Gavin Knoblich had two of Coupeville’s three hits Saturday in the Babe Ruth state championship game. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
The dynasty rolls on.
After two close games Friday, Columbia Basin crushed Coupeville 14-2 Saturday in Ephrata to win the Babe Ruth baseball state title.
Having taken the championship series 2-1, Columbia Basin captures its fourth-straight crown in the 13-15 age group, and fifth in sixth years. It now advances to regionals in Portland, Oregon.
Coupeville, which finishes the season at 17-2, heads home after its best season in program history.
Under the guidance of coach Steve Hilborn, the Wolves were perfect in regular-season play before splitting their first two games with Columbia Basin.
They lost 3-2 in eight innings to open the tourney, then won 6-2 in the Friday nightcap.
Saturday’s game, though, was over fairly quickly.
Columbia Basin jumped on the Wolves for four runs in the first, another four in the second and six more in the third.
The champs were super effective in all aspects of the game Saturday, raining down 13 hits in the first three innings, while also taking advantage of three Coupeville errors and six walks.
The Wolves chipped away for a single run in both the second and fourth, but that was it as their bats short-circuited for the first time in three state playoff games.
The first run came home when Gavin Knoblich singled, moved to second when Andrew Score eked out a walk, then stole third and home.
Knoblich, who will be a junior at CHS this fall, also played a big part in his team’s second run, rapping an RBI double to plate Sage Sharp, who led off the fourth with a walk.
Coupeville’s only other hit on the day came courtesy Johnny Carlson, who lashed a third-inning single.
Xavier Murdy, Cody Roberts and Chelsea Prescott shared mound duty for the Wolves.
Coupeville Sports 
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