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Quick hits: Jake Hoagland debuts!!

Posted in Baseball, Football, tagged baseball, Brett Smedley, CHS Wolves, football, Hunter Downes, Jake Hoagland on June 12, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Jake Hoagland wails on the sax. (John Fisken photo)

Hoagland (far left) and friends celebrate the end of the school year.

With a new high school football season ahead of us, let’s take a look at some of the young men who will play for Coupeville High School for the first time this fall.

When it comes to football, Jake Hoagland is putting the remote down and picking up the pigskin.

Already a successful baseball player for Coupeville High School, he’ll trade watching football for playing it as he enters his sophomore year.

“This year is my first year actually,” Hoagland said. “I enjoy watching football, but now I have the chance to play.”

He’s making the transition after being talked into it by those around him.

“I was kinda coaxed into playing by my friend Hunter Downes and coach (Brett) Smedley also said that I should play, so here I am,” Hoagland said. “My parents were not sure if I was going to play until the first practice.”

Having shown up for those opening spring practices, he plans to keep going, with an eye on snagging passes for Coupeville.

“Right now my strength is receiver and I only plan on playing that position, for now at least,” Hoagland said. “Since this is my first year I don’t have any goals really.

“I just plan on doing my best to support my team.”

While he may not have much football experience, Hoagland does have natural athletic ability and an easy-going nature.

A long-time baseball player, he saw varsity action for the Wolves as a freshman.

Making his first career start in an Olympic League game against Port Townsend, he smacked a pair of hits and knocked in three runs.

When he wasn’t on the diamond, he was also a standout with an instrument, playing a vital role for Jamar Jenkin’s CMS/CHS band.

“I usually spend my time sitting around, but when it comes to my classes I enjoy fitness and band the most,” Hoagland said.

If baseball and music are any indication, expect the scrappy Wolf to play a sweet tune on the football field, as well.

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Yes, I throw fast! That’s why they call it a fastball!!

Posted in Baseball, Little League, tagged baseball, Central Whidbey Little League, John Fisken photos, throwin heat, trash talking on June 7, 2015| Leave a Comment »

“I call this pitch The Whopper … cause it’s flame broiled, baby!!” (John Fisken photos)

“Keep pushing the fences back all you want. I’m still leaving the yard, son!!”

“EYAAAAAGGHHH … sweet lord, I just pulled every muscle in my entire body. It’s OK, though, cause chicks dig the long ball…”

"I haven't heard a kid scream like that since

“You move off that base, I throw. Your choice, punk. Do you feel lucky? Well, do you?”

Balls are flying and cameras are clicking.

Central Whidbey Little League teams are deep into tournament play (the team here is the Majors Baseball squad) and John Fisken’s camera has been on the scene.

The photos above are courtesy him.

The cut-lines are me amusing myself. As usual.

To see more eye-poppin’ pics, pop over to:

http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf35e30ca565

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Curtin on the short list!!

Posted in Baseball, tagged Aaron Curtin, Aaron Trumbull, All-State, baseball, CHS Wolves, Josh Bayne, Kyle Bodamer on June 4, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Kyle Bodamer, breaking bats (and hearts) wherever he goes. (Shelli Trumbull photos)

Wolf seniors (l to r) Aaron Curtin, Aaron Trumbull, Josh Bayne and Bodamer get serious for one last group photo op.

Bayne has places to go and he always believes in arriving early.

South Whidbey’s Trent Fallon (middle) and Mo Hamsa (beard) joke around with their Coupeville counterparts.

Trumbull and Curtin, who played together since little league, exchange one last fist bump.

Trumbull and Curtin, who have played together since little league, exchange one last fist bump.

One hurdle down, one to go.

Coupeville High School senior pitcher Aaron Curtin was nominated for the All-State baseball series Wednesday after playing in the 1A/2B/1B Northwest Regional Feeder Games in Bellingham.

Curtin was one of 10 players to be nominated, and the only one from the four Wolf players who participated in the feeder games.

Fellow CHS seniors Aaron Trumbull, Kyle Bodamer and Josh Bayne wrapped up their high school careers by playing in the two-game series at Joe Martin Field.

Final decisions on the All-State rosters will be announced June 7, with the games in Yakima June 13-14.

If Curtin makes the final cut, it would give Coupeville a representative for the second straight year.

Last year, Ben Etzell got the call and pitched in the second game at All-State.

The feeder games in Bellingham were part of a state-wide effort to showcase senior diamond men.

Coupeville’s quartet played for the Americans team, which was coached by South Whidbey’s Tom Fallon.

They tied 6-6 in the opener Wednesday, then lost 4-3 in the nightcap.

Nooksack Valley’s Cole Mattice won the second game when he singled home Meridian’s Tanner Tutterrow with two outs in the seventh inning.

The winning rally included a boost from a player who could have been a Wolf.

