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Posts Tagged ‘Central Whidbey Little League’

Pineapple Ninjas are ready for their close-up!!

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged Central Whidbey Little League, John Fisken photos, Pineapple Ninjas, playoffs, Softball on July 5, 2015| Leave a Comment »

No softball shall escape the grasp of the Pineapple Ninjas! Ever!! (John Fisken photos)

The resounding thunk you just heard was solid wood (OK, aluminum) on softball.

“And just where do we think we’re going?!?! I told you no softball escaped our grasp!!”

“Gettin’ my uniform dirty. It’s kind of my trademark.”

“Oh, that feels like a hit, yes ma’am, it does!”

Lost in the desert windstorm, the young softball whiz kid made the play, cause … NO SOFTBALL ESCAPES THE PINEAPPLE NINJAS!!

The Pineapple Ninjas are off to the state tourney.

But before the new District 11 champs — the Central Whidbey Little League 9/10 All-Star softball squad — heads to Vancouver, we can bask in the glow of their stellar play, thanks to travelin’ photo man John Fisken.

The pics above are courtesy him, and come from action on July 3.

To see more (and possibly purchase some), pop over to:

https://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf36127f5ffe

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State-bound, baby!!

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged 12th Man, 4th of July, Central Whidbey Little League, Comeback, Natalie Slater, Softball, state on July 4, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Plays like this helped carry Central Whidbey to a district title. (John Fisken photo)

The comeback kids. The champs. (Photo courtesy Mimi Johnson)

Set off the fireworks, cause Central Whidbey is da champs.

Cruising to its second win in as many days against arch-rival North Whidbey, the Pineapple Ninjas, a 9/10 All-Star little league softball squad that features Coupeville and South Whidbey girls, clinched the District 11 championship Saturday.

The 15-9 win, coming on a hot 4th of July, sends Central Whidbey to the state tourney.

It also capped a remarkable comeback for a squad that suffered through a heart-rending opening to the district playoffs.

Central Whidbey let a four-run lead over North Whidbey slip away in the final inning of their playoff opener, falling 11-10.

Instead of falling apart, the girls in red and black rallied to win three consecutive loser-out games, knocking off Sedro-Woolley before sweeping back-to-back games from their closest rival.

Playing with everything at stake Saturday, Central ran away with the game. Literally.

Running wild on the base-paths, leaving behind a never-ending string of stolen bases in the scorebook, the Pineapple Ninjas broke open the game with an 11-run fourth inning.

Having seen an early 4-2 lead slip away, Central trailed 7-4 entering the fourth, before it flipped the switch and bolted to a win.

Kaela Meffert smacked three singles to pace her squad, while Jill Prince scorched a single and Central hurler Chanel Sterba whiffed seven North Whidbey hitters.

The Pineapple Ninjas open the state tourney in Vancouver next Saturday, July 11 with a game against a Marysville team coached by former Coupeville softball star Natalie (Slater) Maneval.

It’s a reunion, since Maneval and Central Whidbey coach Mimi Johnson were roommates back in the day when they played softball at Skagit Valley College.

A second reunion could occur later in the tournament, as former Wolf Matt Cross has a daughter on a rival team, while his sister, Jennie (Cross) Prince, will be cheering on her daughter, Jill.

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One win from state!!

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged 4th of July, Central Whidbey Little League, Mimi Johnson, playoffs, Softball on July 4, 2015| Leave a Comment »

“I don’t care how far away that fence is … I’m going downtown with this baby!!” (John Fisken photo)

The celebration reigns. (Megan Somes photos)

Isabelle Wells gets ready to nring a big bat and slick glove to the field. (Katy Wells photo)

Isabelle Wells gets ready to bring a big bat and slick glove to the field. (Katy Wells photo)

This time, there was no chance of a comeback.

Pounding the ball with glee Friday, the Central Whidbey Little League 9/10 All-Star softball squad dismantled arch-rival North Whidbey 20-10.

The win avenged a loss earlier in the week, when Central let a four-run lead slip away in the final inning, and set up a winner-take-all tilt on the 4th of July.

