Softball sluggers hammer way into All-Stars state

Whidbey Island will be represented at the 9/10-year-old softball Little League All-Stars state tournament this weekend in Asotin, Wash.

By Ben Watanabe • July 8, 2014 6:17 pm
The 9/10-year-old All-Stars of Central/South Whidbey are headed to Asotin in southeast Washington for the state Little League tournament. They won all three of their District 11 games by 10 or more runs.
The 9/10-year-old All-Stars of Central/South Whidbey are headed to Asotin in southeast Washington for the state Little League tournament. They won all three of their District 11 games by 10 or more runs.

Whidbey Island will be represented at the 9/10-year-old softball Little League All-Stars state tournament this weekend in Asotin, Wash.

A team of players from Central and South Whidbey’s Little Leagues combined to smash through the District 11 tournament. Through three games, the All-Stars won by no fewer than 10 runs — 22-5 over North Whidbey, 13-3 over Sedro-Woolley, 16-6 over South Skagit — at the Community Park fields in Langley last week.

The team’s 16-6 win against South Skagit secured the trip to the state tournament, which begins Saturday, July 12. Gaining the state berth was a team effort, said coach Lark Gustafson.

“There were many stars,” Gustafson said.

Two players on the team were from South Whidbey, which was not able to field a 9/10 softball squad of its own and had its players join Central Whidbey. One of them, Kaia Richmond, was 4-for-4 at the plate and scored four runs. The other South Whidbey girl, Shiana Baker, brought in the 16th and winning run.

Audrianna Shaw scored three runs and Thora Iverson tallied the final run to eliminate South Skagit.

Chelsea Prescott pitched a five-inning complete game that was shortened because of the 10-run mercy rule.