Central/South Whidbey closing in on state berth | 9/10 softball

The Central/South Whidbey Little League 9/10 softball team is one win from earning a trip to state.

The Central/South Whidbey Little League 9/10 softball team is one win from earning a trip to state.

At the District 11 tournament at South Whidbey, it defeated North Whidbey 22-5 Saturday, June 28, and Sedro-Woolley 12-2 Sunday to secure a spot in the championship series. Both games went only four innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Central/South Whidbey will face the winner of Anacortes and South Skagit, the two survivors in the losers’ bracket, at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 1. If Central/South Whidbey loses that game, it will get another shot at 6 p.m. Thursday to wrap up the district title.

After losing to Central/South Whidbey, North Whidbey fell 27-3 to South Skagit Sunday and was eliminated.

In CW/SW’s win over North Whidbey in the opener, Kaia Richmond, Coral Caveness and Chelsea Prescott each reached base five times and scored five runs.

Prescott also earned the pitching win.

Madison Grimaldo scored two runs for North Whidbey; Abi Anderson, Abby Ries and Paige Liddle also crossed home plate.

In Sunday’s action against Sedro-Woolley, Prescott paced Central/South Whidbey by snaring another pitching win and sparking the offense with a grand slam in the second inning.

Mollie Bailey drove in two runs and scored another.

In North Whidbey’s game with South Skagit, Grimaldo rapped two hits, including a double.

Andersen struck out three in two innings, and Emily Wilson and Emily Steinke each recorded a strikeout in an inning of work.

Steinke paced the defense with two “amazing” catches in the outfield, according to coach Tashina Tosh.

“All girls did amazing; we are a young team focused on returning strong next year,” Tosh said.

(North Whidbey pitcher Abi Andersen keeps her eye on the ball in Saturday’s game. Jim Waller photo.)