The Whidbey Island 11/12 Little League all-star softball game lost 9-5 to host Anacortes in the District 11 tournament Sunday, June 21, but made Anacortes work for a win for the first time this year.

Anacortes is undefeated this season and had 10-runned every opponent until slipping by the Whidbey girls Sunday, according to Whidbey coach Adam Caveness.

Whidbey faces South Skagit at 6 p.m. Monday, June 22, in Anacortes in a loser-out game. The winner will take on Anacortes in the championship series and will need to top Anacortes twice to claim the district title.

Whidbey defeated South Skagit 18-3 in the tournament opener Saturday.

In the loss to Anacortes, Caveness said, “We were really aggressive on base stealing to keep us in the game.”

The Whidbey battery of pitcher Scout Smith and catcher Patti Miessner played well, Caveness said.

The coach also lauded the play of several of his defenders. Carol Caveness had nice catch in the outfield and first baseman Marenna Rebischke-Smith dug out a few low throws at first, Caveness said.