Emma Mathusek knocked in three runs (and played stellar defense) Tuesday in a 14-10 win. (John Fisken photo)
Official or not, a win is a win.
South Whidbey has had trouble all season fielding a full lineup for little league Juniors softball play, and Tuesday was no different.
After skipping last week’s game against Central Whidbey, the Southenders at least took the field this time, even though they were a player down.
By the time the game was called early, stopped in the fifth due to the dark, Coupeville’s sluggers had snatched another W, edging their hosts 14-10 in an oddly-called, oddly-played game.
Unofficially, the Venom improved to 8-3 on the season (maybe 9-3 if the no-show is considered a forfeit) and move on to face North Whidbey at the CHS softball field Thursday (6 PM).
After that, Central Whidbey will close the regular season with two games against their top rival, Anacortes.
Facing off with a depleted South Whidbey squad, the Venom came out a bit slowly before recovering.
Down 4-0, Central Whidbey rallied in the top of the second, sparked by superb base-running from Hannah Davidson.
Venom third baseman Emma Mathusek swung a big bat, collecting three RBI, while Willow Vick alertly beat out a throw to first to keep a rally going.
Davidson and Chelsea Prescott pulled off snappy plays on defense, with Prescott making a diving catch in the pitcher’s circle to deny South Whidbey a hit.
The perfect symbol for a game that was a little bit off all night came when Cynthia Rachal was at the plate in the top of the fourth with two runners on.
With a 1-2 count, the umpire called a ball, but Rachal, perhaps caught up in the moment, took off for first.
Both Venom runners broke at the same time, and South Whidbey, with little clue what to do, threw the ball around like crazy as Central Whidbey plated both runners on “accidental” steals.
Reinstalled at the plate, now with a 2-2 count, Rachal promptly lashed a single back up the middle to plop the cherry on top of the wacky sundae.
Hey, whatever works.
Coupeville Sports 
Sounds like an exciting game! Good job!