They’ve played together from little league to being two-time state qualifiers in high school. (Photo courtesy Jeff Porter)
A 300-mile round trip in this economy?
That’s a lot of gas, man.
But bet your bottom dollar that a pack of Coupeville High School baseball fans will still make the trek to Napavine Tuesday as the Wolves open the state tourney.
CHS is the #12 seed (in a field of 12 teams), while Napavine is #5, which is why the Tigers get to host the game.
First pitch is set for 4:00 PM at Napavine High School (404 4th Ave NE).
The stakes are simple.
Win and you advance to the state quarterfinals May 18 to face #4 River View at Pasco High School. Which would be a 550-mile round trip for the Wolves, if you’re curious.
Lose Tuesday, however, and your season is done.
To see the bracket, pop over to:
https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=4338&school_year=2023-24&district=-1&sport=6&class=2B
Both teams enter on a hot streak, with Napavine having won 15 of its last 16 to get to 20-4 on the season.
The Tigers only loss in that time period was a 10-9 thriller to Adna last week in the semifinals of the District 4 tourney.
They bounced back, beating Toledo 10-6 and Ilwaco 9-6 to earn their trip to state.
Coupeville is on a winning tear of its own, with seven straight victories lifting the Wolves from 4-8 to 11-8 heading into the big dance.
And unlike Napavine, which missed out on last year’s state tourney, CHS is one of seven teams from the 2023 lineup to be making a repeat visit.
Last year the Wolves were seeded #10 and opened by blanking #7 Toledo 3-0 behind a stellar pitching performance from then-senior Scott Hilborn.
Coupeville then fell to #2 Toutle Lake, and highly touted pitcher Zach Swanson, in the quarterfinals.
Coupeville Sports 