Strong pitching by Ethan Petty, timely hits by Taylor Brown and Kody Newman and a stellar defensive play by Alex Black carried the South Whidbey High School baseball team to a 2-1 win over Granite Falls Wednesday, April 18, in Langley.

Petty tossed a “really good game,” according to coach Tom Fallon. The sophomore pitched six innings and struck out 11. Freshman Brent Bachelor picked up the save with two strikeouts in the seventh.

Granite Falls (0-10, 0-15) scored its one run in the first inning, but Petty limited the damage by pitching out of a bases loaded jam and blanked the Tigers the rest of the way.

In the second inning, Petty was aided by an outstanding play by center fielder Black. With runners on first and second base, the sophomore raced down a shot hit directly over his head and made a diving catch while flying away from home plate.

“It was one of the greatest catches I have ever seen in high school,” Fallon said.

South Whidbey scored both its runs in the fifth when it recorded two of its three hits.

Brown got things started with a base hit and eventually scored on a passed ball. After Black reached on he fielder’s choice, Newman singled him home for the winning run.

South Whidbey (3-8, 4-9) travels to Sultan (1-9, 2-11) for a 4 p.m. game Thursday, April 19.