The North Whidbey 9/10 Little League baseball team will try to become the third area club to qualify for its state tournament when it plays for the District 11 championship this weekend at Windjammer Park.

North Whidbey defeated South Whidbey 8-6 Thursday, July 9, to claim a spot in the district championship series against the survivor of the consolation bracket, either South Whidbey, Sedro-Woolley or Anacortes. The team that comes through the losers’ bracket will have to beat North Whidbey twice.

The first championship game is noon Saturday, July 11. The second game, if necessary, will be at noon Sunday.

The Central Whidbey 9/10 softball and the North Whidbey Junior (13/14) baseball teams have already qualified for state. Both will play in Vancouver. Central Whidbey begins state Saturday, July 11; North Whidbey opens its state play July 19.

After two scoreless innings in the 9/10 district baseball tournament Thursday, South Whidbey scored three runs in the third inning. North Whidbey countered with two runs in its half of the inning.

South Whidbey upped its lead to 4-2 in the fourth, then North Whidbey took the lead with four runs. The big blow was Shane Hoffmire’s two-run double off the left-field fence.

North Whidbey tacked on two more runs in the fifth, and then thwarted South Whidbey’s comeback with a big defensive play by Hoffmire. After a South Whidbey hitter drilled a double to left field, Hoffmire fired to Connor Cash at third base to nab the runner trying to take an extra base.

Jacob Figarelle pitched the final three innings to pick up the win.

Christian Gisvold led the offense with two hits, one on a bunt, and two runs.

Tyler Abbott and Daniel Doughty played “outstanding D at first base,” according to coach Don Jenkins.

“A great team effort,” Jenkins added.