North Whidbey earns state berth with district title / 11/12 softball

The North Whidbey Little League 11/12 all-star team defended its turf in the District 11 tournament, now it will aim to do the same in the state playoffs.

North Whidbey swept Central Whidbey in a best-of-three series for the district title Friday and Saturday, June 23 and 24, in Oak Harbor to earn a berth in the state tournament.

North Whidbey will host the state tournament July 5-12.

North Whidbey plays its first state game at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 6, against defending champion Mill Creek in the nine-team, double elimination tournament.

North Whidbey 25, Central Whidbey 2 (four innings)

North Whidbey tallied 13 runs in the second inning to put the game away.

Walks to Kali Bobsin, Macy Oliver, Emily Wilson and Desiree Becherer led to a run in the first inning, setting up the second-inning explosion.

Emily Wilson and Olivia Kuykendall each hit a single and double in the big inning, while Bobsin, Oliver and Layla Robert added base hits.

Six walks, a triple by Kuykendall and a single by Roberts led to eight runs in the third inning.

Singles by Bobsin and Becherer helped score two more runs in the fourth.

Oliver picked up the pitching win, tossing a four-hitter and striking out nine.

Gwen Gustafson, Abigail Clinkscales, McKaela Meffert and Abby Mulholland all singled for Central Whidbey, which scored single runs in the third and fourth innings.

North Whidbey 12, Central Whidbey 2 (five innings)

North Whidbey scored twice in the first inning when Bobsin led off with a double and Wilson and Kuykendall each singled.

Central Whidbey quickly tied the score in the bottom half of the first. Gustafson walked, Allie Lucero singled and Meffert tripled for two runs.

That was it for CW offense, while North Whidbey scored in every inning to wrap up the title.

In the second, North Whidbey took the lead for good with three runs on a triple by Bobsin and singles by Wilson, Kuykendall and Becherer.

The next inning, Jadyn Erickson walked and scored on Bobsin’s single.

Three walks; singles by Bobsin, Becherer and Erickson; and a double by Jasmine Zenger led to four runs in the fourth.

Consecutive singles by Becherer, Roberts and Erickson resulted in three fifth-inning runs.

Oliver was again the winning pitcher, surrendering only one hit after the first inning and striking out eight.

Central Whidbey’s Abby Mulholland prepares to throw after recording a force-out at first base. (Photo by John Fisken)

Central Whidbey’s Abby Mulholland prepares to throw after recording a force-out at first base. (Photo by John Fisken)

North Whidbey first baseman Kali Bobsin looks in a throw in Friday’s win. (Photo by John Fisken)

North Whidbey first baseman Kali Bobsin looks in a throw in Friday’s win. (Photo by John Fisken)

Gwen Gustfson pitches for Central Whidbey in Friday’s game. (Photo by John Fisken)

Gwen Gustfson pitches for Central Whidbey in Friday’s game. (Photo by John Fisken)

Central Whidbey catcher McKaela Meffert hauls in a pitch in the opening game. (Photo by John Fisken)

Central Whidbey catcher McKaela Meffert hauls in a pitch in the opening game. (Photo by John Fisken)

Outfielder Vivian Farris tosses the ball to the infield for Central Whidbey Friday. (Photo by John Fisken)

Outfielder Vivian Farris tosses the ball to the infield for Central Whidbey Friday. (Photo by John Fisken)