South Whidbey drops tournament opener / 8-10 baseball

By Jim Waller • June 24, 2019 1:30 am
Kowen White lets a pitch fly in the first inning. White allowed only one hit and struck out nine in three innings of work.(Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)
Kowen White lets a pitch fly in the first inning. White allowed only one hit and struck out nine in three innings of work. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Anacortes used a big fourth inning to defeat the South Whidbey Little League 8-10 baseball team 15-11 Sunday, June 23, in the District 11 tournament at Community Park.

South Whidbey now faces Sedro-Woolley at 6 p.m. Monday, June 24, in an elimination game in the five-team tournament.

South Whidbey scored five runs in the first inning of its tournament opener against Anacortes to get off to a good start, then scored four times in the top of the fourth to go up 9-4.

From there, Anacortes took over, tallying eight times in the bottom of the fourth and three times in the fifth to pull away.

South Whidbey started the game with five consecutive singles. Levi Dixon, Tucker Allen, Kowen White, Collier Honold and Ian Leon all recorded base hits, and then after an out, Levi Batchelor singled to complete the early rally.

After Anacortes cut the lead to 5-4, South Whidbey tacked on four more runs in the top of the fourth. John Nienhaus singled, then after an out, Carson Goodman and Allen singled, followed by a White double. Honold added a base hit, and Liam Monaghan and Colton Biehler walked to keep the uprising alive.

Anacortes countered with its eight-run fourth and eventually led 15-9 heading into the sixth inning.

South Whidbey tried to come back in its final at bat, scoring twice and leaving the bases loaded. Singles by White, Monaghan and Nienhuis fueled the two-run sixth.

White finished with three hits and pitched the first three innings, giving up one hit and striking out nine.

Tucker Allen attacks a pitch in Sunday’s game.(Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Tucker Allen attacks a pitch in Sunday’s game. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Levi Batchelor prepares to throw to second during a rundown Sunday. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Levi Batchelor prepares to throw to second during a rundown Sunday. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Aeden Fisher takes a cut at a pitch.(Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Aeden Fisher takes a cut at a pitch. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Collier Honold raps a base hit for South Whidbey.(Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Collier Honold raps a base hit for South Whidbey. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Liam Monaghan delivers a pitch for South Whidbey.(Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Liam Monaghan delivers a pitch for South Whidbey. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

John Nienhuis slides into second base for South Whidbey.(Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

John Nienhuis slides into second base for South Whidbey. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

South Whidbey catcher Collier Honold puts the tag on an Anacortes runner trying to score.(Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

South Whidbey catcher Collier Honold puts the tag on an Anacortes runner trying to score. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Kowen Whites advances to third base.(Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)

Kowen Whites advances to third base. (Photo by Jim Waller/South Whidbey Record)