The third time was not the charm for Central Whidbey’s Junior Little League baseball team at the regional tournament for 13- and 14-year-olds in Laguna Niguel, Calif.

The Coupeville boys lost their third straight game in pool play when they fell to the Oregon state champions from Troutdale 22-6 Thursday.

Things won’t get any easier today, Aug. 6, when Central Whidbey challenges the pool’s lone undefeated team, Rocklin, Calif., at 1 p.m.

Saturday CW completes pool play with a game against the host team, Aliso Viejo, Calif.

There were two upsides to Central Whidbey loss to Troutdale.

One, better defense. In Central Whidbey’s first two losses at the tournament, it suffered through double-digit errors. Coach Chris Tumblin said, “We had virtually no errors — no fielding or throwing errors. We made some other mistakes like passed balls, but our defense was better.”

Troutdale piled up the runs, according to Tumblin, by hitting bloopers and soft liners “where we were not.”

Tumblin added, “We are running out of pitchers.”

Two, better offense. After scoring just one run in the first two games, the Central Whidbey offense woke up. Jake Tumblin led the way with a single, triple, RBI and two stolen bases. Korbin Korzan added a triple, and Morgan Payne and Ben Etzell each slugged doubles.

Coach Tumblin said although his club lost, “They played better.”