Coupeville Sports

Halle Black shows off the first of many trophies. (Photos courtesy Mandi Black)

She is the bright future of Coupeville sports.

Halle Black, the daughter of former Wolf stars Allen and Mandi (Murdy) Black, is deeply connected to the prairie.

She has parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents, even a lil’ brother, who are all either talented athletes or passionate sports supporters — or both.

As spring has morphed into summer, Halle, who has already made a mark for herself as a basketball player, has embraced the softball life her mom once lived.

As Mandi wrote on Facebook:

What a LONG first sb season, 3 teams, 3 sets of coaches, multiple different positions played and a trip to state!

I am so proud of how passionate you are, in anything you try Halle!

You’re so coachable and your competitive side is starting to shine, and this mama cannot wait for all our future sports seasons!

A softball season that began in a Central Whidbey uniform ended with a trip to the big dance for Halle as the lone prairie rep on a North Whidbey squad.

While there she, like her new teammates — who should probably all talk to their parents about moving to Coupeville where they can get proper media coverage — endured oppressive heat and the chance to play big city all-star teams.

They may not have won a state title, but they set the path for future success and did it with class and a never-say-die attitude.

There were countless young girls and boys who ventured onto the diamond to play baseball and softball this spring on Whidbey.

All should be commended for making the commitment, whether they were first-timers or are already grizzled vets while still in grade school.

Today, though, we offer a special shout-out to Halle and make her our poster girl for the movement.

Be proud of what you and your friends accomplished, Miss Black. And come back next season, and the season after that, ready to achieve even more.

While never forgetting that basketball, where your old man made his name as a hoops hotshot with a torrid shooting touch, is still God’s Chosen Sport.

If Coupeville athletics, and Coupeville Sports the blog have a future, and they do, it’s thanks to your generation.

Never stop reaching for greatness and never stop having fun out there.

The bright future.