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Rampaging Wolves impress computer overlords

April 22, 2026 by David Svien

“So, we’re just gonna let the computers take over then? That worked so well with Skynet…” (Julie Wheat photo)

The computers agree yet disagree.

On the one hand, two different ranking systems have looked at the Coupeville High School softball squad, which sits at 12-1, and offer their approval, lauding the Wolves as a top 10 program among 2B schools.

But on the other hand, the tech wizards don’t totally jibe with where they put the Smash Sisters.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association currently has Aaron Lucero’s squad sitting at #8, which is down from a high of #4, thanks to one narrow loss to traditional power Forks.

Meanwhile, Evans Rankings, a solo effort in which noted number cruncher Matt Evans feeds data into Newman — a power-mad computer possibly bent on world domination — has Coupeville at #6.

What does it mean for the Wolves?

Keep your collective heads down, move on to the goal of picking up two more victories at home Thursday and Friday against Concrete and South Whidbey, and let things land where they may.

Win on the field and the rest will handle itself.

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Sluggers start a new winning streak

April 21, 2026 by David Svien

“Concrete? I’m coming for you!!” (Bettie Sifuentes-Hart photos)

The Wolves didn’t skip a beat.

Bouncing back solidly after taking its first loss of the season in a tough brawl with Forks, the Coupeville High School softball squad returned to its winning ways Tuesday afternoon.

Getting hits from 11 different batters, Aaron Lucero’s sluggers cruised to a 17-1 win at Concrete while getting playing time for 16 girls.

The lopsided victory, mercy-ruled after five innings, lifts CHS to 7-0 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 12-1 overall.

The #8 team in 2B, at least according to the computer rankings, dominated in every facet Tuesday, even while missing slugging second baseman Capri Anter as she nurses a hurt knee.

Anter’s cousin, fellow junior Haylee Armstrong, was front and center for the Wolves, whiffing eight hitters while flinging mad heat from the pitcher’s circle, then turning around and blasting an inside the park home run to fuel the offense.

Coupeville actually started a wee bit slowly, perhaps from having limited warmup time after pulling into the wilds of Concrete just in time for the game.

The Wolves pushed a run across in the top of the first, with Sydney Van Dyke smashing a single off the pitcher’s glove, before coming around to score on an RBI groundout off the bat of Chelsi Stevens.

But that was it, with the lone tally representing one of the lower-scoring first frames for the Wolves this season.

Not to worry, as the Smash Sisters quickly got back in the groove, scoring four in the second, before whipping up a seven-run rally in the third to put the game comfortably out of reach.

“They can’t be stopped! Hits for everyone! Everyone, I said!!”

Both of the Van Dyke siblings smacked timely run-scoring hits in the second, with Cami and Sydney each finding holes in the defense between shortstop and third. Packaged around a long sac fly from Armstrong, that set the tone, but the biggest base knocks were still on their way.

The third frame was all about extra-base hits, with Adeline Maynes and Zariyah Allen crunching doubles, Ava Lucero mashing a triple, and Armstrong lacing a two-run tater which stayed in the park but skipped almost to the fence as she churned around the basepaths.

Coupeville wasn’t done, tacking on three more runs in the fourth and two in the fifth, with most of the damage done by the youngsters.

Allie Powers and Allen socked back-to-back doubles, while Emma Cushman zinged an RBI single deep into the hole at short, before speed demon Olivia Martin punched her own two-bagger, took third on the throw, then scooted home on a hot shot from Marina Jadwin.

Concrete managed to avoid the shutout with a single run in the bottom of the fifth, but Armstrong quickly derailed any thoughts of a Lion comeback, ending the game with some more heat while stalking the circle.

A win is always welcome, but having the chance to empty his bench and get action for the newbies was really welcome, Aaron Lucero said.

“Lot of our newer players saw field time and a number got hits, so I’m pretty happy about that.”

 

Tuesday stats:

Zariyah Allen — Two doubles, one walk
Haylee Armstrong — One home run
Teagan Calkins — One single, one walk
Emma Cushman — One single
Emma Leavitt — One walk
Ava Lucero — One triple, two walks
Adeline Maynes — One double, one walk
Olivia Martin — One double
Allie Powers — One double, one walk
Cami Van Dyke — Two singles
Sydney Van Dyke — Three singles

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Water wizard signs with Whitman

April 21, 2026 by David Svien

Finn Price (center) signs up to be a college swimmer. (Photos courtesy Rachel Price-Rayner and Willie Smith)

His name is on the dotted line, and soon his body will be back in the water.

Coupeville High School senior Finn Price, a three-time state meet participant, officially signed his letter of intent to swim for Whitman College Tuesday afternoon.

Making it official.

The Lone Wolf, who made the daily trek to Mukilteo the last four years to train and compete with Kamiak since CHS doesn’t have its own pool or aquatic program, was joined by family and friends as he put pen to paper.

That included Kamiak swim coach Chris Erickson and South Whidbey High School water wizard Jack Hempel, who has been longtime swim buddies with Price.

The proud parental units.

