Sophomore slugger Madison McMillan is back to launch more dingers. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
Never back down.
Coming off of back-to-back Northwest 2B/1B League titles — without a loss in league play — the Coupeville High School softball team heads into a new season intent on continuing its strong work.
Facing a tough non-league schedule, and adjusting to life without standout pitcher Izzy Wells, will give Kevin McGranahan’s squad plenty to overcome, but that’s the plan.
“Our goals remain the same as in every season,” McGranahan said. “Have fun, win the league again, earn a trip to state and compete.
“If we continue to play as a team and for one another then we can accomplish all those goals.”
Coupeville lost four players to graduation, led by Izzy Wells and hot-hitting Audrianna Shaw, who were part of a state tourney team as freshmen.
Also gone is sophomore catcher Savina Wells, now in Florida after a family move.
While the Wolves have five seniors atop the roster — Sofia Peters, Gwen Gustafson, Allie Lucero, Melanie Navarro, and Maya Lucero — they have less on-field experience than previous groups thanks to the pandemic.
Covid swept away their freshman season before it began, then limited them to just a handful of league games as sophomores.
Last season was the first time in three years Coupeville, and its foes, were allowed to play a full season.
Sofia Peters is one of five Wolf seniors.
The current group of seniors is joined by a strong group of younger players, many of whom were starters or key contributors last season.
Current sophomores Madison McMillan, Mia Farris, Chloe Marzocca, Jada Heaton, and Taylor Brotemarkle and freshman Teagan Calkins — who saw varsity action as an 8th grader — form a strong core.
Add in current 8th graders Haylee Armstrong and Capri Anter, as well as 7th grader Rhylin Price — who can practice, but not play in games this season — and the Wolves continue to build for the future while remaining competitive today.
“They are going to be an integral piece for this program the next few seasons as our numbers are ebbing and not flowing at the moment,” McGranahan said.
However the lineup breaks down, the Wolves will retain their normal scrappiness, while finetuning their collective skill sets.
“This team will need to be able to lean on one another and play as a team and play for each other in order to succeed,” McGranahan said. “I think from what I am seeing so far at practice we are taking the right strides and will be very competitive again this year in our league.
“Our strengths will be our never say die attitude and competitiveness.
“We are never going to be out of a game and will compete to the last pitch; that is something these players take pride in.”
Melanie Navarro anchors a hard-hitting lineup.
Six of seven schools in the Northwest 2B/1B League play softball, with Mount Vernon Christian sitting out the season.
Ultimately, though, it’s the games against fellow 2B teams La Conner and Friday Harbor which will dictate Coupeville’s playoff seeding.
“As it goes every year the league title will come down to how we do against Friday Harbor,” McGranahan said.
“The gap has narrowed somewhat but I still feel we have the edge and would take our athletes over theirs all day, every day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
“These young ladies never cease to amaze me with how they attack practices and games,” he added.
“We have a huge bullseye on our back — we have to be ready for everyone’s “A” game every time we play.”
To prepare, the Wolves will put in time and effort every day.
“We will be working on our softball IQ this season and creating a standard for this program going forward,” McGranahan said.
“We are always working on the offense and defense in practice but this season we will also focus on the little things and the more technical aspects of the game.
“We chose to schedule a VERY tough out of conference schedule so we can get ourselves ready for the post season and state should we earn a spot,” he added.
“I am challenging these players to answer the call and show us what they have.”
Coupeville Sports 