Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Baseball’ Category

Spring (ha!) sports draw close

Posted in Baseball, Boys Soccer, Girls Tennis, Softball, Track, tagged , , , , , , , on February 12, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Thirteen days from today, Coupeville High School soccer star Derek Leyva and other spring athletes begin practice. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

A look out the window says winter, but a look at the schedule says spring.

Well, at least in terms of high school sports seasons, as we’re less than two weeks from the first practices.

Whether or not we’re still trapped in a new ice age at that point, Monday, Feb. 25 marks the start for Coupeville High School track, baseball, soccer, tennis, and softball.

The first game arrives Mar. 9, when the Wolf boys soccer squad welcomes Chimacum to town for a non-conference tilt.

As you mentally prepare yourself for a typical Central Whidbey spring sports season of sideways rain and howling prairie wind, as opposed to snow and ice, here’s a look at all the team’s schedules.

You may notice a few quirks which come along with being in a new league this season.

After bouncing from team to team in a haphazard manner in the Olympic League, Coupeville baseball gets to return to how life was back in the Cascade Conference.

Teams will play the same league opponent three times in one week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday), either going home, away, home, or away, home, away.

That gives squads a chance to play actual series, like college or MLB teams do, and forces coaches to make more adjustments as they take into consideration state-mandated pitch count limits and other factors.

Softball also plays each league foe three times, though those meetings are scattered across the schedule, and King’s doesn’t field a team in the sport.

Boys soccer and girls tennis face off with conference rivals twice, but the netters will see a different line-up than anyone else.

Neither Cedar Park Christian or Sultan have tennis teams, but Friday Harbor, the only school to play the sport in the 2B/1B Northwest League, is taking one of their slots.

It makes sense, as the Wolverines are a longtime Coupeville rival, and 1A, 2B, and 1B all compete in the same state tourney in tennis.

Finally, track and field boasts its most home meets in forever.

The Wolves, still enjoying the “new oval” smell of their renovated running surface, have a pair of three-team league meets and an invitational scheduled to play out in front of local fans.

With trips to Oak Harbor and South Whidbey also on the schedule, Coupeville will stay on Whidbey Island for five of nine regular-season events currently on the schedule.

And, one last word of warning — only a fool expects spring sports to play out 100% to schedule.

Unless the weather gods take pity on us after giving us the shaft this past week-plus, keep one eye peeled for updates.

 

Coupeville Schools:

https://coupeville.tandem.co/

 

North Sound Conference:

http://www.nscathletics.com

 

So, as of Feb. 12, this is where things are for CHS varsity teams, with * indicating a league game.

 

BASEBALL:

Tues-Mar. 12 — Friday Harbor (3:30)
Fri-Mar. 15 — @Lynden Christian (3:00)
Sat-Mar. 16 — Overlake (1:00)
Mon-Mar. 18 — @Cedar Park Christian (6:30)*
Wed-Mar. 20 — Cedar Park Christian (4:00)*
Fri-Mar. 22 — @Cedar Park Christian (6:30)*
Mon-Mar. 25 — Chimacum (4:00)
Wed-Mar. 27 — @University Prep (TBD)
Mon-Apr. 1 — @King’s (6:00)*
Wed-Apr. 3 — King’s (4:00)*
Fri-Apr. 5 — @King’s (6:00)*
Mon-Apr. 8 — South Whidbey (4:00)*
Wed-Apr. 10 — @South Whidbey (4:00)*
Fri-Apr. 12 — South Whidbey (4:00)*
Mon-Apr. 15 — Sultan (4:00)*
Wed-Apr. 17 — @Sultan (4:00)*
Fri-Apr. 19 — Sultan (4:00)*
Mon-Apr. 22 — Granite Falls (4:00)*
Wed-Apr. 24 — @Granite Falls (4:00)*
Fri-Apr. 26 — Granite Falls (4:00)*

 

BOYS SOCCER:

Sat-Mar. 9 — Chimacum (12:30)
Mon-Mar. 11 — Mount Baker (5:00)
Thur-Mar. 14 — @Meridian (4:30)
Sat-Mar. 16 — @Nooksack Valley (1:00)
Tues-Mar. 19 — King’s (6:45)*
Fri-Mar. 22 — Sultan (6:45)*
Tues-Mar. 26 — @Cedar Park Christian (6:00)*
Fri-Mar. 29 — @South Whidbey (6:00)*
Mon-Apr. 1 — @Forks (3:30)
Tue-Apr. 9 — Granite Falls (6:45)*
Fri-Apr. 12 — @King’s (7:00)*
Tues-Apr. 16 — @Sultan (7:00)*
Fri-Apr. 19 — Cedar Park Christian (6:45)*
Tues-Apr. 23 — South Whidbey (6:45)*
Thur-Apr. 25 — @Granite Falls (6:00)*

