The Whidbey Island Legion A baseball team wrapped up a solid finish to the summer season by placing fourth in a tournament at Carlon Park in Yakima July 7-10.

The Nighthawks closed out the season by winning six of their final 12 games after scratching out only three in the first 19, finishing with a 9-22 mark.

Seven of the losses where by one run, including dropping three of four by a single run to league co-champions Sedro-Woolley and Lake Stevens.

Assistant coach JR Calderwood said there were more than a few “what-if’s during the season,” but that the team “played much better at the end” and “had fun.”

In the opener at Yakima, Whidbey Island scored all of its runs in the fifth inning to top North Thurston 4-2. Three walks (Austin Boesch, Thomas Anderson, Dane Lucero) and an error (Donny Kloewer) helped produce the four runs.

Lucero also had a double and Aaron Martinez singled for the Nighthawks. Jack Lovendale picked up the pitching win.

Kittitas stopped Whidbey Island 6-1 in game two.

Singles by Andrew Dixon, Shane Losey and Boesch accounted for the Nighthawk run.

Next, Whidbey Island walloped the Twin City Red Sox 15-4, scoring 13 runs over the final three innings.

Boesch led the assault by going 4-for-4 with four runs.

Martinez, Kloewer and Taylor Rummel each stroked two hits, and Anderson added a single.

Lucero earned the pitching win.

Whidbey Island lost its last game of the season, and naturally, it was by one run, 4-3 to Columbia Reach. The Nighthawks scored once and left the bases loaded in the final inning but the rally fell short.

Martinez and Anderson were 2-for-3, and Kloewer also singled.

Over the final eight games of the season, Martinez hit .412 (7/17) while Boesch (8/27, .296), Kloewer (8/26, .308) and Anderson (6/21, .286) each recorded six or more hits.

Rummel, Kloewer, Anderson, Lucero, Martinez, Losey, Nick Etzell, Dixon all posted .500 over better on-base percentages.