Central and North will face off at 3 PM Saturday in Mount Vernon for the District 11 title and a trip to the state tourney.

Friday’s game started with a bang, as Central raced out to a 7-1 lead, then took a detour, with North tying things back up at 7-7, before firmly turning back in favor of the middle of Whidbey.

Central put up five runs in both the third and fourth, then tacked on four more in both the fifth and sixth to thoroughly dominate things.

“Another great game!,” said Central coach Mimi Johnson. “Chanel (Sterba) pitched a great game; Stella (Johnson) did amazing catching.

“Jill Prince had a much needed catch for a big out and Kaela Meffert wins the big bat award!!”

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Sluggers chase title dreams!!

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged Central Whidbey Little League, Katy Wells, Mimi Johnson, Softball on July 3, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Central Whidbey’s catcher perfectly frames a pitch. (John Fisken photos)

Coach Mimi Johnson works the line.

Winner! Winner! Chicken dinner!! (Karen Swegler photo)

The dream of a championship lives on.

Rebounding nicely from what could have been a crushing defeat, the Central Whidbey Little League 9/10 All-Star softball squad crushed Sedro-Woolley 12-6 Thursday in the District 11 playoffs.

The win propels Central Whidbey into the championship series against North Whidbey, with the first game 6 PM Friday at Baker View Park in Skagit County.

Win that one and the Coupeville (with a bit of South Whidbey tossed in) girls will play a second game against North Whidbey Saturday for the title and a trip to the state tourney.

Central Whidbey, coming off an emotional 11-10 loss to North Whidbey in its playoff opener — a game in which it lost a four-run lead in the final inning — jumped quickly on Sedro-Woolley.

Four runs in the first set the tone for the whole game and Central eventually built a 12-3 lead before slamming the door shut on this one.

Central Whidbey’s roster:

Gwen Gustafson
Stella Johnson
Madison Knaver
Chloe LaRue
Kaela Meffert
Abby Mulholland
Jill Prince
Kaia Richmond
Kenna Somes
Chanel Sterba
Isabella Wells

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Little girls, big stars!!

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged Central Whidbey Little League, John Fisken photos, playoffs, Softball on July 1, 2015| Leave a Comment »

The art of the bunt. (John Fisken photos)

“Oh, I’m safe. No need to ask the ump, cause I beat that throw by a mile, baby!!”

Coach Lark Gustafson charges down the line during pre-game introductions.

"Only a fool thinks they will make it to first before this ball. My arm is like a rocket launcher, Lil' Missy!!"

“Only a fool thinks they’ll make it to first before this ball. My arm is like a rocket launcher, Lil’ Missy!!”

“I said, throw your FASTBALL! This ain’t T-Ball we’re playin’ here!!”

“You can try to hide, but my mitt will find you. Always!!”

"I hope that ball has a tracking device. Cause otherwise they ain't never gonna find it after I dump it out by the bridge."

“I hope that ball has a tracking device. Cause otherwise they ain’t never gonna find it after I crank it over the fence.”

“Yeah, someone’s mom isn’t going to be happy come laundry time… Oh well, that’s what you get for having a superstar for a daughter.”

Playoff fever is in the air and the cameras are clicking.

Central and North Whidbey’s 9/10 little league all-star softball squads battled Tuesday in the opener to the District 11 playoffs (North rallied to win 11-10) and John Fisken was on hand in Mount Vernon to document the action.

As he clicked away, Central Whidbey hurler Chanel Sterba whiffed 12 batters.

Kaia Swegler smacked a pair of singles and Mckaela Meffert eked out four walks (one by being plunked), coming around to score each time.

Isabelle Wells, Chloe LaRue and Sterba also singled, while Abby Mulholland and Gwen Gustafson were among a long string of Central Whidbey hitters to draw walks.

North Whidbey plays Sedro-Woolley Wednesday, with the winner advancing to the championship series.

Central Whidbey gets the loser of that game Thursday. Win there and they advance to the finals as well.

To see more Fisken pics, pop over to:

https://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf35ed86309e

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