Mikayla Elfrank is a woman for all positions. Coupeville’s starting shortstop, she can also catch, and, as of Friday, pitch. (John Fisken photos)
Sarah Wright (left) had three hits, while Nicole Lester thumped a resounding double in a 22-0 win.
Friday was tricky for Kevin McGranahan.
The Coupeville High School softball coach approaches every game, especially league clashes, aiming for a win.
But he also realizes the situation Port Townsend is in, and wanted to be compassionate in how his high-flying team delivered a beat-down while on the road.
He headed home with mixed feelings after watching his undefeated Wolves romp to a 22-0 win, which moved them into a first-place tie with two-time defending Olympic League champ Chimacum.
“I am not proud of the score; I am super proud of all the girls,” McGranahan said. “But I feel like I ran up the score.”
The win lifts Coupeville to 2-0 in league play, 4-0 overall heading into a non-conference home doubleheader with Blaine Monday.
The 2A Borderites will carry a 1-5 record down from the Canadian border.
CHS has four non-conference games before they welcome Chimacum (2-0, 3-1) to town for a first-place showdown.
The Cowboys, who last played Mar. 24, will sit a staggering 17 days before playing Port Townsend and Coupeville on back-to-back days April 11-12.
When Coupeville thumped Port Townsend Friday, they handed the RedHawks their 40th straight loss.
In three games this season, PT has been outscored 58-0 and the road to rebuilding the program is a long one.
Faced with that, McGranahan went all the way down his bench, gave substantial playing time to his freshmen and had two players — Scout Smith and Mikayla Elfrank — pitch for the first time in a varsity game.
At no time was a normal varsity lineup all on the field at the same time and the Wolves downplayed their normal aggressive running style, but the bats still barked, no matter who was swinging.
“We had hot bats again and started early and often,” McGranahan said. “Their pitchers struggled and our hitters were on it when they threw strikes.”
The biggest blow wasn’t intended to happen, but before the coach could call for a bunt from his slugging daughter, Katrina McGranahan “got a rare strike and hammered it.”
The junior basher deposited the ball over the center field fence for a grand slam, marking the second straight game a Wolf has gone yard.
Sarah Wright laced a three-run double to kick off the game, as Coupeville scored in every inning.
After putting up four in the first and three in the second, the Wolves dropped seven more in the third, before coasting home with four-run bursts in the final two innings.
The game was called after five innings due to the mercy rule.
Nine different Wolves rapped out a hit, led by Wright (1B, 2B, 2B) and Katrina McGranahan (1B, 1B, HR) with three apiece.
Lauren Rose and Jae Levine added two hits each, Kyla Briscoe thumped a triple and Nicole Lester whacked a double.
Tamika Nastali, Melia Welling, Emma Mathusek, Mackenzie Davis, Veronica Crownover, Tiffany Briscoe, Hope Lodell and Robin Cedillo all shared time on the field, as well, as CHS went 16 players deep.
“Total team effort and the young girls really shined today,” Kevin McGranahan said.
