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Safeco snapshots to spice up your Monday!!

Posted in Baseball, tagged baseball, Colorado Rockies, John Fisken photos, MLB, Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners, Steven Baron on September 14, 2015| Leave a Comment »

This? This is a look the Mariners have had most of the season. (John Fisken photos)

Robinson Cano nimbly evades the tag.

“I call this the high, hard cheese and it tastes like a strikeout, baby!!”

Steven Baron, one of the promising young players getting a chance to shine at the end of a forgettable M’s season.

The legacy of arguably the greatest Mariner of all time stands proud at Safeco.

The legacy of arguably the greatest Mariner of all time shines proudly at Safeco.

Ketel Marte gets doubled off first to end any comeback hopes.

21,840 folks showed up Safeco Field Sunday to watch the Mariners stumble to another loss in a fairly forgettable season.

As a guy who somehow ended up being a life-long Pittsburgh Pirates fan (despite living all 44 years of my life in Washington state), I, however, was busy riding the buzz of an 11th inning come-from-behind win.

After watching the Pirates set a North American sports record by racking up 20 consecutive losing seasons, the last three years of success have been a non-stop joy ride.

So, to long-suffering M’s fans, better days are ahead.

Maybe not for two decades, but some day…

Until then, you can bask in these hot ‘n toasty pics fresh from the camera of travelin’ photo god John Fisken.

Having escaped the Whidbey prep sports beat he (and his free parking pass) were up in the big leagues Sunday.

Well, if you can call the Mariners a big league team…

I kid. I kid. Enjoy the photos and dream of better days ahead.

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Hunt(er)ing for a star? Got one for ya!!

Posted in Baseball, Basketball, Football, Happy birthday, tagged baseball, Basketball, CHS Wolves, football, Happy birthday, Hunter Smith on September 3, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Hunter Smith: One cool cat. (John Fisken photos)

Hunter Smith: One cool cat. (John Fisken and Charlotte Smith photos)

When Charlotte Smith gives birth, the kids hit the floor running, already with skills.

At least it seems that way, as all three of her progeny — CJ, Hunter and Scout — stand tall among the best athletes in Coupeville at present, and they’ve all been shining since they were barely out of diapers.

And while CJ is the oldest and Scout is going to be the biggest star (I’m calling it now), it’s Hunter who celebrates a birthday today, so we’re focusing on the middle child.

And why not? He’s on the cusp of busting out and becoming a superstar as a sophomore.

Last year, he was the only freshman in the 1A Olympic League to be named to the All-League football team, then followed that up with often-explosive work on the basketball court.

Topping his year?

He was a breakout hit on the baseball diamond from day one, teaming with his brother in the infield and on the mound to give outgoing CHS coach Willie Smith the most consistent reason to smile all season.

New school year, skills even more fine-tuned? Hunter is ready to blow up.

But, if he does, will the Zen Master crack a smile on the field? That’s the bigger question.

Like CJ before him, Hunter is a cool cat.

Not emotionless (I’ve seen him grin in photos, just not in the heat of athletic battle), but composed, the kind of guy who doesn’t crack easily under pressure and doesn’t waste a whole lot of time worrying about photo ops.

Kid is a throwback to the olden days, a three-sport athlete who is willing to let his talent speak for itself.

Now, maybe he’s Mr. Chatty away from the field, off the court, but all I have to go on is what I see in person.

And what I see is impressive.

Remarkably composed for a young athlete, a hard worker, a guy who doesn’t coast but busts his rear on every play, a leader, and, like his siblings and parents (Charlotte and Chris) a true blessing to have here in Coupeville.

Happy birthday, Hunter. Much respect, man.

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He’s kinda legendary, you know?!?!

Posted in A freakin' American hero, Baseball, Football, Happy birthday, tagged baseball, CHS Wolves, Cole Payne, football, Happy birthday on August 28, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Cole Payne? He’s kind of a big deal. (John Fisken and Shelli Trumbull photos)

He is more myth than man, more legend than reality.

Wherever he goes, whatever he does, the screams of his fans threaten to rip the roof off the building.

He is legend. He is Cole Payne.

As the Coupeville High School senior celebrates a birthday today, you need to stop and realize — we only get one more year of the awesomeness here in Cow Town before he’s off to spread the gospel of Cole world-wide.