 

GIRLS TENNIS:

Mon-Mar 11 — @Port Angeles (4:00)
Thur-Mar. 28 — King’s (3:30)*
Mon-Apr. 8 — @Chimacum (4:00)
Tues-Apr. 9 — South Whidbey (3:30)*
Thur-Apr. 11 — @Friday Harbor (3:30)*
Tues-Apr. 16 — Granite Falls (3:30)*
Tues-Apr. 23 — @King’s (3:30)*
Thur-Apr. 25 — @ South Whidbey (3:30)*
Tues-Apr. 30 — Friday Harbor (3:30)*
Thur-May 2 — @Granite Falls (3:30)*

 

SOFTBALL:

Tues-Mar. 12 — Friday Harbor (3:30)
Fri-Mar. 15 — @Lynden Christian (3:00)
Sat-Mar. 16 — Lakewood (1:00)
Thur-Mar. 21 — Cedar Park Christian (4:00)*
Tues-Mar. 26 — @Granite Falls (4:00)*
Thur-Mar. 28 — @Sultan (4:00)*
Sat-Mar. 30 — @Forks (1:00)
Sat-Apr. 6 — Meridian (1:00)
Tues-Apr. 9 — South Whidbey (4:00)*
Mon-Apr. 15 — Cedar Park Christian (4:00)*
Wed-Apr. 17 — @Granite Falls (4:00)*
Fri-Apr. 19 — @Sultan (4:00)*
Tues-Apr. 23 — South Whidbey (4:00)*
Thur-Apr. 25 — Chimacum (4:00)
Mon-Apr. 29 — @Cedar Park Christian (4:00)*
Wed-May 1 — Granite Falls (4:00)*
Fri-May 3 — Sultan (4:00)*
Tues-May 7 — @South Whidbey (4:00)*

 

TRACK AND FIELD:

Thur-Mar. 14 — @Oak Harbor Jamboree (3:30)
Thur-Mar. 21 — HOME vs. S. Whidbey, Granite (4:00)*
Thur-Mar. 28 — @King’s (4:00)*
Sat-Mar. 30 — Coupeville Invite (11:00)
Thur-Apr. 11 — HOME vs. King’s, Cedar Park (4:00)*
Sat-Apr. 13 — @Cashmere Invitational (12:00)
Thur-Apr. 18 — @Sultan (4:00)*
Sat-Apr. 20 — @Lil’ Norway Invitational – N. Kitsap (11:00)
Thur-Apr. 25 — @South Whidbey (4:00)*

Read Full Post »

Hard work, big payoff!!

Posted in Baseball, Basketball, tagged , , , , , on August 19, 2018| 1 Comment »

Hawthorne Wolfe glides in for a bucket. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Wolfe, here streaking for home, was a key player on a Babe Ruth team which finished 2nd at state and advanced to regionals this summer.

Talent? Check.

Hard work and commitment? Check and check.

Hawthorne Wolfe is that rare young athlete who checks all the boxes, and his appearance in a Coupeville High School uniform this coming year is highly-anticipated.

On the basketball court, he’s a three ball-droppin’ terror who can also wheel and deal with the ball, while on the baseball diamond, Wolfe brings a slick glove, hot bat and fleet feet to the lineup.

During his middle school days, Wolfe also played football, but, for the moment at least, he’s stepping off the gridiron to focus on his other two sports.

While he shines in all his sporting endeavors, the fast-rising young star hails hoops as his favorite pastime.

“It’s a team sport and at times can be individual,” Wolfe explained. “It’s also fast-paced, as well as fun.”

On a CMS team where all five starters felt comfortable firing up balls from behind the three-point arc, Wolfe was the deadliest last season.

Operating like NBA stars such as Steph Curry, or future CHS teammate Mason Grove, Wolfe has already showcased an often uncanny ability to get his shot off quickly, and from any angle.

Shooting on the move, while going either direction, he often proved deadliest when putting up balls in the flow of action.

