Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Landon Roberts was one of 10 Wolves to reach base Thursday. (Photo courtesy Sherry Bonacci)

They won the battle but lost the war.

Playing on the road for the first time this season, the Coupeville High School baseball squad outhit host Meridian 11-5 Thursday, only to fall 8-4 on the scoreboard.

The Wolves had their chances, putting base runners aboard in every inning, but couldn’t find that one big base knock to truly stagger the Trojans.

The non-conference loss, coming less than 24 hours after a home win against South Whidbey, evens Coupeville’s early-season record at 1-1.

The 2B Wolves get right back at it Saturday, travelling to North Mason to play their third consecutive game against a 1A opponent.

Thursday’s tilt started in favor of Coupeville, and the visitors were still within a run as late as the fourth inning, before several defensive mistakes stung them.

Wolf freshman Chase Anderson put his team on the board in the top of the first, whacking a one-out double, then scampering home to score on an RBI single from starting pitcher Jonathan Valenzuela.

Up 1-0, CHS had a chance to add to its lead in the second inning but stranded two runners after Landon Roberts walked and Aiden O’Neill singled.

Meridian scored the majority of its runs in two frames, pushing across four runners in the bottom of the second inning to claim the lead for good.

Coupeville stranded two more runners in the third, but Valenzuela shut down the Trojans and the Wolves rallied to cut the lead to 4-3 in their half of the fourth.

Scott Hilborn and Anderson delivered back-to-back two-out RBI singles to ruffle the Meridian pitcher, but the Trojans escaped and immediately got some payback.

The hosts tacked on three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Meridian only had one hit in the frame, but four walks and a passed ball proved to be the difference.

Trailing 7-3, Coupeville stranded two runners in the fifth and another in the sixth, before finally bringing home a runner in the top of the seventh, and final, inning.

Meridian had stretched the lead to 8-3, before Peyton Caveness reached on an error, then later scored on another Trojan miscue.

The rally died there, however, with Valenzuela thrown out at the plate while trying to score on a Coop Cooper single, and an ensuing groundout bringing an end to the game.

All 10 Coupeville players to see the field reached base Thursday.

Valenzuela paced the Wolves with three hits, while Hilborn and Anderson collected two base knocks apiece.

Caveness, Jack Porter, Cooper, and O’Neill also had hits, while Roberts, Johnny Porter, and Cole White got aboard thanks to walks.

Kaitlyn Leavell, ready to fire aces. (Jackie Saia photo)

The weather was fair, and the tennis was hot.

The Coupeville High School netters kicked off a new season Thursday, putting up a strong fight before being nipped 3-2 by visiting Granite Falls.

“Not bad for a first match,” said longtime Wolf tennis guru Ken Stange.

With only one other Northwest 2B/1B League rival playing girls tennis — the Wolves and Friday Harbor clash four times — CHS has four non-conference matches scheduled against 1A schools.

Coupeville will play home and away series with Granite Falls and South Whidbey, with the rematch against the Tigers set for Mar. 27.

After opening at home, the Wolves play their next three matches on the road, not returning to their own courts again until Mar. 31.

Wolf netters (l to r) Vivian Farris, Hayley Fiedler, and Emma Morano kick off a new season. (Lucy Tenore photo)

 

Thursday’s results:

 

1st Singles — Helen Strelow beat Blair Johnson 6-0, 6-1

2nd Singles — Djina Radenovic lost to Ava Combs 6-0, 6-1

1st Doubles — Hayley Fiedler/Vivian Farris beat Alexa Mace/Danika Mace 6-1, 6-1

2nd Doubles — Skylar Parker/Elizabeth Lo lost to Paige Buchholz/Ashlee Meusling 6-4, 6-0

3rd Doubles — Kaitlyn Leavell/Emma Morano lost to Marjorye Garcia/Brooke Mann 8-2

Miley Gerber earned Most Spirited during the winter cheer season. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

The cheers are still lingering in the Coupeville High School gym.

Basketball season is done, with Wolf athletes having moved outdoors for spring sports, but winter teams are putting a cap on things with awards banquets.

