Thora Iverson was a wizard with the glove Wednesday, sparking Central Whidbey to an 11-1 win over its Island rivals. (John Fisken photos)
Marenna Rebischke-Smith, dropping a bunt here, also smacked a two-run single to straightaway center.
Using her long reach, first-baseman Kylie Van Velkinburgh pulls in a throw.
Mollie Bailey, master of messin’ with the cameraman.
Mollie’s grandma, Cheryl Engle (left) and mom, Donna Bailey, go with a more conventional response.
Stella Johnson beats the snot out of the ball.
In a game of big hits and a fair amount of runs, it was a web gem that brought the house down.
The Central Whidbey Little League Juniors softball squad scorched nine hits and waxed visiting North Whidbey Gold 11-1 Wednesday, but it was a slick defensive play which would lead off the highlight reel.
The play in question came in the top of the third, with the visitors making their one sustained rally against CWLL hurler Melody Wilkie.
North Whidbey had a run in and was threatening again with second and third occupied.
Enter the unassuming but deadly effective Thora Iverson.
Patrolling second base for the first time in her career, she stamped out every last hope and dream the Northenders might have possessed.
The play in question started with a liner back through the pitcher’s circle.
Sharply angled and moving with a fair amount of speed, it smacked off of Wilkie’s out-flung glove and took a nasty hop towards the hole between second and first.
Iverson, moving like a seasoned pro, snagged the hot shot, then had the presence of mind to immediately pivot and lay the ball into the waiting glove of Kylie Van Velkinburgh at first for an inning-ending out.
It deflated North Whidbey’s entire bench, earned a roar from Central Whidbey’s players and made a scattered group of dogs in attendance howl in unison.
As she was being pummeled by her Adrenaline teammates and praised by coach Connie Lippo, Iverson smiled the smile of a stone-cold killer disguised as a mild-mannered middle school student.
Sparked by the slick glove work, and a whole lot of hits, Central Whidbey improved to 5-2 on the season.
The Adrenaline jumped on North Whidbey quickly, putting up four runs in both the first and second inning.
Lead-off hitter Coral Caveness set the tone for the evening, ramming a double down the left field line, then taking third when the throw back in from the outfield took its sweet time finding the cut-off.
Central Whidbey sent 10 batters to the plate in the first inning, with Wilkie launching a two-run double to deep center and Audrianna Shaw dropping a picture-perfect bunt for a single.
In the second, it was more of the same, with the Adrenaline stepping up and hammering pitches to all fields.
Taylor Fifield stroked a double to left, while Marenna Rebischke-Smith drilled a two-run single to straightaway center, dropping it perfectly between two fielders.
Wilkie, who whiffed 10 batters in five innings, also paced the offensive attack with three hits, including a pair of doubles.
She got plenty of help, as Anya Leavell, Mollie Bailey, Shaw, Caveness, Fifield and Rebischke-Smith all had a base-knock.
Stella Johnson was her usual steady self in the field, while Shianna Baker and Krystal Caudle both saw playing time, as the Adrenaline got something from all 12 players who suited up.
“This was a really good win for them,” said Lippo, who was flying solo with head coach Mimi Johnson missing in action for a game.
To see more photos from this game (purchases fund college scholarships for CHS student/athletes), pop over to:
http://www.johnsphotos.net/Sports/2017-CWLL/20170517-SB-Juniors-vs-North-Whidbey/
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