Give him time to spot up and it was even more likely to result in a taste of splash city.

The commitment factor came into play vividly after one game, when, unhappy with his performance (despite leading Coupeville to a win), he ran laps around the gym.

A slight chuckle came from one of his coaches as Wolfe, not satisfied with his initial self-administered punishment, decided to double his running.

Commitment like that carried over to many of his teammates, and the middle school hoops team was a tightly-knit, successful squad.

Now, as Wolfe and most of his teammates prepare to swap out CMS uniforms for ones which read CHS, that sense of commitment continues to burn brightly.

“I want to hopefully go to state in all sports,” Wolfe said. “And, if possible, which I think it is, win state and so on.”

Away from the court or diamond, he’s fond of playing video games and spends a fair amount of time “watching sports or going to sporting events with my dad or family.”

When he’s in uniform himself, or working to get ready, Wolfe strives to mesh his skills with his teammates, well aware a solid team can go further than just a single athlete.

“It shows that you can work with others well and you get to have fun playing sports competitively,” he said. “I think I’m a good teammate; I mean, I recommend asking some of my teammates first.”

While he always wants to keep the competitive fires raging, Wolfe is also on a mission to find proper balance.

“I would like to work on not getting frustrated at things I shouldn’t get frustrated at,” he said with a small smile.

Whether dropping in treys from long distance, or slaving away over school work, Wolfe has a deep appreciation for his support crew.

“Well, obviously my parents and grandparents and all my coaches have been great on helping me,” he said. “I can’t think of one who hasn’t.

“But when it comes to teammates, I would say Caleb Meyer, just cause me and him are always competitive,” Wolfe added. “He helps me, I help him, and we strive to be great together, whether it’s in the gym or outside.”

Read Full Post »

U-Dub baseball nabs Falcon legend!!

Posted in Baseball, tagged , , , , on August 1, 2018| Leave a Comment »

After two stellar seasons at Lower Columbia College, South Whidbey grad Ricky Muzzy (right) is joining the University of Washington’s baseball squad. (Photo from Muzzy’s Facebook page)

Hopefully Ricky Muzzy remembers me when he gets to The Show.

The former South Whidbey High School standout, who is one of the rare Falcons to get a feature story here on Coupeville Sports (back in 2014), continues to move up in the baseball world.

After two stellar seasons on the diamond at Lower Columbia College, Muzzy is officially making the jump to NCAA D-1 action, joining the University of Washington baseball program.

The Huskies announced the addition of Muzzy and Connor Blair from California’s Butte College in a Monday press release.

After graduating from SWHS in 2016, Muzzy left Freeland for Longview, where he immediately became a key player for LCC teams which won titles both of his seasons.

A middle infielder who can anchor a team at shortstop or second base, Muzzy played in 74 games at LCC, piling up 21 doubles, nine triples, seven home runs and 60 RBI.

He hit .359 during his first season, and .305 as a sophomore.

 

PS — If you want to see the moment when the spotlight first landed on Muzzy, pop over and check out my old-school article on him at:

The Falcons are alright: Ricky Muzzy explodes!!

Read Full Post »

Fireworks on final day!!

Posted in Baseball, tagged , , , , on July 27, 2018| Leave a Comment »

   Hawthorne Wolfe had two hits and three RBI as Coupeville Babe Ruth closed its season Friday with a loss at regionals. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Time to pack up the baseballs and sunflower seeds, toss the mitts and spikes in the car, and head home.

A very successful season ended on a slightly sad note Friday, as the Coupeville Babe Ruth baseball squad fell 12-7 to Miles City (Montana) in its final game at the 15U regional tourney in Portland.

The loss drops the Wolves to a still pretty remarkable 17-6.

Along the way, Coupeville went undefeated in regular-season play, finished second at the state tourney, then ventured to Oregon to face its stiffest competition.

The 10-team regional tourney featured teams from Washington, Oregon, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Canada. The winner advances to the World Series.

While the Wolves won’t be hanging around to play for a title this weekend, they acquitted themselves well, and Friday was a prime example.

Coupeville outhit Miles City 13-10, with eight of of its 11 players collecting at least one base-knock.

In fact, every Wolf made it safely to first base on the day, as the three players without a hit combined to walk four times.

But errors, and one bad early inning, doomed the Islanders.

Looking to close the season with a win, Coupeville scratched out two runs in the top of the first, thanks to an RBI single from Gavin Knoblich and a sac fly off the bat of Cody Roberts.

