South Whidbey High School’s young baseball team showed some moxie in a 6-5 win in the season opener at Chimacum Saturday, March 10.
The Falcons came from behind twice and then withstood a Cowboy rally in the bottom of the final inning to pick up the non-league win. South Whidbey also competed in a jamboree with host Anacortes and Oak Harbor Thursday, March 8.
“We made plays when we had to,” coach Tom Fallon said. “It was very encouraging.”
His varsity teams includes three freshmen and seven sophomores and returns only one senior who saw significant playing time last season.
The youngsters are “baseball kids — the baseball knowledge is there,” Fallon said.
The newcomers were led by Brent Batchelor, “who pitched really well,” according to Fallon. The freshman pitched three-plus innings in relief and gave up only one earned run while striking out five. On offense, he collected two hits and two RBI.
The game, however, did include some growing pains, according to Fallon.
“We played OK; we made a few mistakes here and there,” he said. “That’s what happens with youth.”
South Whidbey’s lack of experience didn’t affect its mental toughness.
Chimacum scored in the bottom of the third inning to go ahead 1-0. The Falcons matched the run in the top of the fourth, then the Cowboys added two more runs in the bottom half.
South Whidbey erupted for four runs in the fifth and added one more in the top of the seventh.
Chimacum rallied for two runs in the seventh, but the Falcons hung on as the Cowboys finished with the tying and winning runs on base.
South Whidbey’s run in the fourth inning came when Drew Fry reached on an error, stole second and scored on Batchelor’s base hit.
The four-run fifth was produced by doubles by Alex Black and Batchelor, singles by Taylor Brown, Fry and Dex Jokinen and a walk to Kody Newman.
Fry led off the seventh with a single and eventually scored the Falcons’ final run.
Fry, like Batchelor, finished the day with two hits and two RBI; he also scored two runs.
Black doubled twice, and Brown singled and stole three bases.
South Whidbey will play its home opener against Concrete at 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 13.
Dexter Jokinen puts the tag on an Oak Harbor runner in the Anacortes Jamboree last week. (Photo by John Fisken)