CHS cheer held its season-ending shindig Thursday, with coaches handing out awards, letters, and certificates.

Miley Gerber earned Most Spirited for the winter campaign, with Makenna Jonker-Chambers (Wolf Award), Gracie McFarlin (Most Improved), and Isabella Schooley (Coaches Award) also honored.

 

Varsity letter winners:

Piotr Bieda
Lucy Crouch
Miley Gerber
Makenna Jonker-Chambers
Ember Light
Gracie McFarlin
Emma Morano
Pamela Morrell
Marz Safford
Josh Upchurch
Avery Williams-Buchanan
Kai Wong

 

Participation certificates:

Abbigail Bond
Alysia Burdge
Lynn Cosner
Hayley Fiedler
Isabella Schooley
Maylin Steele
Hayley Thomas

Piotr Bieda shows off his teamwork skills.

It’s a shot to the heart (or at least a shot to the chest protector). (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The diamond is alive once more.

Spring sports officially launched Wednesday, with Coupeville High School baseball and softball teams whacking visiting South Whidbey for season-opening victories.

As the day played out, photographers Jackie Saia and John Fisken snapped away, capturing the pics seen above and below.

Wolf 8th graders Haylee Armstrong (left) and Capri Anter get their first taste of high school ball. (Jackie Saia photo)

Aaron Lucero, international man of mystery. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

CHS baseball parents Morgan and Greg White get their side hustle on. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Gwen Gustafson owns the plate. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Teagan Calkins comes up firing. (Jackie Saia photo)

Steve Hilborn silently prays for the prairie wind to stop blowing. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Rhylin Price is the future, and the future is talented. (Jackie Saia photo)

Run, jump, win

Coupeville junior Issabel Johnson and friends kicked off the track and field season Wednesday in La Conner. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

“So proud of them! Real excited to see what the season brings!”

Coupeville High School track coaches Elizabeth Bitting and Bob Martin were beaming Wednesday after their team travelled to La Conner and made a loud, proud statement.

Showcasing the program’s deepest roster in years, the Wolves captured the boys team title at a season-opening 10-team meet, while the CHS girls claimed 2nd place.

The Coupeville boys, led by double-winner Aidan Wilson (800, triple jump) demolished the field, finishing with 168 points while runner-up’s Mount Vernon Christian (90) and Friday Harbor (89) were well back of the Wolves.

The meet champs won seven events, with Mitchell Hall (1600), Nick Guay (long jump), Zac Tackett (discus) and both the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relay teams coming out on top.

On the girls side of things, the Wolves, whose 135 points were second to the 149 amassed by MVC, netted wins from Carolyn Lhamon (shot put, discus), Katie Marti (javelin), Claire Mayne (100 hurdles) Lyla Stuurmans (400), and Ryanne Knoblich (high jump).

The meet attracted Northwest 2B/1B League rivals Coupeville, Friday Harbor, Orcas Island, MVC, and La Conner, as well as Grace Academy, Lopez Island, Lummi Nation, South Whidbey, Cedar Park Christian-Lynnwood, and Shoreline Christian.

Fresh off their stellar performance, the Wolves head to the Rainier Icebreaker Invitational this Saturday, Mar. 18, then host a home meet next Wednesday, Mar. 22.

 

Complete Wednesday results:

 

GIRLS:

100 — Monroe Myles (10th) 14.75 *PR*; Ava Mitten (17th) 15.30; Alysia Burdge (22nd) 16.09 *PR*; Anna Annunziato (23rd) 16.19 *PR*; Gwen Crowder (26th) 16.35 *PR*; Edie Bittner (27th) 16.37 *PR*; Issabel Johnson (31st) 16.63; Avery Williams-Buchanan (37th) 17.86 *PR*; Sara Omega (38th) 18.02 *PR*

200 — Ryanne Knoblich (7th) 31.12 *PR*; M. Myles (12th) 31.90 *PR*; Carly Burt (14th) 32.08 *PR*; Mitten (16th) 32.77; Ayden Wyman (17th) 32.79 *PR*; Crowder (22nd) 34.14 *PR*; Bittner (23rd) 34.16 *PR*; Williams-Buchanan (33rd) 40.35 *PR*

