Coupeville Sports

“The Red Dragon” is ready to rumble. Diamond dazzler Teagan Calkins is back for her senior season. (David Somes photo)

“I’m never satisfied and neither are the players. We can improve in all phases.”

Aaron Lucero’s first season as head coach of the Coupeville High School softball program was an impressive one, with the Wolves splitting four games at the 2B state tourney, eliminating Colfax and Raymond-South Bend en route to finishing 20-3.

But while that was a good start, it was just a start for the diamond sage, and one he and his players want to take further.

So, while the Wolves will have to adapt to losing several key players to graduation, they are also champing at the bit with a roster which is both young and already varsity tested.

Sophomore slinger Adeline Maynes returns to the pitcher’s circle, where she’ll be chucking fastballs to senior catcher Teagan Calkins.

The duo is deadly, but so is the #2 unit, with junior Haylee Armstrong peppering pitches to sophomore backup backstop Ava Lucero.

“Pitching and catching are big assets for us,” Aaron Lucero said.

“Adeline has a lot of experience in the circle and is a rock out there. She gets better every year.

“Teagan plays like Teagan and will be the anchor as she’s got a huge amount of experience to go with her talent.”

Wheel in Armstrong and Ava Lucero, who will be everyday starters at other positions, and there’s not much slippage.

“I feel we have the two best catchers in the league in Teagan and Ava, and the two best pitchers in the league with Adeline and Haylee,” Aaron Lucero said. “They’re a pretty tough 1-2 combination. Fortunate to have had them for so many years.”

Adeline Maynes (middle) is a fireball-flinging destroyer of worlds. (Jackie Saia photo)

Graduated starters Madison McMillan, Mia Farris, Jada Heaton, and Taylor Brotemarkle will be missed, but the core of last year’s squad, the fourth Wolf softball crew to advance to state, returns.

Along with Calkins, Maynes, Armstrong, and the younger Lucero, Coupeville welcomes back young players such as Sydney Van Dyke, Capri Anter, and Chelsi Stevens, who will all take on bigger roles this time out.

Anter, formerly an outfielder, is sliding in as the starting second baseman — “Very excited for that move for her” — while Stevens brings considerable pop to the lineup.

“Chelsi has put in a lot of work and is hitting fantastic,” Aaron Lucero said. “We’re looking forward to her everyday role and the big bat she’s got.”

Young guns (l to r) Sydney Van Dyke, Capri Anter, Ava Lucero, and Haylee Armstrong are back to claim more success. (Jackie Saia photo)

Another young player on the rise is 8th grader Cami Van Dyke, who is slotting in at shortstop.

Overall, 11 of the 19 Wolves on the roster play the sport year-round, giving them a leg up on being ready to have an impact from day one.

“We have a number of freshmen who I expect to be key contributors and likely earning significant field time,” Aaron Lucero said. “We also have some new to the sport players who look more like veterans after just eight practices.

“We have seven 8th graders and I’m very excited to see that strong of a number with the young players, as they are the future.”

In the present, the Wolves know Friday Harbor will likely be their biggest obstacle in defending their Northwest 2B/1B League crown and have stuffed the non-league portion of the schedule with challenging opponents.

“We’ve got some tough teams on the calendar to push us to be better for league and state,” Aaron Lucero said. “Oak Harbor, Lakewood, a doubleheader with Forks, and Klahowya, who is always tough.”

The path is different each season. The goal remains the same, however.

“Win the league, districts, and get back to state!”