Cole Payne straps on his catcher’s gear one final time. (Joan Payne photos)
CJ Smith takes a wicked cut.
Payne shares a moment with South Whidbey’s Charlie Patterson.
It was their final moments on a high school baseball field, and they spent it together.
Cole Payne and CJ Smith played alongside each other for three years at Coupeville High School, and Thursday they slapped on their Wolf uniforms one last time.
The duo were in Bellingham for the 1A/B All-State feeder games, and they went out with a splash.
Payne caught 10 innings over the course of the two eight-inning games, then made his high school pitching debut, tossing two scoreless innings.
Smith alternated between the mound, where he threw three innings, and second base, where he put in four strong innings of work.
While their team was swept in the doubleheader, falling 5-3 and 6-3, both Wolves stood tall.
“Good competitive games all around,” said CHS assistant coach Chris Smith, who was in the dugout for the twin-bill.
Payne and Smith raked as well, both piling up two hits on the day.
After the doubleheader, Payne was one of 10 players nominated by coaches to advance on to play in the All-State games June 11-12 in Yakima.
He passed.
“Cole declined, stating thank you, but I am a high school grad now and I am hanging up my high school baseball cleats,” Chris Smith said.
Coupeville Sports 
Leave a comment