A combined team of Central and South Whidbey softball players are one win away from earning a berth in the state tournament for 11- and 12-year-olds.

The Blue Fire, coached by Bobbie Weitzel, face South Skagit at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 28, at Oak Harbor’s Volunteer Park. Since the Blue Fire defeated South Skagit 4-1 Monday, South Skagit will need to defeat Central/South Whidbey twice to grab the state slot.

The second game, if needed, will be at 6 p.m. Friday at Volunteer Park.

State starts July 7 in Kirkland.

In addition to topping South Skagit earlier this week, the Blue Fire stopped North Whidbey 13-5 Tuesday.

South Skagit beat North Whidbey Wednesday to earn another shot at Central/South Whidbey.

The Blue Fire overcame a 4-1 deficit in the win over NWLL.  Weitzel used four pitchers in the win (Emily License, Taylor Wimberly, Ballarae Northup and Katrina McGranahan) and said the foursome “was just outstanding.”

She added, “Our defense was rock-solid and really backed our pitchers.”

The defense was led by catcher Mikayla Elfrank who gunned down two runners trying to steal third. She also contributed at the plate, rapping two doubles.

McGranahan paced the offense with a three-run home run.