North Fort Myers willed themselves to the District 4A-11 softball championship Friday night with a 6-3 victory over tournament host Riverdale.

It was the third meeting between the 20-win programs, but the first win by North. Riverdale won the first two meetings, both 1-0. Friday night’s sometimes controversial victory earned the Red Knights (20-5) back-to-back district championships.

The game became controversial in the second inning with North leading 2-0. Riverdale’s Troi Harrison struck out looking at a third strike, but the first-base umpire ruled the pitch illegal, therefore a ball to make the count full. Harrison struck out on the next pitch to end the inning.

The situation repeated itself in the third with Riverdale’s Liana Derringer at the plate. Strike three was ruled an illegal pitch and Derringer wound up walking and scoring one of the Raiders’ three runs in the inning to take a 3-2 lead.

It was explained that North pitcher Jackie Owen’s foot was bouncing up off the pitching rubber and coming back down on it. Four of her pitches were ruled illegal throughout the game, but none were called against Riverdale’s pitchers.

North argued Allora Miller also was bouncing off the rubber and her foot was landing in front of the rubber before releasing pitches, but it was never called.

Owen (19-5) went on to strike out eight and limit the Raiders to one hit.

After North tied the game in the fourth with their third unearned run, the Red Knights finally took the lead in the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out, pinch-hitter Liz Hernandez grounded a ball to second base to drive in what proved to be the game-winning run. North tacked on two insurance runs in the sixth to seal the victory.

The Red Knights host Barron Collier Tuesday in the Region 3-4A quarterfinals while the Raiders (20-8) travel south to face Naples.

North Ft. Myers 020 101 2 – 6 7 3

Riverdale 003 000 0 – 3 1 4

W – Jackie Owen (19-5). L – Allora Miller.

Bishop Verot 3, LaBelle 0: Talia Barraco came through with a run-scoring double and a run-scoring triple to lead Bishop Verot to the District 3A-12 championship Friday night.

Allie Mitchell pitched a complete-game two-hit shutout for the Vikings, who advance to the Region 3-3A quarterfinals Tuesday.

LaBelle 000 000 0 – 0 2 5

Bishop Verot 101 001 x – 3 7 0

W – Allie Mitchell.

2B – Talia Barraco (BV). 3B – Talia Barraco (BV).

Baseball

Island Coast 10, East Lee County 3: Jordan Moody cracked a two-run double and Pablo Matos drove in a run with two hits in Island Coast’s come-from-behind victory over East Lee County in the regular-season finale.

Kyle Harding pitched four innings in relief to earn his fifth victory for the Gators (16-9), who host the District 3A-12 Tournament starting Tuesday. The Gators face LaBelle in the semifinal round on at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

East Lee 020 100 0 – 3 4 2

Island Coast 000 136 x – 10 10 0

W – Kyle Harding (5-0).

2B – Thomas (ELC), Cameron Gellinger (IC), Jordan Moody (IC), Chase Vogelbach (IC), Bower (IC).