Undefeated and ready to roll. (Jackie Saia photo)
One team to rule them all.
Handily winning a battle of the last two undefeated teams in the Northwest 2B/1B League Tuesday, the Coupeville High School softball squad improved to a fairly flawless 4-0 on the season.
The Wolves got there by clubbing host Darrington 11-4 behind another dazzling pitching performance from Izzy Wells.
The junior ace whiffed seven of the nine hitters she faced, then stepped aside and let sophomore Gwen Gustafson make her high school debut in the pitcher’s circle.
Up big early, the Wolves also went to their bench, giving Sofia Peters, Melanie Navarro, and McKenna Somes their first varsity action of the pandemic-shortened season.
Darrington came into play Tuesday sitting at 2-0, but Coupeville, playing on the road for the first time, was more than ready.
The Wolves eked out two runs in the first, then peppered the Loggers for another four in the second, adding three more in the third to build a 9-0 lead.
CHS coach Kevin McGranahan flipped out Wells for Gustafson, gave his young guns quality playing time, and coasted in for the win.
Darrington chipped away a bit at the end, but not enough to get back into the game.
“We got a little sloppy on defense, but it never really mattered,” McGranahan said.
The diamond guru kept several key players such as senior Chelsea Prescott on the field to provide leadership, and the veterans responded as expected.
“Chelsea played great when she got a chance, with a leaping catch in deep shortstop to end the game,” McGranahan said.
Coupeville spread its hits out, racking up 11 base-knocks, including doubles from Prescott, Wells, Kylie Van Velkinburgh, and Maya Lucero.
Wells and Mollie Bailey led the way with two hits each, while Audrianna Shaw, Gustafson, Bella Whalen, and Heidi Meyers all collected singles.
Coral Caveness picked up a walk and scored, as well.
Coupeville, which has outscored its foes 34-10 this season, returns to action with a pair of games this weekend.
The Wolves island-jump Friday, when they’ll face defending league champ Friday Harbor (2-2), before having a home game Saturday against Concrete.
The second of those games was originally scheduled as a road trip, but has been flipped, with the March 26 game against Concrete sliding from a home game to a road game.
Saturday’s home game starts at 1 PM.
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