400 — Lyla Stuurmans (1st) 1:05.53; Katie Marti (12th) 1:22.30 *PR*

800 — Aleera Kent (2nd) 2:47.45 *PR*; Noelle Western (7th) 3:01.45 *PR*

100 Hurdles — Claire Mayne (1st) 19.79 *PR*

300 Hurdles — Mayne (7th) 1:01.85; Liza Zustiak (10th) 1:08.62 *PR*

4 x 100 Relay — Mitten, Mayne, Burt, Knoblich (3rd) 58.16

4 x 200 Relay — Stuurmans, A. Wyman, Western, Johnson (2nd) 2:05.22

4 x 400 Relay — Western, Zustiak, Kent, A. Wyman (2nd) 5:14.21

Shot Put — Carolyn Lhamon (1st) 29-07; Marti (5th) 25-00 *PR*; Reese Wilkinson (7th) 23-09.50; Erica McGrath (8th) 23-03.50 *PR*; Grier Mooney (10th) 21-02.50 *PR*; Zustiak (12th) 18-08 *PR*

Discus — Lhamom (1st) 97-08 *PR*; McGrath (4th) 78-10.50 *PR*; Wilkinson (6th) 69-05; Taygin Jump (8th) 61-01.50; Marti (9th) 60-08 *PR*; Mooney (10th) 56-09 *PR*; Jackie Contreras (17th) 45-03.50 *PR*; Aby Wood (20th) 42-06

Javelin — Marti (1st) 84-10 *PR*; Jump (3rd) 73-05; Burdge (13th) 52-09 *PR*; Wood (14th) 51-05; Wilkinson (21st) 44-07; Contreras (22nd) 42-07 *PR*; Crowder (23rd) 40-09 *PR*; Mercedes Kalwies-Anderson (26th) 33-04 *PR*; Delanie Lewis (27th) 25-02 *PR*

High Jump — Knoblich (1st) 4-10; Stuurmans (4th) 4-04 *PR*; Kalwies-Anderson (5th) 4-02

Long Jump — Burt (6th) 11-08.50 *PR*; Western (9th) 11-00 *PR*; Johnson (14th) 10-05.50 *PR*; Annunziato (15th) 10-05 *PR*; Wood (17th) 8-05.50 *PR*; Lewis (18th) 8-04 *PR*; Omega (18th) 8-04 *PR*; Williams-Buchanan (21st) 6-09 *PR*

Triple Jump — Knoblich (4th) 27-07.50 *PR*

 

BOYS:

100 — Tim Ursu (4th) 11.98 *PR*; Dominic Coffman (7th) 12.18; Nehemiah Myles (10th) 12.36 *PR*; Preston Epp (19th) 12.77 *PR*; Alex Merino-Martinez (35th) 13.46 *PR*; Kris Sturtevant (41st) 13.95 *PR*

200 — Nick Guay (3rd) 24.91; Epp (11th) 26.34 *PR*; Cael Wilson (14th) 26.97 *PR*; Adrian Cunningham (17th) 27.49 *PR*; Hank Milnes (20th) 27.96 *PR*; Quinten Simpson-Pilgrim (25th) 28.54 *PR*; Malachi Somes (30th) 30.23 *PR*

400 — Milnes (5th) 58.95 *PR*; N. Myles (8th) 1:02.25 *PR*; Anthony Smolen (10th) 1:03.38 *PR*; Somes (13th) 1:04.40 *PR*; Simpson-Pilgrim (15th) 1:05.60 *PR*; Merino-Martinez (16th) 1:06.29 *PR*

800 — Aiden Wilson (1st) 2:07.37; Epp (6th) 2:23.86 *PR*; Ezra Boilek (7th) 2:26.54 *PR*; George Spear (13th) 2:39.65 *PR*; Smolen (15th) 2:40.49 *PR*; Ezekiel Allen (16th) 2:41.57 *PR*

1600 — Mitchell Hall (1st) 4:51.99 *PR*; Alex Murdy (6th) 5:27.94 *PR*; Spear (11th) 5:48.32 *PR*; