Wolf players and coaches gather for a conference. (Joan Payne photo)
You find your positives where you can.
For instance, the Coupeville High School baseball team did NOT get no-hit Wednesday.
It came awfully close against “the best pitcher we have seen this year,” but Aaron Curtin ripped an RBI single to deny Archbishop Thomas Murphy hurler Zander Clouse a no-no.
Unfortunately, with just that single, which knocked in Morgan Payne, who had reached on an error and stole second, to their credit, the Wolves weren’t able to keep pace with the host Wildcats, falling 11-1 to the defending 2A state champs.
Now 5-7 overall, 3-7 in Cascade Conference play, Coupeville will wrap up the brutal part of its schedule Friday, when they welcome ATM to the Island.
That will cap a six-game stretch against Cedarcrest — which was unbeaten in league play until the Wolves beat them last week — and ATM, which is still perfect at 11-0. Up after that, three game sets against cellar dwellers Granite Falls and Sultan.
Even in the loss, Wolf coach Willie Smith saw positives. Just not enough of them.
“It was an interesting feel to the game,” Smith said. “We were more focused and had much more energy, but made too many ill-timed errors and didn’t get the little things done to put us in a position to win.”
Ben Etzell got the start on the mound for Coupeville and pitched decently, but couldn’t match the numbers put by Clouse, who whiffed nine in five innings.
With two days to plan before the series finale, Smith and his brain trust will scheme ways to upend ATM the same way they did Cedarcrest and knock-off their second unbeaten power.
“In spite of the two lopsided losses, we feel like we can compete and if we play like we are capable of playing, pull one out on Friday,” Smith said. “If nothing else, we are determined to give them a tough one!”
