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Archive for the ‘Softball’ Category

“Just a great weekend of ball”

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , , on June 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Capri Anter made the softball fly far, far away. (Christina Baker photos)

They survived and thrived.

Playing six games across two days in Kent this weekend, the Island Vipers 16U softball squad won four times to claim 2nd place at the USSSA state championships.

The squad, comprised of seven Coupeville aces, three Oak Harbor sluggers, and one masher from South Whidbey, more than held its own against the big city diamond dandies during the premier tourney.

“Lots of great defensive plays all around, some clutch hits, two out rallies, a diving outfield catch by Cami Van Dyke, and on the run catches by Capri Anter and Adrian Orlando,” said Vipers coach Aaron Lucero.

“While we always want to leave every tournament with the top prize, this was a fantastic showing for the club, and they represented the best of Whidbey Island sports in my humble opinion.”

Wolves, Wildcats, and Falcons unite to thrash non-Island teams.

The Vipers split a pair of games Saturday, then rebounded to win three straight Sunday before falling just short in the title game against a team from University Place.

Whidbey got contributions up and down the lineup, with South ender Sophie Zeigler and Coupeville’s Capri Anter crushing out-of-the-park home runs to pace the offense.

Anter’s fellow Wolf, Ava Lucero, who caught all six games and gunned down several would-be base stealers, just missed joining the tater club, walloping a ball off the fence which came up just three feet short of flying away.

Aaron and Ava Lucero had a busy weekend.

Central Whidbey provided the pitching, with Adeline Maynes whiffing 42 batters across 29.1 innings of work “against some really good hitting teams,” while Haylee Armstrong prowled the circle in one of Sunday’s tilts.

At the plate, the Vipers racked up 43 hits and eked out eight walks, with Zeigler leading the way, beatin’ the crud out of the ball at a .533 clip.

Sophie Zeigler is off to mash more taters.

The Island squad returns to action in the back half of July, with two tourneys to wrap the summer. But, for now, the players and coaches will marinate in the moment.

“Grant Van Dyke, Mark Rummel, and I were ecstatic for the ladies and could not be more proud,” Aaron Lucero said.

“All in all, just a great weekend of a lot of ball.”

 

Tourney stats:

Emma Allison — Four singles
Shea Allison — Four singles, one triple, one walk
Capri Anter — Two singles, two doubles, one home run
Haylee Armstrong — Four singles, one double, one walk
Ava Lucero — Four singles
Adeline Maynes — Three singles, one walk
Adrian Orlando — Two singles
Cami Van Dyke — Three singles, one walk
Sydney Van Dyke — Four singles, one walk
Sophie Zeigler — Six singles, one double, one home run, three walks

Cami Van Dyke (top) and Emma Cushman celebrate in style.

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Daughter of the prairie, student of the game

Posted in Girls Basketball, Softball, tagged , , , , on June 27, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Zayne Roos rains down buckets against South Whidbey. (Julie Wheat photo)

Zayne Roos is a true daughter of the prairie.

The talented young woman, who will be a freshman at Coupeville High School in the fall, is a sixth-generation member of the Sherman farming clan, meaning she’s connected to about 92% of everyone in Cow Town.

Not surprisingly, that means she has a large fan club guaranteed to follow her athletic exploits with interest.

And Roos, who also finds time to “enjoy writing, reading, crocheting, and hiking,” has been making big strides.

She’s already played at the high school level in both her sports, going to the state tourney as a member of the CHS varsity softball squad this spring.

Before that, she bounced between programs on the hardwood, playing both middle school basketball and suiting up for the high school JV squad as an 8th grader.

Roos plans to keep churning away in both sports, though hoops have the slight edge for now.

“I love both my sports, but my favorite sport is basketball,” she said.

“I’ve played it every year since 4th grade, and love playing with a team. I like the team and individual aspects of it and being able to rely on my teammates.

“Knowing that we are there for each other, on and off the court.”

Roos is proud of her work on the defensive end of the floor in basketball, while being committed to working on her offensive game, “specifically shooting.”

On the diamond, she is looking to “improve overall,” with an eye on being part of successful programs in both sports.

“I’d love to hopefully help both softball and basketball teams go far in their seasons,” Roos said. “And be up there with some of the best basketball players our school has had.

“I’d also love to improve overall, and I hope I can be an inspiration to younger athletes.”

Roos and Co. advanced to the state softball tourney this spring. (Jackie Saia photo)

Roos, who enjoys spending time with her family and friends and tending to her two cats and dog, likes being part of something bigger than just herself.

“Knowing that we are there for each other, on and off the court and field,” she said.

“I also like the physical aspects of both sports, since they keep me disciplined. And I love being able to be outside during softball season.

“I’ve also made a lot of friends through sports, which is fun both during the season and on the off-season.”

Her parents, family, and coaches all get shout-outs from Roos for “being very supportive of me,” and she has a special connection with her teammates.

Two, in particular, have been positive role models for her.

“My teammates always push me to be the best I can,” she said. “And two I respect and learned a lot from, in both basketball and softball, are Ava Lucero and Cami Van Dyke.

“They’ve both helped me improve so much in both sports, and I owe them a lot.”

