Battery mates Kenneth Morrow and Chris Trisler put a charge in the North Whidbey Little League 11/12 all-star team as it zapped South Skagit 11-1 Sunday in the opening weekend of the District 11 Major League Tournament at Windjammer Park.
The win, coupled with a bye in the first round, pushes North Whidbey into the semifinals against Burlington-Edison at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 10.
B-E defeated Sedro-Woolley 6-4 and South Whidbey 15-5 to earn the matchup with North Whidbey.
In the win over South Skagit, Morrow pitched four-and-two-third innings, struck out 10 and surrendered only two hits.
Trisler sparked the offense, smacking a single, double and home run and driving in seven runs.
Morrow added punch at the plate, as well, going 2-for-3 with a home run.
North Whidbey took control from the outset. After Morrow blanked South Skagit in the first inning, Trisler got things rolling in the bottom half with a two-run home run.
In the second, South scored its one run, then NWLL added four more of its own. With one out, Morrow hit a towering home run over the left-field fence. With the help of a walk to Dylan Bailey and a single by Eli Bryson, North Whidbey loaded the bases and then Trisler cleared them with a double.
In the fourth, Will Danielson and Bailey singled and Trisler plated them with a base hit. Paul Southerland singled in Trisler to make it 9-0.
North Whidbey 10-runned South Skagit in the fifth when Jason Runkle and Morrow singled and scored on Danielson’s hit.
Coach Terri Mebane said she was pleased her team “stayed focused” and didn’t get “lazy” once it jumped to an early lead.