The bats were on fire Saturday for the Whidbey Island All-Stars juniors softball team. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
One of 47 runs scored by the Inferno.
Vancouver, here they come.
Delivering a blistering offensive attack under a blazing sun Saturday, the Whidbey Island Inferno All-Stars juniors softball team cruised to a pair of victories, claiming a District 11 title.
Dismantling the Skagit County All-Stars 20-0 and 27-1 at Coupeville’s Rhododendron Park, the Inferno claimed their district’s berth to the state tournament, which begins July 10.
The Whidbey Island All-Stars, who carry a 14-player roster which boasts seven players each from Coupeville and Oak Harbor, proved to be a well-balanced, and extremely-deadly squad.
“Girls were awesome today!,” said Whidbey coach Fred Farris. “Everyone contributed and both (pitching) batteries were awesome! Great defense all the way around.”
How Saturday played out:
Game 1:
Playing as the road team, even though it hosted the district tourney, Whidbey Island essentially put the game away with a six-run top of the first.
From there, the Inferno slowly built the lead out to 8-0, then opened a can of whup-ass in the top of the fourth, raining down 12 runs and bringing the mercy rule into effect.
Whidbey opened things up with a five-hit explosion in the first, with three of those base-knocks being of the extra-base variety.
Doubles from Haylee Burleigh and Loto Tupu were big, while Coupeville’s Savina Wells rocked the joint with an RBI triple to center field.
New teammate Layla Suto went her one base better in the second inning, blasting an inside-the-park solo home run, before Wells came around to mash both a double and another triple in the fourth inning.
Madison McMillan added a two-bagger as Whidbey finished with seven extra-base hits among 15 base-knocks in the opener.
While the bats were electric, the Inferno was also lights-out on defense, while Wells offered the visitors little to hit while wheeling and dealing from the pitcher’s circle.
The incoming Coupeville High School freshman whiffed five across four innings of work, scattering five hits and never putting herself in danger.
Game 2:
There was no 12-run explosion in the nightcap, just the steady drip-drip-drip of runs splashing across the scoreboard.
Seven Inferno players tapped home in the first, with another five coming across in the second.
Tack on eight in the third and a final seven in the fourth, and the electronic numbers kept hoppin’.
Whidbey whacked six extra-base hits in game two, with McMillan crunching a triple, and Payton Ludemann rifling a pair of doubles.
Taylor Brotemarkle, Wells, and Tupu also collected two-baggers as part of an 18-hit rain of terror.
Ramona Ryder moved in to the circle to pitch the closer, limiting Skagit County to just a single hit, while piling up five K’s.
While offense largely carried the game, defense had its moments as well, with Burleigh and Mia Farris teaming up for an inning-ending double play on a pop-up to second base.
District tourney stats:
Taylor Brotemarkle (2 runs, 3 hits, 1 RBI)
Haylee Burleigh (3 runs, 1 hit, 1 RBI, 2 walks)
Teagan Calkins (4 runs, 2 hits, 4 walks)
Mia Farris (6 runs, 2 hits, 1 RBI, 3 walks)
Jada Heaton (1 run)
Payton Ludemann (2 runs, 2 hits, 1 RBI, 1 walk)
Katie Marti (1 run, 1 walk)
Madison McMillan (6 runs, 3 hits, 5 RBI, 2 walks)
Lilly Norman (1 run, 1 hit, 1 RBI, 1 walk)
Ramona Ryder (3 runs, 3 hits, 2 RBI)
Layla Suto (7 runs, 4 hits, 2 RBI, 3 walks)
Loto Tupu (4 runs, 5 hits, 3 RBI)
Savina Wells (7 runs, 7 hits, 7 RBI)
Coupeville Sports 