McKayla Bailey, seen here earlier this season, struck out two and had one of Coupeville’s few hits at the plate in a tough loss Monday. (John Fisken photo)
A week-and-a-half ago, the Coupeville High School softball squad pulled off a weird, wild, walk-off 22-21 victory over Chimacum.
Monday, a combination of poor hitting and worse defense doomed the Wolves, allowing the host Cowboys to garner some revenge with a 15-2 win.
The two teams will settle the matter May 5, when Chimacum comes back to Whidbey for the finale in the three-game series between the Olympic League rivals.
The first meeting was a back-and-forth affair.
Monday’s rematch, which dropped Coupeville to 4-7 overall, 3-2 in league play, was decidedly more one-sided.
Chimacum scored four in the first, four in the second, took a breather with a two-spot in the third, then put the game on ice with a five-run fourth.
The Wolves were unable to answer, striking out eight times — including five in a row at one point — while scratching out just a handful of hits.
“We had little bats on the ball today and it for sure set the tone,” said CHS coach Deanna Rafferty. “Our offense was nowhere near where it was last time we played Chimacum.”
McKayla Bailey, Katrina McGranahan and Hailey Hammer all collected singles, with McGranahan pilfering a stolen base.
Bailey, trying to get something started, had poor luck with the umps, who twice called her out on close plays.
The first time came on an attempted steal of second, with the other a play at the plate.
Wolf hurlers McGranahan and Bailey combined for four strikeouts, but their defense let them down more than once.
“The game today was riddled with errors and incomplete plays made by our defense and the pitching suffered as a result,” Rafferty said. “Once our defense goes down, our pitchers get stressed and it shows.”
Coupeville will look to rebound Wednesday, when Klahowya visits Whidbey.
It’s the middle game during a week in which the Wolves will play all three of their league foes, with a road game at Port Townsend Friday wrapping a busy schedule.
Coupeville Sports 
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