Coupeville Sports

Ben Etzell throws heat during his senior season. (Shelli Trumbull photo)

Ben Etzell knows the way to Eastern Washington.

After making recent trips in that direction for the 1A state boys’ tennis tournament and then to play in the All-State baseball series, he was back there this weekend.

The recent Coupeville High School grad was in Yakima along with former Wolf teammate Aaron Curtin as the duo’s summer baseball team, the Skagit Sox, played in the Bob Garretson Sr. Memorial Tournament.

Facing off with top-level squads, the Sox went 2-3 for the weekend, capping their run with an 8-2 victory over Nampa in their finale.

Chaffey won the championship game of the tourney, bouncing Hanford, 11-4.

While the Sox didn’t win as many as they would have liked, the CHS pair had a strong weekend.

“Aaron had some really good at-bats, drawing numerous walks and driving in a couple of runs,” Etzell said.

Etzell tossed a two-hit complete game shutout Saturday, whiffing nine batters along the way.

At the plate, he rapped out five hits, knocked in six and walked four times — twice after being plunked — over the five games.

Playing for the Sox is a return trip for Etzell, while Curtin is a first-timer, having played for South Whidbey last summer.

“Both Aaron and I are having pretty good summers so far,” Etzell said. “He has been clutch for us at the plate and I’ve been hitting either lead-off or third and playing just about every position.”