The North Whidbey Little League 13/14 Junior baseball team opened the district tournament the way it handled the regular season — by winning.

North Whidbey, coached by Ryan McCarthy, remained unbeaten in 16 games by defeating South Skagit 15-7 Thursday, July 2, at the District 11 tournament in Anacortes.

North Whidbey faces Anacortes at noon Saturday, July 4, in the championship game. Anacortes came through the consolation bracket and will have to defeat North Whidbey twice. The second game, if necessary, is set for noon on Sunday.

South Skagit, which also included players from Sedro-Woolley, hung with North Whidbey most of the game, then North Whidbey cemented the win with a seven-run sixth inning.

In the big inning, Jason Bergeron got things going with a walk, moved up on a ground out and then scored on a wild pitch. Aiden McCarthy walked, Ethan Cosper singled and David Sisson was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

After a strikeout, Ashton Mendiola singled in one run, then Cosper scored on a wild pitch. Johnny Bradley walked to reload the bases.

Jakob Dailey stroked a double, scoring two runs, followed by another walk to Bergeron. Nathanael Thompson walked, forcing in a run. Dailey finished the scoring by scoring on a passed ball.

North Whidbey started the game with two runs in the first inning. Dailey walked and scored on Bergeron’s double. Bergeron stole third and scored on Thompson’s ground out.

South Skagit took its only lead with three runs in the top of the second inning, but North Whidbey responded with four runs in its half. With one out, Mendiola and Bradley walked. Mendiola scored on a passed ball and Bradley was driven in by Dailey’s base hit. Bergeron then doubled in Dailey and scored on an error.

South Skagit cut the lead to 6-5 with two runs in the top of the third inning.

North Whidbey scored in the fourth on a walk to Dailey and a single by Thompson.

South Skagit tied the game a 7-7 with two runs in the fifth.

North Whidbey scored once in its half. Sisson singled and eventually stole home.

Dailey, Bergeron, Thompson and Cosper all finished with two hits. Thompson had four RBI, Dailey three and Bergeron and Mendiola two each.

Thompson handled most of the pitching duties, throwing five innings with eight hits, three runs, three strikeouts and two walks.