Freshman Jack Porter delivered a walk-off RBI single Tuesday, lifting Coupeville to an extra-innings win over South Whidbey. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
“This was a momentum game!”
Coupeville High School varsity baseball coach Will Thayer was a happy man Tuesday as he headed home for dinner.
His Wolves had just upended visiting South Whidbey 3-2 in extra innings, getting the game-winner on a walk-off RBI single from freshman Jack Porter in the bottom of the ninth inning.
The non-conference win evens Coupeville’s early-season record at 1-1, with a big trip to Lynden Christian on the schedule for Wednesday.
Even better for the Wolves, it’s a rivalry win over their next-door neighbors, and a bit of payback for a “loss” to the Falcons in a three-inning game at a jamboree last week.
“This was a game that sets the tone for us for the rest of the season,” Thayer said. “It gets us heading in the right direction.”
The game threatened to be an offensive bonanza in the early going, then turned into a pitcher’s duel.
Scott Hilborn whiffed seven hitters in seven innings of work.
South Whidbey jumped out to a 1-0 lead after the top of the first inning, but Coupeville responded immediately.
Xavier Murdy and Scott Hilborn punched back-to-back one-out singles to set the scene in the bottom half of the first frame, before Peyton Caveness brought out the big lumber.
The sophomore first-baseman bopped a two-run double to put the Wolves in front 2-1, a lead they would hold until the fifth inning.
While South Whidbey garnered that game-tying run, Coupeville put runners on base almost every inning, but couldn’t break through.
CHS had two guys sitting on bags in the second, fourth, and seventh innings, and loaded the bases in the sixth, but time and again the Falcons found a way to fly free.
Hilborn did his job for the Wolves, whiffing seven through seven innings of work on the pitcher’s mound, but left with the game knotted at 2-2.
Heading into extra innings, Thayer handed the ball to senior Hawthorne Wolfe, and the wily one was nearly perfect coming out of the bullpen.
The senior slinger retired the Falcons 1-2-3 in the eighth, then surrendered a lone walk in the ninth.
Coupeville catcher Xavier Murdy erased that Falcon baserunner, throwing him out on a stolen base attempt, before Wolfe reared back and punched out what would be South Whidbey’s final hitter.
After going seven long innings without a runner tapping home plate, the Wolves found some magic in the bottom of the ninth.
With two outs and no one aboard, CHS took advantage of Hilborn reaching on an error.
Jonathan Valenzuela and Caveness eked out walks to juice the bags, setting up Porter for his game-winning swat.
The walk-off hit capped a day in which the Wolves collected nine hits and five walks.
Caveness (1B, 2B), Sage Sharp (1B, 1B), and Porter (1B, 1B) paced the attack, with Murdy, Valenzuela, and Hilborn chipping in with singles.
Cole White walked twice, while Chase Anderson, Valenzuela, and Caveness each got aboard once thanks to showcasing eagle eyes.
Peyton Caveness reached base three times in the rivalry win.
Coupeville Sports 
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