Appreciate the talent. Bow to the coolness factor. Respect the game.

Baseball. Football. Basketball. And now, according to the buzz, tennis.

Payne can do it all and he can do it all well.

It’s not his fault. He was just born talented.

As he prepares for his final year at CHS, we just want to say a quick thank you to Mr. Payne, for the on-field thrills he’s delivered so far, and the highlight reel still to come this year.

Happy birthday, Cole. Stay legendary.

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Cole Payne is a man of many talents!!

Posted in Baseball, tagged American Legion, baseball, CHS Wolves, Cole Payne, Joey Lippo, SW Falcons on August 15, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Cole Payne flings heat for South Whidbey’s American Legion baseball squad. (Shelli Trumbulll photos)

Payne’s so fast he can throw the ball and…

get behind the plate, ready to catch it.

Fellow Wolf in Falcon’s clothes Joey Lippo is impressed.

Cole Payne will play all the positions.

I said all of them!

The Coupeville High School senior, who has been moonlighting this summer with South Whidbey’s American Legion baseball squad, has usually been a rock behind the plate or working the infield.

But, in these pics snapped exclusively by roving photo mom Shelli Trumbull (son Aaron is another Wolf currently masquerading as a Falcon), we see Payne bring the heat on the mound.

With Aaron Curtin and Trumbull having graduated, the CHS baseball team will enter next year with 2015’s pitching staff cut 50%.

Now it looks like fellow senior CJ Smith and lil’ bro Hunter Smith (both playing summer ball as well) may have some company as pitchers in spring 2016.

Welcome to the jungle, rival batters. Get ready to feel the Payne pain.

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Forever the champs!!

Posted in Baseball, Little League, tagged anniversary, baseball, Central Whidbey Little League, CHS Wolves, state champs on July 24, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Top to bottom, from left column: Brendan Coleman, Aaron Curtin, Aaron Trumbull, Carson Risner, Kurtis Smith, Ben Etzell, Korbin Korzan, Brian Norris, Morgan Payne, Jake and Chris Tumblin, Wade Schaef, Paul Schmakeit, Kyle Bodamer.

Today is historical.

Five years ago to the day, Coupeville stood tall and shocked the world.

Capping a miracle run, the Central Whidbey Little League Junior (13-14) baseball squad stormed from behind to upend West Valley and win a state title.

It took three runs in the bottom of the seventh just to force extra innings, then one more in the tenth to win, but, in the end, the pride of the prairie pulled out a 10-9 win on Saturday, July 24, 2010.

It is a day that will live in the memory banks of those 13 Coupeville players and coach Chris Tumblin, a day when they refused to let early despair win out.

Central Whidbey had fallen 4-3 earlier that day, losing on a balk in the seventh. It could have destroyed them, but it didn’t.

That resolve showed through in the final game, as the future Wolves refused to buckle, even when they fell behind 5-0 after just two innings of play.

Chipping away, Central Whidbey closed to 9-6, but stood three outs away from a season-ending loss.

Then, as it had done all postseason, the squad rallied.

Stringing together hits from Aaron Trumbull, Wade Schaef and Morgan Payne, mixed in with a West Valley error or two, Whidbey got all three runs it would need.

Given new life, the small-town diamond men handed the ball to Kurtis Smith.

Smith surrendered just one lone hit over the next three innings, and, in the tenth, kicked off Central Whidbey’s offense with a double of his own.

A walk to Jake Tumblin put two runners on, before Smith was forced at third on a fielder’s choice on which Ben Etzell reached first.

A bit of luck kept the rally alive, as Tumblin, caught in a rundown on an attempted steal, busted up the pickle and slapped his hand on third before the tag.

Cue history, as Trumbull lashed an infield single that plated the speedy Tumblin and set off a celebration that went on for days.

The first-ever state title for a team coming out of District 11 (Skagit and Island counties), it remains, five years later, as a defining moment in local sports history.

Eight of the 13 players would go on to play four years of baseball at Coupeville High School, and every one of the players now owns a diploma from the school.

As they move forward with their lives and accomplish new things, they will remain linked, by one day when they stood as a team, as brothers, and ruled the entire state.

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