That brought around Scott Hilborn, who led off the game with a single, and Andrew Score, who walked to start off a day when he would reach base all four times he stepped to the plate.

Then, the bottom of the first hit, and everything went sideways for a bit.

Miles City racked up half its hits in the opening frame, while taking advantage of two free passes and the first two of six errors the Wolves would commit on the afternoon.

By the time Coupeville stopped the bleeding, ending the inning when third-baseman Xavier Murdy scooped up a grounder and lofted the ball into Hawthorne Wolfe’s glove at first, eight Montana runners had tapped home.

That made the rest of the afternoon a game of catch-up for the Wolves, and while they kept plugging away, they never got back closer than four runs down.

Coupeville tacked on a run in the second (a double from Sage Sharp was the big blow) and another in the third (four singles, with Wolfe picking up the RBI).

Miles City responded with two in the fourth and two in the fifth, though, stretching the lead back out before the Wolves closed the game with a seventh-inning rally.

Singles from Score, Roberts, Ashton Leland and Wolfe, who had a team-high three RBI, accounted for three runs before Coupeville ran out of outs in the game, and tournament.

Score led a remarkably-balanced lineup, collecting two hits, two walks and two runs, while Knoblich, Wolfe, Roberts and Leland all picked up a pair of base-knocks.

Sharp, Hilborn and Johnny Carlson added a hit apiece to round out the hitting attack.

Chelsea Prescott walked in both of her plate appearances, with Daniel Olson and Roberts combining for seven strikeouts while sharing pitching duties.

Read Full Post »

Scrappy Wolves keep swinging!!

Posted in Baseball, tagged , , , , , on July 26, 2018| Leave a Comment »

Xavier Murdy piled up a hit, a walk and two runs Thursday as Coupeville Babe Ruth played at regionals in Portland. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Not all teams are created equal.

When the Coupeville Babe Ruth 15U baseball squad went to the state tourney, they had 13 players on their roster, the same boys (and one girl) who played together all season.

Now, as the Wolves fight through regionals in Portland, they have 11 in uniform, as Ulrik Wells and Drake Borden couldn’t make the trip.

Thursday’s opponent, the KWRL Centerfield Roosters, representing South Washington, are a true all-star team. The squad pulls players from Kalama, Woodland, Ridgefield and La Center, all meccas of teen sports excellence.

So, it’s not a total surprise the under-staffed Coupeville diamond dogs, despite a chippy effort, fell 14-4.

The loss drops the Wolves to 17-5 on the season, with one contest left to play.

That comes Friday afternoon, when Coupeville faces Montana in its fourth and final game in pool play.

After taking a close loss to Calgary and more lopsided defeats at the hands of Portland and KWRL, the Wolves have no hope of advancing to the semifinals portion of the 10-team tourney.

But, after picking up an unexpected run of games (it’s subbing for North Washington state champ Columbia Basin at regionals), Coupeville will return home with valuable experience from the big stage.

The Wolves fell behind early Thursday, giving up three runs in the first and six more in the second, as KWRL whacked the stuffing out of the ball.

The all-star unit racked up eight hits in just the first two frames, including a triple and a pair of doubles.

The South Washington crew finished with 13 hits before the game was called after five innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Coupeville plated a run in the first, another in the third, and two more in its final at-bats.

The opening Wolf run came on a nice two-out, no-one-on-base rally, as the Islanders strung together a single from Daniel Olson, a walk to Gavin Knoblich and an RBI double off the bat of Cody Roberts.

In the third, it was base-knock city, as singles from Xavier Murdy, Andrew Score and Olson brought a runner around.

Roberts was in a groove, smoking a lead-off double in the fourth for his second two bagger, but he died a lonely death on the base-paths as his teammates were unable to help him tap home.

Needing three runs to keep the game alive, Coupeville almost got there in the fifth, but came up a few inches short.

Four consecutive walks — with Murdy, Scott Hilborn (he was plunked by a wayward pitch), Score and Olson outlasting the KWRL hurler — plated one, while a sac fly from Knoblich closed out the rally.

Roberts and Olson paced the Wolves at the plate with two hits apiece, with Murdy scoring twice.

Hawthorne Wolfe, Chelsea Prescott, Ashton Leland, Sage Sharp and Johnny Carlson rounded out the active roster for Steve Hilborn’s squad.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »