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Archive for the ‘Softball’ Category

Younger sister blazes own trail of success

Posted in Girls Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on June 11, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Gwen Gustafson is bringing her athletic skills to Coupeville High School in the fall, following in the footsteps of successful older siblings. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Gwen Gustafson has the pedigree.

Both of her older siblings, Amanda Fabrizi and Clay Reilly, had standout careers at Coupeville High School, and both now sit in the Coupeville Sports Hall o’ Fame.

But just wait, because the lil’ sis has game too, and is already a well-established three-sport star in her own right as high school beckons.

Gustafson, who will be a freshman at CHS this fall, has been playing almost since she could walk, and has been a key part of successful teams in volleyball, basketball, and softball.

Her last two teams went a combined 22-1, in fact.

First, Gustafson was a starter on a Coupeville Middle School 8th grade hoops squad which polished off everyone on its schedule, rolling to a flawless 9-0 record.

Then she capped that by pulling double duty as a flame-throwing pitcher and a hit-happy batter for a Central Whidbey Little League Juniors softball team which outscored foes 245-101 while romping to a 13-1 mark.

While Gustafson plans to stay with all three of her sports in high school, the siren call of the hardwood is a powerful one.

“I like the competitiveness, and the teamwork,” she said. “I can compete with my teammates, stay healthy, and have fun.”

Away from the court, Gustafson enjoys gym and math class, listening to rap and pop music and spending time with friends and family.

But when she’s practicing, or playing in a game, regardless of the sport, she does so with deep commitment.

“I have confidence, trust in my teammates, I don’t give up, and I can pick skills up quickly,” Gustafson said. “(My goals are) to work hard and improve my team.”

While her older siblings have shown her the path to success, Gwen also looks to her parents, Lark and Fawn Gustafson, for support and encouragement as an athlete, student, and human being.

“My dad has inspired me and really helped me grow as a person and as an athlete,” she said. “He has been my coach and a loving father for my whole life.

“My mom has also supported me,” Gustafson added. “Helping me be aware of my health and well-being, and she has inspired me to be a better person.”

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Homer-happy sluggers collect major props

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , , on June 6, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville catcher Sarah Wright was the North Sound Conference softball Defensive Player of the Year. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Scout Smith was a First-Team All-Conference pick for her work at second base.

Heidi Meyers won the JV team’s “Charlie Hustle” award.

The future is now. Freshmen Izzy Wells (left) and Audrianna Shaw (center) and sophomore Coral Caveness all lettered this season.

Banquet season ended with a bang.

The Coupeville High School softball team, coming off a triumphant return to the state tournament, officially capped spring sports Thursday, handing out awards, letters, and plenty of desserts.

The Wolves, who captured the North Sound Conference title, finished 2nd at a tough district tourney, then played three games at state, including knocking off highly-ranked Deer Park, had plenty to celebrate.

Coupeville saw six of its nine starters earn honors when league coaches voted for All-Conference teams.

Senior catcher Sarah Wright led the way, sharing league MVP honors with Granite Falls senior shortstop Samantha Vanderwel.

Wright was tabbed as the North Sound Conference Defensive Player of the Year, while Vanderwel was named the NSC Offensive Player of the Year.

Junior second-baseman Scout Smith and junior center-fielder Emma Mathusek received First-Team All-Conference honors, with senior first-baseman Veronica Crownover, sophomore shortstop Chelsea Prescott, and freshman pitcher Izzy Wells making Second Team.

Coupeville diamond guru Kevin McGranahan was selected as Coach of the Year by his peers.

While the All-Conference honors were big, they were just the start for the Wolves, who also handed out a bunch of team awards as well.

 

Varsity awards:

Team MVP — Sarah Wright

Offensive MVP — Veronica Crownover

Defensive MVP — Scout Smith

Coaches Award — Chelsea Prescott

Rookie of the Year — Izzy Wells

“Put in the Work” — Emma Mathusek

Four-year recognition — Crownover, Nicole Laxton, Wright

Captains — Smith, Wright

 

JV awards:

Leadership/Sportsmanship — Marenna Rebischke-Smith

Charlie Hustle — Heidi Meyers

Golden Glove — Abby Meyers

Coaches Award — Ivy Leedy

Most Improved — Morgan Stevens

Most Versatile — Mckenna Somes

 

Varsity letter winners:

Mollie Bailey
Coral Caveness
Veronica Crownover
Mackenzie Davis
Nicole Laxton
Emma Mathusek
Chelsea Prescott
Audrianna Shaw
Scout Smith
Izzy Wells
Chloe Wheeler
Sarah Wright

 

JV participation certificates:

Tariana Hunter
Ivy Leedy
Lily Leedy
Abby Meyers
Heidi Meyers
Marenna Rebischke-Smith
McKenna Somes
Morgan Stevens
Amanda Thomas
Kylie Van Velkinburgh

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Mama said knock you out

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged , , , , , on June 1, 2019| Leave a Comment »

“We score, score, and score some more!!” (Jackie Saia photo)

Bring on all-stars!

The Central Whidbey Little League Majors softball squad ended the regular season Saturday with an avalanche of runs, destroying host Sedro-Woolley 22-2.

And it was actually even more of a rout that that.

While the mercy rule ended the game after three innings, the two teams played an unofficial extra inning in which Central Whidbey tuned up their rivals 9-0.

With the win, the Hammerheads closed the regular season at 15-2, having outscored foes 270-81.

Or 279-81, if we count the unofficial inning … which we probably won’t.

Next up for Central Whidbey is the district all-star tournament, which will be played at Coupeville’s Rhododendron Park starting June 14.

Saturday afternoon, the Hammerheads mixed and matched pitchers, getting Chloe Marzocca and Savina Wells two innings of work apiece, then sitting back and admiring the view as their hurlers got nasty.

The dynamic duo each recorded three strikeouts, while also pulling off eye-popping defensive gems.

Marzocca snagged a hard shot up the middle which took a wild hop and shot up, smacking her just below the knee.

Ignoring the sting, she stayed in the play, plucking the offending ball off the turf and gunning down the Sedro-Woolley hitter crashing for first base.

Not to be outdone, Wells sprawled out while on the fly, yanking a ball out of air seconds before it hit the diamond while close to foul territory down the third base side.

“Ball probably never got more then four feet off the ground, but Savina made it look easy,” said visibly-impressed Central Whidbey coach Fred Farris.

It was that kind of day for everyone in a Hammerhead uniform.

“Girls came to play, and were in all-star form,” Farris said. “Great pitching by both Savina and Chloe, and Savina and Teagan (Calkins) both were near perfect behind the plate.

“Allison Nastali showed great range at second making two outstanding plays, and Mia (Farris) squeezed everything at first. Great team win!”

The game was virtually over before it began, as Central Whidbey dumped a fast 14 runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first.

Seven more in the second, then a single, solitary score in the top of the third pushed the lead all the way out to 22-0, before Sedro scratched out its only runs in the bottom half of the final official frame.

The Hammerheads racked up 17 hits, with Wells bashing five, including a double, while Brionna Blouin smoked four base-knocks of her own.

Blouin loves extra-base hits, and two of her lasers were two-baggers, with one clearing the bases.

Madison McMillan, Mayleen Weatherford, and Mia Farris added two hits apiece, with Weatherford cranking out a triple, while Aleksia Jump and Calkins chipped in with singles.

The five Hammerheads who didn’t have a hit combined to pick up 11 walks and score 13 times.

Taylor Brotemarkle earned four free passes, while Nastali (3), Marzocca (2), Jada Heaton (1), and Katie Marti (1) all showed off eagle eyes.

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Big dreams, big swings

Posted in Cheer, Softball, tagged , , , , , on May 31, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Sofia Peters is part of a pack of very-promising athletes moving up to Coupeville High School this fall. (Photo courtesy Peters)

Sofia Peters is not afraid of new challenges.

Throughout her middle school days, the Coupeville 8th grader has happily tackled a wide range of activities, playing softball and volleyball, along with participating in glee club and theater.

In everything she does, Peters has shown a willingness to embrace the spotlight, whether as a hard-hitting diamond warrior or in the multiple times she’s played a lead role during her six-year theater career.

Now, as she prepares to move up to high school this fall, she’s ready to add yet another accomplishment to her resume, swapping volleyball for cheer.

Peters has set solid goals for her high school career, aiming to make varsity softball by her sophomore year and varsity cheer by her junior season.

While she’s looking forward to both of her sports, her new one and her old one, she can’t deny softball has her heart.

“Softball is my favorite sport because I am a very competitive player and I have been playing with my friends for about four years,” Peters said. “They are my softball family and I would never trade that for anything.”

She credits her dad, Mike, who has been one of her coaches for her entire run on the diamond, with helping her reach her potential.

While playing for the Central Whidbey Little League Juniors team this season, Peters thumped the ball aggressively, helping the Wolves cruise to a 13-1 record.

She was one of the team’s most-productive power hitters, splashing doubles to all fields, while also cracking a home run in one rumble.

“Some things I enjoy about being an athlete would have to be playing games and being the best self I can be,” Peters said. “Playing with my team is like playing with a pack full of wolves.

“We are pumped, fast, and ready to make our way to the top no matter what stands in our way.”

Peters picks her hitting, fielding, and all-around hustle as positives in her game, though, like all athletes, she knows there’s always room to improve.

“One area I would like to work on is (keeping) my head in the game,” she said. “Sometimes I would be 100% focused, but, sometimes I get completely distracted.”

Helping her stay focused and continue to work are her teammates, a band of young women with whom she has grown up playing ball, and her large support crew.

“One other group of people who impacted me would have to be my school and my friends,” Peters said. “A lot of my teachers know about my softball team, and then my friends who are not playing with me come out and see me play.

“It motivates me to do the very best I can.”

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“I just like to play sports”

Posted in Girls Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, tagged , , , , , on May 30, 2019| Leave a Comment »

Maddie Georges slices ‘n dices on the basketball court. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

There’s already been one “Maddie Big Time” at Coupeville High School.

Now, there might be two.

For the moment, Maddie Georges, who will be a freshman at CHS in the fall, can go by her other nicknames – “Mad Dog” or “The Wall,” the second of those coming from her defensive stopper skills on the basketball court.

But, as the heir to a strong family athletic history, and a young woman who has shown top-level skills across three sports, she might one day supplant former Wolf great Madeline Strasburg and lay claim to the first nickname.

Georges, who is the younger sister of former CHS standout, and current CMS coach, Alex Evans, plays volleyball, basketball, and softball, and has been an important part of the success of her teams in each sport.

In particular, her 8th grade basketball team went 9-0 with Georges kick-starting the attack, while her Central Whidbey Little League Juniors softball squad just finished a 13-1 season.

For her part, Georges is that rare athlete who not only plays, and excels, in three sports, but enjoys them equally.

“When I play a sport more than the others, I like that one more, and it always keeps changing,” she said. “So no (favorites); I just like to play sports.”

She’s been doing it since she was old enough to walk, inspired by her brother, who starred on CHS football, basketball, and baseball teams.

As she’s progressed in her own hoops career, Georges has played several seasons with Evans coaching her, and it’s been a strong partnership.

“He is my idol and I strive to be like him,” Georges said. “And, possibly, someday, be better than him!”

A big fan of the TV show Jane the Virgin, she enjoy spending time with her friends, something she can do in the sports arena and out, as many of them play the same sports as she does.

While she hails her parents as “my biggest supporters, that keep me going,” Georges is very close to many of the girls she suits up with.

“My teammates, especially Alita (Blouin), Carolyn (Lhamon), Gwen (Gustafson), and Nezi (Keiper), we always keep each other going and I can always count on them,” she said.

While each of her sports is unique, they all contribute to building Georges up and helping her be a high achiever.

“The adrenaline rush, the motivation to try to improve my skills, the practices, and, especially, I love working with my teammates,” Georges said. “They help me strive to get better.”

With the ball frequently in her hands, working as a volleyball setter, a basketball point guard, or a softball catcher, she often finds herself as the focal point of the play.

Each time she’s there, or when she’s on the outskirts of the play, or, far more infrequently, grabbing a quick bit of rest on the bench, Georges tries to always be learning, always be improving.

“My strength as an athlete is striving to get better, and I always try to help my teammates,” she said. “I most importantly try to be a team leader, to really uplift my teammates as best I can.”

That’s an important mind-set for a gifted young woman, who aims to excel in academics and sports, and wants to play for as long as she can.

“I want to continue to strive to get better and try to improve as much as possible,” Georges said. “I want to be able to play sports through high school to college.”

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