The South Whidbey Little League Cubs fought their way through the consolation bracket and a mercy-rule loss to win the Andrade Tournament in Oak Harbor this weekend.

Having won their first two games, the Cubs were looking at needing only one more win to advance to the championship game. They got it by beating Oak Harbor for the second time in two days.

They avenged their earlier loss, a 14-3 clobbering, to the Anacortes team in a pitchers’ duel that ended with South Whidbey winning 2-1. South Whidbey used a thorough rotation of pitchers for the win including Brent Bachelor, Ethan Petty, Thomas Simms and Drew Fry.

Having split their first two games, Anacortes had to play one more decisive championship game.

Fry pitched through six innings before being relieved by Simms to preserve the 8-4 victory and tournament title. Simms threw the final out not as the pitcher, but as a fielder taking a cutoff throw for home and redirecting it to Elijah Sergeant at second base for the tag out. The Anacortes player, who had been injured in an earlier game, stayed on the field for a few minutes, prompting both teams to take a knee. Eventually, he walked off the field.

South Whidbey’s first two games were won more easily and without injury. The Cubs defeated Sedro-Woolley in the tournament opener and Oak Harbor in the second game.