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“I love the feeling of accomplishment”

Posted in Softball, Volleyball, tagged , , , , , , on June 24, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Zariyah Allen keeps the play alive. (Julie Wheat photo)

Bang.

Zariyah Allen made an immediate impact on the softball diamond this spring, despite having limited previous experience in the sport.

As an 8th grader, she stepped on to the field with a Coupeville High School squad coming off to a trip to state, hefted a bat and promptly earned her way into the starting lineup, lacing hits and scampering around the basepaths en route to helping the Wolves return to the big dance.

Even more impressively, Allen did so while balancing two schools and two sports, as she also wrapped up her middle school track and field career, adding four wins and a league title and school record in the discus.

All in a day’s work for one of the most-talented next gen Wolves, a quietly confident young woman who is winning over coaches and teammates with her commitment and work ethic.

And it’s just the start.

“One of my favorite parts of being an athlete that I strive for is the good feeling and satisfaction that I get when I get a good contact on a ball or a perfect swish or a nice catch,” Allen said.

“I also love the feeling of accomplishment after a game or a race.”

Older brothers Ezekiel and Isaiah and lil’ sis Jasmine are all strong athletes and students as well, and like them, Zariyah has stayed busy.

A fan of “being outdoors, listening to music, and sketching,” she has played school and club volleyball, basketball, track and field, and softball, and plans to continue with most of them as she makes the official jump from CMS to CHS starting this fall.

An assassin with the bat in hand. (Jackie Saia photo)

The hardest choice will come next spring, when she will likely have to choose between track, where she won 10 times across three middle school seasons, and softball, where she hit at a .500 clip in her debut, rapping out nine hits, scoring 10 runs, and playing rock-solid defense in the outfield as the Wolves went 19-4.

Allen smashed the CMS girls record in the discus, flinging it 95 feet, 10 inches, and was a league champ in the event as both a 6th and 8th grader.

But on the diamond, she often astonished her coaches with how fast she picked up the intricacies of the game.

Maybe softball mastermind Aaron Lucero and track and field gurus Elizabeth Bitting and Bob Martin work out a co-op agreement and share her? Come on people, let’s do this!

For Allen, the easiest choice comes in the fall, when she plays volleyball, which she picks as her favorite of her athletic pursuits, and one she might like to pursue after high school.

“Volleyball is my favorite sport,” she said. “I have learned so much from every season whether it was school or club volleyball.

“I learned how to be coachable and how to be confident in myself, which has helped me in every sport on and off the court or field.

“It’s also just the sport that I am most passionate about.”

Exploring nature’s wonders. (Kelly Powers photo)

Allen, who is also involved in scouting along with her many sports, has proven to be very adaptable, someone who listens to her coaches and takes their input to heart.

“I think my main strength as an athlete is being coachable and willing to adjust, which has really helped me grow,” she said.

“I definitely need to work on coming out of my shell and being loud and confident with new teams and coaches that I’m not entirely familiar with.”

Taking advantage of all her opportunities, Allen has a bright future ahead of her and is committed to reaching her full potential.

“I want to work hard to make as many teams as I can and improve as much as possible,” she said.

“My family, coaches, and teammates throughout my sports career have had such a large impact on me, encouraging me when times were tough.

“Every one of them has helped me to become the person I am today.”

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Stellar start, fantastic future

Posted in Girls Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on June 20, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Cami Van Dyke, off to kick butt and take names. (Julie Wheat photo)

She was made for the spotlight.

From a young age, Cami Van Dyke has often played above her age group, showcasing the same skill and inner drive that big sis Sydney brings to all her sports.

Given the chance to breakout this year as an 8th grader, Cami took advantage, finishing second in scoring for the Coupeville High School JV girls’ basketball team, before putting together a stellar year as the starting shortstop for the Wolf varsity softball team.

Starting from day #1, the second of Grant and Colleen’s four children was a force to reckon with on the diamond, spraying hits to all fields while gunning down runners from deep in the hole with laser-like throws.

Cami was a Second Team All-League pick and the CHS Rookie of the Year, helping fuel a run in which the Wolves finished 19-4, won league and district titles, and played three games at the 2B state tourney.

She whacked the ball at a .483 clip in her debut performance, piling up 28 hits, 26 runs, 11 walks, 14 stolen bases, and 23 RBI while forming an impenetrable defensive wall on the left side of the infield with Sydney, who plays third base for the Wolves.

All before officially reaching high school as a student, which will happen this fall, when Cami begins her freshman year.

Van Dyke, who was also a strong middle school volleyball player, stalking the floor in pursuit of balls while providing leadership to her squad, wants to keep the good times rolling across the next four years.

“My goals for my high school sports career are to improve my skill level, become a stronger teammate, work hard in practices and games, while also continuing to grow as an athlete while helping my team succeed,” she said.

Van Dyke uses her Jedi mind skills to freeze the basketball in midair. (Teagan Calkins photo)

While still young, Van Dyke has a pretty clear-eyed view of her best traits and areas she’d like to improve.

“My strengths are being athletic, having strong hand-eye coordination, quick reflexes, and working well with a team,” she said.

“Playing sports has helped me become a well-rounded athlete who can adapt to different challenges and use a variety of skills.

“Areas I can improve on include increasing my speed and strength, building confidence, and becoming more consistent in my performance.”

Away from sports Van Dyke likes “spending time with my friends, listening to music, and staying active,” while hailing PE and science as her favorite classes, with the latter being because she “enjoys learning how things work.”

While she’s deeply committed to whichever sport is in season, softball is her favorite, she admits.

“It’s mainly because of the positive environment around me and because I have been playing it my whole life,” Van Dyke said. “Also I couldn’t imagine my life without it.

“What I enjoy most about being an athlete is the opportunity to compete against other teams, stay active, and continue improving my skills.

“I also enjoy being part of a team and spending time with people who share the same passion and love for sports as I do.”

As she continues to grow as an athlete and student, Van Dyke will continue to look towards her mentors for guidance.

“My family and coaches have had a big impact on me by always supporting and encouraging me to work harder every day and never give up when times get hard,” she said.

“They have taught me the importance of responsibility, teamwork, and having a positive attitude.

“Their guidance and belief in me have helped shape me into the person and athlete I am today.”

Van Dyke and Emma Cushman kicked off their varsity softball run with a trip to state. (Grant Van Dyke photo)

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Joltin’ Jada a joy juggernaut

Posted in Girls Basketball, Hall o' Fame, Softball, Volleyball, tagged , , , , on June 10, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Jada Heaton, one of the most-joyful athletes to ever wear a Wolf uniform. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Joy, absolute unbridled joy.

There have been Coupeville athletes who seemed happy to be playing, whether on a field or a court, but few have exuded the consistent level of bliss that Jada Heaton brought to everything she did.

That positivity, through every game, every at-bat, every sideline interaction, made her a valuable linchpin to very-successful Wolf volleyball, basketball, and softball squads.

Ready to tear up the softball diamond with running mate Mia Farris. (Jennifer Heaton photo)

Jada, who graduated from CHS in 2025, was part of what always seemed to be an especially tight-knit group of young women, a band of sisters from other misters who played together from when they were pee-wees to their final Senior Night moments.

That group went to state in multiple sports, earning league titles and both team and individual honors along the way.

Maybe more importantly, however, they genuinely seemed to like each other, taking delight in both their own praise-worthy accomplishments, but also in the achievements of their teammates.

A lot of that, in my opinion, seemed to spring from the bright, beating heart of joy at the center, one Jada Rose Heaton, whose positiveness never seemed to wane, win or loss.

Up to shenanigans. (Bailey Thule photo)

During her athletic career there were moments where she was a key contributor, stepping up and seizing the spotlight, and others where she was the perfect supporting crew.

A rebounder and a scrapper and a hustler on the hardwood, she lit up Orting one Saturday afternoon in front of her hometown fans.

Coupeville had lost a key league game to Friday Harbor just hours before, ending any playoff dreams for the Wolves, who needed a spark.

Enter Joltin’ Jada, who suddenly became a rampaging offensive dynamo in the game’s final moments.

Kickin’ butt and takin’ names. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Demanding the ball (well, OK, politely asking for it…), she scored on three consecutive trips down the floor in the fourth quarter to ice the victory, the bounce in her step getting bigger after every play.

First Jada took a lob from Katie Marti, slapping the ball off the glass for a quick bucket.

Then, wham, bam, thank you ma’am, she scored on a power move down low, muscling her way through a mass of players trying to viciously elbow and knee her tender regions.

Capping things, Jada elevated to snatch an offensive board — as she so often did — before using a quick dip to get past a defender for the put-back.

There were other spotlight reel moments as well, especially on the softball diamond, where she lashed extra-base hits and mentally scarred Darrington pitchers for the next three generations.

Or when Jada made this game-saving catch during her little league days, captured in one of my all-time favorite images from 14 years of doing this blog.

“And just where do you think you’re going, Mr. Softball? Get in my glove!!” (Jackie Saia photo)

When she got magical, she celebrated with all her heart.

But, and this is huge, when her teammates, her lifelong friends, her compadres, got magical as well, Jada celebrated even harder.

Her kindness shone through in the toughest of moments.

Her inner strength and resilience amazed when she ripped a nasty foul ball off her own chin at the state softball tourney, then tried to stay in the game even with a chipped tooth and badly swollen jaw.

And that joy?

It washed over every teammate she ever had, and it was the secret super glue which bound together one of the most-successful band of sisters to ever grace the Coupeville sports scene.

The smiling assassin. (Corinn Parker photo)

Jada is a good athlete and a great human being, and she was an absolute joy to write about.

Diploma in hand, she went off to find new challenges and impress new people, and I hope all of her dreams come true.

In this moment, though, we want to take Jada back for a second to her school days and make sure she knows how highly she is regarded.

Today we swing open the doors to the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame and induct a smart, graceful, kind, and joy-filled young woman who made even the stormiest of prairie days seem sunnier.

After this, Miss Heaton will reside in the Legends section at the top of the blog, never forgotten and always remembered, her joyful presence absolutely guaranteed to light the joint up.

She does like to celebrate. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

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