For the second time in the District 11 Little League tournament for 10- and 11-year-olds, North Whidbey was blanked by host Sedro-Woolley 10-0, the latest came Friday, July 6, in the championship game.

However, though the final score may not show it, North Whidbey made the champions sweat for the first time in the tournament.

Sedro-Woolley cruised through the first three rounds in dominating fashion, winning 24-2, 11-1 and 10-0, and scoring in almost every inning of every game.

In Friday’s title tilt, Sedro-Woolley found itself in unfamiliar territory, in a close game. It led only 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth inning when it erupted for nine runs to secure the crown.

North Whidbey coach Dave Delano said, “We lost to a better team, but the kids represented their community, their parents and themselves well; I couldn’t be prouder.”

NWLL starter Brandon Wells held heavy-hitting Sedro-Woolley in check for the first four innings before the fifth-inning explosion.

Delano said, “The pitching didn’t get worse, they just got the timing down and started to hit him.”

Delano added that Wells was supported by a strong defense, which was “truly spot on” and led by shortstop Trevor Sheils, who “played an unbelievable, amazing game.”

Offensively, David Levy reached base twice and Donny Kloewer ripped a line-drive single.

In recapping the tournament, Delano said, “Everyone made plays, everyone got hits,” and his club lived its motto, “One Team, One Fight.”

Delano said much of the success of the team “wouldn’t have happened” without the work of assistant coaches Phil Sellers, Jason Vogt and Mark Soto. “They were truly a blessing for the team and the kids,” Delano said.

Members of this year’s team were Hannah Barnes, Ethan Cosper, Joseph Dixon, Marcus Foxx, Tomothy Sellers, Daniel Soto, Tim Steinke, Nathanael Thompson, Shane Vogt, Miranda Wilson, Levy, Kloewer, Sheils and Wells.