Central Whidbey’s 9/10 all-star Little League softball team set off its own fireworks with an 11-run fourth inning to come from behind and defeat North Whidbey 15-9 in the District 11 championship game Saturday, July 4, in Mount Vernon and earn its second consecutive trip to the state tournament.

Central Whidbey, coached by Mimi Johnson, will open the state playoffs at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 11, at Vancouver’s Glenwood Little League fields.

Down 8-4, Central Whidbey sent 14 batters to the plate in the fourth inning and scored 11 runs with the help of 10 walks and two hits by Mckaela Meffert.

North Whidbey, coached by Tashina Tosh, started the game with two runs in the first inning. Emily Wilson led off with a walk and scored after several stolen bases and passed balls. Hits by Isabella Whalen and Lily McCollum accounted for the second run.

Central Whidbey immediately responded with three runs on an error, walk and hits by Kaia Richmond and Chanel Sterna.

In the second inning, North Whidbey tallied five times, blending three walks with hits by Abigail Andersen and Wilson.

Central Whidbey scored once in its half of the inning when Richmond walked and eventually scored on a wild pitch.

After a scoreless third inning, North Whidbey went up 8-4 in the fourth with a run on hits by Emily Steinke, Peyton Samek and McCollum.

Central Whidbey followed with its 11-run explosion and held on for the win.

North Whidbey could muster only one more run off of fifth-inning hits by Andersen and Steinke.