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Diamond men launch new campaign

Posted in Baseball, tagged baseball, CHS Wolves, Coop Cooper, home opener, Meridian on March 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Coop Cooper is a veteran leader on a young Wolf hardball squad. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

There’s bound to be some bumps in the road.

After back-to-back trips to the 2B state playoffs, the Coupeville High School baseball squad finds itself in a rebuilding year.

The Wolves have just 11 players total, with four freshmen and two 8th graders, while only three guys in the lineup were letter winners a season ago.

So, Tuesday’s season opener, an 18-0 loss to visiting Meridian, a tough 1A foe with a history of excellence, is not completely unsurprising.

The trick for Steve Hilborn’s very raw Wolf team will be to let things go, learn from the loss, and bounce back quickly with a road trip to Port Townsend to play East Jefferson coming up Thursday afternoon.

The tilt with Meridian was supposed to be game #2 on the season, but a weekend road trip to Blaine was washed away by Mother Nature.

The weather on the prairie was fairly tranquil Tuesday, but the visiting Trojans were a rough and tumble bunch.

Meridian outhit Coupeville 10-1 and took advantage of eight Wolf errors to jump out to a big lead and never look back.

Up 6-0 after the top of the first inning, the Trojans methodically tacked on runs in each frame, forcing the mercy rule to be enacted after the bottom of the fifth.

Coupeville’s best offensive output came in the bottom of the first, but the hometown hardball heroes couldn’t keep a brief rally going.

Senior Landon Roberts lashed a leadoff single, but it would be the only base knock for the Wolves on this day.

Walks to Carson Grove (who was hit by a pitch) and Jayden Little filled the bags, but Meridian escaped without surrendering a run.

Coupeville’s offense sputtered through the next three innings, with the Wolves going 1-2-3 in each frame.

Down to their final at-bats, the Wolves put two runners aboard in the bottom of the fifth, with Phin Rhodes reaching on an error and Roberts eking out a walk, but that was where things ended for CHS.

One definite positive for Coupeville came via the strikeout, as four Wolf hurlers combined to record 13 K’s.

Roberts led the way with six, while Grove whiffed three and Camden Glover and Coop Cooper each recorded two.

Meridian’s other two outs came on fly balls to the outfield, as the Trojans didn’t record a single out on a groundball.

Riley Lawless, Trent Thule, Chris Zenz, Leo Rodriguez, and Jesus Madrigal rounded out the Wolf roster, joining Rhodes in making their CHS baseball debuts.

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Blaine rain the main pain

Posted in Baseball, tagged baseball, Blaine, CHS Wolves, rainout, season opener on March 15, 2025| Leave a Comment »

CHS baseball coach Steve Hilborn awaits sunnier days. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Mother Nature has entered the chat.

The season opener for Coupeville High School baseball was washed away Saturday, as a planned trip to Blaine was called off before the Wolves could hit the road.

The official prognosis: a night of steady rain left the Borderites field unable to host a game.

No word yet on whether the non-conference clash will be rescheduled.

For now, the Wolf diamond men turn their attention to their planned home opener, which is set for Tuesday, Mar. 18.

Meridian is slated to come to Cow Town for that rumble, with the first pitch set for 4:00 PM.

If Mother Nature agrees.

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Can’t kill a quality program

Posted in Baseball, tagged baseball, Camden Glover, CHS Wolves, Coop Cooper, Spring Sports Preview on March 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Camden Glover returns to anchor the Wolf offense and defense. (Ryan Blouin photo)

It’s a whole new world.

After advancing to the state tourney two seasons in a row, the Coupeville High School baseball team had to fight just to keep the program alive this spring.

Losses to graduation, family moves, injuries, and veteran players opting not to suit up left Wolf coach Steve Hilborn and his staff scrambling.

But they got there, relying on a core group which didn’t flake out like others, and will open the season Saturday with a road trip to Blaine.

The roster is thin, but the spirit is strong among those who remain committed.

“Looks like we’ll have a team. We have 11 right now,” Hilborn said. “Several kids new to baseball but with lots of potential.

“We’re working on basics and having fun,” he added. “And that’s the name of the game.”

Landon Roberts is a rare veteran on a rebuilding Wolf team. (Sherry Bonacci photo)

Leading the way will be senior Landon Roberts, who pitched, played first base, and patrolled the outfield last season.

Juniors Camden Glover and Coop Cooper provide big arms and steady bats, while freshmen Carson Grove and Jayden Little are back for a second year of varsity baseball.

Joining them will be a group of newcomers including senior Jesus Madrigal, making the jump from team manager to on-field player.

Sophomore big man Riley Lawless, freshmen Leo Rodriguez and Phin Rhodes, and 8th graders Trent Thule and Chris Zenz round out the current roster.

Junior Aiden O’Neill, a starter in center field last season, is sidelined as he recovers from surgery after a football injury but will be a key part of the team’s support crew from his perch on the bench.

Carson Grove, already a grizzled vet and just a freshman. (Mindy Grove photo)

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CHS baseball season in jeopardy?

Posted in Baseball, tagged baseball, CHS Wolves, information meeting, state tournament, Steve Hilborn on January 15, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Steve Hilborn has guided Coupeville High School baseball to state in both seasons he’s been at the helm of the program. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Time to put the rally hats on.

A combination of injuries and family moves is forcing Coupeville High School baseball coaches to scramble even before the season arrives.

The Wolves have advanced to the state tourney in back-to-back seasons but are “in danger of not having enough kids for a team this year,” said head man Steve Hilborn.

A team meeting has been set for 1:30 PM Wednesday to give coaches a better idea of how many players may be available.

It will be held in the health room inside the entrance to the CHS gym.

For Hilborn and his staff, the push to save the campaign is underway.

“Two straight years to state and then we can’t even make a team?” he said. “Doesn’t seem possible.”

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Lippo adds to his trophy case

Posted in Baseball, tagged All-Star, Aroostook, baseball, CHS Wolves, Gold Glove, Joey Lippo, Maine, University of Maine at Presque Isle on August 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Joey Lippo fires liquid heat in an All-Star game. (Photos property Tyler Turner)

Joey Lippo got some postseason love.

The Coupeville High School grad earned a Gold Glove Award as a catcher for his work in the Aroostook Men’s Baseball League this summer, while also notching an invite to the All-Star game.

Lippo, who was a standout diamond player at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, was in his second season of summer ball.

Postgame fist-bumps for everyone.

Skyy’s twin brother played multiple positions for the Mavericks, who finished the regular season in second place.

Lippo and Co. fell to the third-seeded Bad News Bears in the playoffs, with that team going on to notch its second-straight title.

Before his time in Maine, where he also golfed for UMPI, Lippo was a three-sport star in Coupeville, playing tennis, basketball, and baseball for the Wolves.