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Booming bats, electric arms

April 21, 2026 by David Svien

Carson Grove had four hits Tuesday, including a grand slam. (Presley Phillips photo)

What a difference a game makes.

Three days ago, the Coupeville High School baseball squad delivered its worst performance of the season. Jump forward to Tuesday and everything was back in order, however.

And far more than that, as three Wolf hurlers combined for a 13-strikeout no-hitter and the batters went bonkers in a 25-0 win on the road in Concrete.

The blowout five-inning victory snaps a brief two-game skid for CHS, lifting Steve Hilborn’s squad to 6-1 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 8-4 overall.

It also keeps them a game back of Mount Vernon Christian (7-0) in the race for a conference crown, with a rematch against Concrete set for Thursday in Cow Town.

Saturday the Wolves struggled in all aspects of the game while dropping a non-conference bout at Forks. Against the Lions, everything was clicking again.

Camden Glover, Coop Cooper, and Malachi Somes combined to shut Concrete’s offense down, giving up just four walks and not surrendering a single base knock to their hosts.

Glover and Cooper each picked up six strikeouts in two innings of work, while Somes, making his mound debut for the Wolves, added a 13th K, then ended the game by inducing a double play.

Malachi Somes gets his first mound action. (Shannon Hilborn photo)

At the plate everything went Coupeville’s way, as the visitors tore the hide off the ball en route to collecting a season-high 20 hits to go with 10 walks.

Four runs in the first got things started, another four in the second stretched the lead out, then CHS tacked on nine more tallies in the third and another eight in the fourth.

The Wolves came roaring out of the gate, with Leo Rodriguez lashing a leadoff single and Carson Grove walking.

That set up Chase Anderson, who delivered the first mammoth blow of the afternoon, smashing a three-run inside the park home run to left to set the tone.

Tack on an Aiden O’Neill triple, followed by Cooper bringing him around to score with a hot grounder, and it was 4-0 before Concrete’s fans could even get settled into their seats.

From there the Wolves continued to rain down unholy pain on the Lions, with Grove and Glover delivering RBI-rich hits in the second before coming back around to do the same in the third.

That frame featured not one, but two CHS players picking up RBIs in unique fashion, as both Anderson and Somes were drilled by wayward pitches with the bases loaded.

Up 17-0 heading into the fourth, there didn’t seem to be much more the Wolves could do that they hadn’t already done.

Not so fast, as Grove belted an inside the park grand slam to really make the scoreboard pop.

Overall, nine different Wolves collected a hit on the day, with 11 reaching base.

And the scorekeeper’s fingers? Probably buried deep in a bucket of ice right about now.

 

Tuesday stats:

Chase Anderson — One single, one home run, one walk
Coop Cooper — Three singles
Camden Glover — One single, one double, one walk
Carson Grove — Three singles, one home run, one walk
Riley Lawless — One walk
Aiden O’Neill — One single, one triple
Leo Rodriguez — One single, one walk
Killian Shaw — One single, one walk
Malachi Somes — Two singles, one walk
Trent Thule — Three singles, one walk
Aiden Tingley — Two walks

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Peg Tennant left an indelible mark

April 21, 2026 by David Svien

This photo from 2017 captures Peg Tennant as she was retiring after 22 years with the Coupeville School District. (Amanda Rice photo)

Peg Tennant was a feisty one.

And I mean that in the best way possible.

As a longtime drama club advisor/coach in the Coupeville School District, as the driving force behind two farmer’s markets, even as a customer at Videoville and Miriam’s Espresso, Peg impacted numerous lives in our town.

If she liked you, she would be your biggest supporter.

But if you didn’t give her students or her farmers the respect they deserved, she had no qualms about calling you out and giving you a brisk talking-to.

After which you generally realized she was probably right.

I always got along with her, probably because the first time she told me, “I don’t care if it’s called Coupeville Sports, you can dang well cover the theatre as well,” I agreed with her.

She retired from the local schools in 2017, and we ran this piece:

A bow, then a graceful exit!!

 

Now, word has reached us that Peg passed away earlier this year. She will be missed.

 

From her family:

Margot Elizabeth “Peg” Tennant was born on March 22, 1955, in Pensacola, Florida and died on February 16, 2026 at Soundview Rehab in Anacortes after a protracted illness.

Peg was preceded in death by her parents, Lt Cdr (USN) William Tennant, and Dorothy Tennant.

She is survived by her son, Alexander Tennant-Jayne of Coupeville, WA, sister Kate Rogers of Greenbank, WA, sister Barbara Tennant of Twisp, WA, and brother-in-law Miller Batson, also of Twisp, as well as nephews Bradley Rogers and wife, Sharon, Kirkland, Tom Rogers and wife, Sarah, Boise, ID, Noah Batson, Twisp, and Nathaniel Batson, Bellingham, WA.

Peg was a long-term resident of Coupeville and a passionate celebrant of the arts.

She was the Drama Coach for Coupeville High School for 7+ years.

Peg was passionate about supporting local farmers, crafters, and artists.

She spent many years managing the local farmer’s markets in Coupeville and Oak Harbor, being onsite all day posting up signs and making sure the area was ready for market day.

Posted in In memory | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments »

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