oak Harbor team the lead in the sixth inning.

Trevor Sadler chipped in with two hits; Nikko Gonzales doubled; and David Smith, Easton Burton and Maurice Walker all singled.

Tripp Radford tosses a pitch for North Whidbey. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News-Times)

David Smith ducks into second base as Burlington’s Landon Stallings awaits the throw. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News-Times)

Saxon Gluth continues baseball’s bubble-blowing tradition. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News-Times)

Trevor Sadler slides safely into third base as Burlington’s Asher Moe snags the throw. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News-Times)

Nikko Gonzales drives a double for North Whidbey. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News-Times)

Third baseman David Smith fires across the diamond. (Photo by Jim Waller/Whidbey News-Times)