Taylor Gardner attended elementary school in Coupeville, before a family move took his baseball skills to Nooksack Valley.

His walk in the seventh, packaged between singles from Tutterrow and Overlake’s Mike Lau, juiced the bags for Mattice.

Along with Curtin, the other nominees for All-State include Tuterrow, Ryan Gelwicks (Nooksack), David McLaurin (Cedar Park Christian), Andrew Young (Darrington), Curtis Handy (Nooksack), Mo Hamsa (South Whidbey), Aaron Mell (Overlake), Evan Sather (Overlake) and Gibson Fichter (Concrete).

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Bayne Train rumbles through Birthday Land!!

Posted in Baseball, Football, Happy birthday, tagged baseball, CHS Wolves, Earl Barden All-Star Classic, football, Happy birthday, Josh Bayne on June 2, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Josh Bayne, being all awesome and stuff.

The coolest cat in the room. Always.

Josh Bayne has glided through life at Coupeville High School in much the same way he slices ‘n dices defenses on the football field — with ease, while always looking stylish doing it.

As he celebrates his birthday today, with graduation just a few days away, he is at the top of his game.

Olympic League MVP and All-State on both sides of the ball during football season, with an invitation to the Earl Barden East-West All-Star Classic later this month.

When baseball arrived, Bayne punched out his usual stellar season, earning his second First Team All-Conference selection of the school year.

Wednesday he’ll be in Bellingham, joining Wolf teammates Aaron Curtin, Kyle Bodamer and Aaron Trumbull at the state feeder games.

And, while he didn’t play basketball, he was always front and center to cheer on his classmates. If there was a costume to be worn, he was your man.

The rampaging force of nature who CHS hardball guru Willie Smith tabbed “Awesome Joshsome” was a truly electrifying athlete.

Whether rupturing spleens by launching himself like a heat-seeking missile at ball carriers or sporting a huge grin as he shot around third base after hammering a home run into the parking lot, Bayne enjoyed his days in the red and black.

As he moves on to accomplish big things in the real world, we, his fans, want to wish him the best and send him big birthday greetings.

You can’t stop the Bayne Train. You can’t contain him. But you can applaud him as he sails by.

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Well done, A-a-ron!!

Posted in Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Tennis, tagged Aaron Curtin, baseball, Basketball, CHS Wolves, Churchy, medalist, state, tennis on June 1, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Aaron Curtin (Photo courtesy Ken Stange)

Aaron Curtin submits to a photo op with his state tennis medal. (Photo courtesy Ken Stange)

Curtin flies up court during basketball season. (John Fisken photo)

The joy of a game-winning hit. (Shelli Trumbull photo)

Let’s take a moment to honor the quiet warrior.

For four years Aaron Curtin has been as good an athlete as Coupeville High School has had.

Tennis. Basketball. Baseball.

He was talented at whatever he played, and he attacked everything he did with passion.

Aaron was his own man the whole way, as well.

He would pop up in photos, usually with a small smile, but he didn’t hunger for the camera the way some Wolves do.

A lot of what we do here at Coupeville Sports is full of exclamation points and kids goofing off for the camera and big-bigger-biggest.

Curtin chose to glide through all that, being a great athlete, a quality guy, but a low key one.

Which is totally his right.

I give him all the credit in the world for doing things his way, the way that made him comfortable.

He handled his business with class every step of the way, and his family, his coaches, and us, the fans, should be proud we got to be a small part of it.

His tennis coach, Ken Stange, reflected on Aaron in the moments after Curtin placed eighth at the state tennis tourney, fighting through four epic matches in two days of searing Yakima heat:

“It was beautiful to watch.

I’ve spent four seasons with Aaron. He played nearly 100 matches for CHS, over the course of four regular and post seasons.

I was so incredibly proud of his effort, and was happy he’d be earning a medal.

I have a hard time finding words to describe the moments he and I shared, just after the match.

It’s surprising because I’m usually not shy about descriptions.

That’s okay, though.

This one was special–it was Aaron’s and it was ours. He’s a pretty quiet and private young man, so I guess it’s appropriate that I can’t give you a description.

It was such an enjoyable experience, and I think it was even more so for Aaron.”

As he prepares to graduate this week, Curtin leaves behind visible reminders of his excellence.

Every time Wolf fans enter the CHS gym in the years to come, they will see his face on the wall of honor, forever enshrined as one of the Wolf Athlete of the Years.

But it will be the memories that will last longer.

The mental images of a young man of sterling character, who fought through tough times on the basketball court as a program rebuilt with young players.

Of a quietly confident veteran who baffled hitters with his fastball, tossing a no-hitter on his home diamond.

Of a class act who never gave in, never gave up, always, ALWAYS fought to the final moment and sacrificed himself for his teammates.

Aaron Curtin was one of the greats, and he stayed true to himself every step of the way.

It was a pleasure to cover your exploits, sir.

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