By NATHAN WHALEN

Special to The Record

On the strength of an overall record of 13-7, South Whidbey’s baseball team qualified for the District 1 and 2 playoffs.

“I still feel like we haven’t played our best game yet,” coach Tom Fallon said.

The Falcons closed out their regular season April 29 with a 7-2 win against Bellingham. He said the game saw South Whidbey gain an early lead and the team made some clutch plays.

He highlighted the efforts of pitcher Liam Petty, who threw five scoreless innings with nine strikeouts.

Maddox Smith-Heacox also got hot at the bat. Normally playing second base, Smith-Heacox has been playing center field. “He’s just doing a great job playing utility,” Fallon said.

He mentioned the help the Falcons pitchers provided through the successful season. Petty, along with Grady Davis, are South Whidbey’s primary starters. Malachi Pierson and Sage Northrup provides relief.

South Whidbey had a conference record of 6-6, which placed it fourth in the competitive Emerald Sound, which, for most of the season, had four-to-six teams in the top 15 of the state, Fallon said.

“Our league is one of the toughest baseball leagues around,” Fallon said. He added the high level of competition continues in the district tournament because of such teams as Meridian, Blaine and Lynden.

Meridian, which has an overall record of 14-6, is ranked ninth in the state.

“They are a very well-coached and very well-disciplined team,” Fallon said. “It’s going to be a battle.”

The game takes place at 12:30 p.m., Saturday, May 4 at Joe Martin Field in Bellingham.