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Archive for the ‘Baseball’ Category

Wolf legend one step from return to CHS diamond!!

Posted in Baseball, tagged , , , , on December 16, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Marc Aparicio (who has since shaved the beard), hanging out with his children.

   Marc Aparicio (who has since shaved his magnificent beard), hanging out with his children.

Barring a last-second plot twist, Marc Aparicio is on his way to becoming the new head baseball coach at Coupeville High School.

CHS Athletic Director Duane Baumann confirmed Wednesday the school has offered Aparicio the position.

All that remains is for the hire to be approved by the school board, which meets 6:30 PM Monday, Dec. 21 in the Coupeville Elementary School library.

Aparicio’s potential new job is on the agenda.

A 1988 CHS grad who played baseball, football, basketball and track during his time as a Wolf, Aparicio went to state five times.

His ties to the community run deep.

Older brother Mitch was also a multi-sport star for the Wolves and current CHS sophomore Payton Aparicio, a top volleyball and tennis player, is his niece.

After graduation, Marc put in stints in the Air National Guard (electrician), Army National Guard (heavy equipment operator) and the US Coast Guard before retiring this year and moving home to Coupeville, where he lives on Penn Cove.

During his time in the Coast Guard, Aparicio, an aeronautical engineer, spent six months on ice patrol, flying search and rescue missions on the Bering Sea.

He was chief engineer for the H-65 helicopter fleet, a maintenance test pilot, project manager on two of the biggest USCG acquisition programs in history, member of a helicopter operational unit and a senior flight instructor.

If approved by the school board, Aparicio will replace Willie Smith, who retired in the spring after a very successful 19-year run as head baseball coach at CHS.

Aparicio will get some valuable help from Chris Smith.

The father of Wolf players CJ and Hunter Smith, he was JV coach under Willie Smith (no relation) last season, and confirmed Wednesday he plans to return.

“I’m looking forward to working with Marc,” Chris Smith said.

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Forget it Jake, it’s Birthday Town!!

Posted in Band, Baseball, Football, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , on November 25, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Jake Hoagland (John Fisken and Lisa Jenne photos)

   The multi-talented Jake Hoagland being … talented. (John Fisken and Lisa Jenne photos)

The kid can wail.

He can also play ball on all sorts of different ball-fields, he’s got some pep in his step and comes across as a genuinely nice guy.

So, for all those reasons, and many more, we take a moment to wish Jake Hoagland a happy cake day.

The Coupeville High School sophomore, now a two-sport (football, baseball) star who has been known to dabble in the band arts as well, hits his birthday today.

It’s the big 1-6 and I’m sure he’s probably got plenty of things to do besides sit around and listen to me go on and on about his good qualities.

Well, simmer down there buddy. It’s my blog and I’ll jabber on for as long as I want to.

But there’s cake to be gotten to!!!!!!!! Yeah, yeah, yeah…

Anyways, Jake, much like the law enforcement professionals doing double duty as his parents (Jim and Lisa) has always seemed like a stand-up guy.

On the field, regardless of the sport, he is one of those quiet players who let their hustle and work ethic do the talking for them, while off the gridiron and diamond, he seems like the epitome of laid-back calmness.

Put a sax in his hands, and he’s equally talented, one of the true bright lights in the CHS band.

But now, since he’s probably got better things to do with his time, let’s wrap this up and let him go.

From all of us here at Coupeville Sports, have a great birthday, Jake.

You make your parents, your school and your town look good, young Mr. Hoagland. Keep on keepin’ on.

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Clay is here to save the day!!

Posted in Baseball, Basketball, Football, Happy birthday, tagged , , , , on November 10, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Birthday boy Clay Reilly (with a cameo by big sis Amanda Fabrizi).

Birthday boy Clay Reilly (with a cameo by big sis Amanda Fabrizi).

Clay Reilly, welcome to the big time.

The Coupeville High School junior has been kickin’ butt and taking names for three years now, as a football, basketball and baseball star, but this fall he moved to a lofty level.

One of the real bright spots during a somewhat dismal Wolf gridiron season, Reilly teamed with Hunter Smith to be lock-down defensive backs.

Teams scored a lot on the Wolves, but most of it came on the ground, as most other teams shied away from throwing into their coverage.

With Smith picking off a school-record seven passes, Reilly didn’t get as many balls to make plays on, but, when he did, he was highly effective.

He made off with his own interception, came within a fingertip of at least two others, and thoroughly discouraged opposing quarterbacks from trying to operate on his side of the field.

Perhaps better for Coupeville, however, was his emergence as the best punter in 1A.

The Wolves, who were working out the kinks in an offense featuring a host of young players, averaged nearly five punts a game.

Once Reilly took over the role midway through the season, his foot became Coupeville’s most dangerous weapon, as he piled up 1,156 yards on 34 kicks.

One of those exploded into the early evening sky, took a sharp bounce on his home turf and skidded to a rest some 70 yards later, giving his support crew plenty of time to haul tail down the field and keep the other team from even attempting to bring the ball back.

In a rough season for a still-developing squad, that punt was easily the most impressive play of the season.

Reilly being Reilly, he took off down the field after he let loose with the kick, wanting in on the tackle. He may be a punter, but he’s a hitter, first and foremost.

As he celebrates his 17th birthday today, the lil’ bro of former Wolf hoops star Amanda Fabrizi, is one of the best and brightest we have at CHS.

Will he return to basketball after taking a season off? Only time will tell.

Almost certainly Reilly will be back on the diamond in the spring, reclaiming his starting spot in the lineup.

He swung a wicked bat and displayed a laser arm as a sophomore, and, based on football, he has grown as an athlete.

As he celebrates his cake day, we want to wish him the best and thank him, for his refusal to quit, for his grit, for his willingness to pose for the camera, for the way he shines bright and reps Wolf Nation with class and style.

Happy birthday, Clay. Now go kick some more booty.

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Safeco snapshots to spice up your Monday!!

Posted in Baseball, tagged , , , , , , on September 14, 2015| Leave a Comment »

(John Fisken photos)

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

Robinson Cano

Robinson Cano nimbly evades the tag.

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

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

Steven Baron

   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.

play at 3rd

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 , , , , , 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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