Coupeville Sports

Freshman Savina Wells had three hits, including a home run, in her second high school softball game. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Not all losses are the same.

Yes, the Coupeville High School varsity softball squad fell 8-5 at Lynden Christian Wednesday, but there’s more at stake here than just the final score.

While the non-conference loss drops the Wolves to 1-1 on the still-young season, getting to play a bigger school — and one that is a sports powerhouse — is the kind of challenge CHS coach Kevin McGranahan craves.

Unlike last season — when there were no playoffs and no non-conference games — and unlike the season before — which was simply erased by the pandemic — the 2022 Wolves get a chance to flex their muscles against big-time foes.

That should help tremendously when Coupeville chases a return to the state tourney.

Wednesday the Wolves squared off with a school coming off of a girls basketball state title, in a game played in a town where wins are highly valued.

And take one inning out, and Coupeville likely heads home with a victory.

“We played seven innings of up and down softball tonight,” McGranahan said. “(The score) is deceiving.

“We started out strong and fell apart in one inning, giving up runs on a bunch of errors,” he added. “We take out those errors and we win, but unfortunately the errors still count.”

Coupeville drew first blood, pushing across a run in the top of the first thanks to some prime-time two-out hitting from Savina and Izzy Wells.

The freshman catcher punched a single, then came around to score when her big sis whacked an RBI double.

Izzy Wells played strongly on both sides of the ball against a tough foe.

A day after obliterating South Whidbey, Izzy Wells was strong in the pitcher’s circle again, and the game was knotted at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning.

That was where Coupeville’s gloves went on strike, with a series of bobbled balls allowing Lynden to blitz the scoreboard for six runs.

The Lyncs added another run in the fifth to stretch their lead out to 8-1, but the Wolves dug in and gave their hosts some heart palpitations before things were done.

CHS sprang back to life with a three-run rally in the sixth, getting base-hits from Audrianna Shaw, Savina Wells, Madison McMillan, and Taylor Brotemarkle.

Not done just yet, Savina Wells came back around in the seventh to launch her first high school home run, a two-out solo shot which capped a three-hit day for the fab frosh.

Sparked by the round-tripper, the Wolves brought the tying run to the plate, thanks to back-to-back walks to Izzy Wells and McMillan, before Lynden escaped with the win.

The Wolves, who started four freshmen in the game, with Mia Farris joining McMillan, Brotemarkle, and Savina Wells, return to action Mar. 22, when they host La Conner in their league opener.