Central Whidbey hurler Savina Wells gets down with her bad self. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
They’re off to Poulsbo.
After savaging visiting South Skagit 10-4 Monday, the Central Whidbey Little League Majors softball team has a ticket to the state tourney.
The Hammerheads, who are 17-2 and have outscored foes 292-90, are the District 11 champs.
Central Whidbey earned the banner by sweeping both of its foes during the All-Stars tourney, which was held at Coupeville’s Rhododendron Park.
After vanquishing Sedro-Woolley 12-5 Saturday, the Hammerheads delivered more of the same against Skagit.
And, while both rivals were able to pull players from two different teams in their town, Central Whidbey has been one team, one dream the whole way.
The Hammerheads did pick up some help when 6th grader Savina Wells, who had been playing with the CWLL juniors team, dropped back to her age group for the postseason.
After catching against Sedro, the lethal lead-off hitter strolled to the pitcher’s circle for Monday’s game.
And Wells was lights-out, until her body betrayed her.
She struck out six of the first seven hitters she faced, surrendering just a walk, and set the tone for the game.
“She was on fire; they weren’t going to hit her,” said CWLL coach Fred Farris.
But then fate took a bad turn in the bottom of the second inning for the Hammerheads, as Wells, legging out her second single on the night, badly twisted her ankle.
Unable to return to the circle, she was helped to the bench, where she continued to cheer for her team as they chased the title.
Game one starter Chloe Marzocca replaced Wells in the circle, keeping Skagit at bay the rest of the way, ripping off nine strikeouts across four innings of work.
“Chloe did a great job under the circumstances,” Farris said. “Savina stayed on the bench and encouraged her teammates. Special young lady!”
Central Whidbey got on the scoreboard quickly, pushing across three runs in the bottom of the first, and never trailed.
Wells swatted a single, then scampered around the base-paths, using quicksilver steals to disrupt Skagit’s rhythm.
An Allison Nastali walk helped out, while Madison McMillan had the big hit in the inning, cracking a line drive RBI single to center.
Not content to stop there, the Hammerheads piled up two walks and two hits in the second, only to see Skagit somehow escape unscathed.
The visitors wouldn’t be so lucky over the next two innings, as Central Whidbey exploded for seven runs to put the game on ice.
In the third, Brionna Blouin bopped an RBI single, then celebrated at first as teammate Taylor Brotemarkle took advantage of a poor throw to join McMillan in scoring on the play.
The Hammerheads brought the big bats out in the fourth, drilling five hits, including a couple of extra-base specials.
The five-run inning started with Katie Marti showing off her eagle eyes en route to earning a walk, then the bats started poppin’.
Nastali and Mia Farris singled, McMillan went big time with a thunderous two-run triple, Marzocca rifled a double, and Blouin capped things with another RBI single.
Central Whidbey, which finished with 10 hits and seven walks, got something from all 12 players on the roster.
Wells, Nastali, Blouin, and McMillan smacked two hits apiece, while Mia Farris and Marzocca rounded out the hit parade.
Nastali spent the entire game getting on base, adding a pair of walks to her two hits.
Also snatching free passes were Teagan Calkins, Jada Heaton, Brotemarkle, Marti, and McMillan, who got plunked.
Blouin and McMillan had three RBI’s each, while Aleksia Jump and Mayleen Weatherford rounded out a diamond squad headed to state, which is set for June 29-July 6.
Solid team-wide performances like Monday’s bring a smile to their coach’s face.
“Brionna caught a good game and snapped off several balls to Mia at first on moderate lead-offs, which sent a message to Skagit that they just needed to stay right where they were,” Fred Farris said.
“It was Katie’s birthday, so we shared ice cream with Skagit afterwards and she played well in center-field.”
As they have shown all season, the Hammerheads are an especially tight-knit group of players.
“The girls really wanted to win it, not just for themselves or the team, but for their injured teammate who was cheering them on and encouraging them through the icing and pain in the dugout,” Farris said.
“These young ladies really earned the title ‘district champs’; They work hard, support each other and play the game the right way.
“I couldn’t be prouder!”
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