Falcons lose district opener in extra innings / Softball

The South Whidbey High School softball team lost a 5-4 heartbreaker in 10 innings in the quarterfinals of the District 1 1A softball tournament Thursday, May 17, at Sedro-Woolley’s Janiki Fields.

The Falcons (10-11) will need to win two straight in the consolation bracket to finish third and qualify for the state tournament.

First up is a contest with Cascade Conference foe Cedar Park Christian-Bothell (7-14) at noon Saturday, May 19. If the Falcons win, they will play the winner of Nooksack Valley (7-15) and Sultan (2-17) at 2 p.m. Saturday for third place.

South Whidbey swept its three-game series with CPC during the regular season.

Mount Baker 5, South Whidbey 4

South Whidbey scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the score and set up the tense finish.

The Falcons wasted a strong performance from pitcher Mackenzee Collins. The senior went all 10 innings and finished with a four-hitter and 17 strikeouts. All five runs were unearned as South Whidbey committed six errors.

At one point, Collins fanned eight consecutive Mountaineers.

Mount Baker (16-6) started the 10th with a two-base error, then followed with two of its four hits off Collins to take the lead.

Collins and Ari Marshall led the Falcon offense with two hits each.

Collins had a single and triple, and Marshall added a single and double and drove in two runs.

Melodie Wilkie, Bekah Merrow, Bella Northrup and Myah Majestic all singled for South Whidbey.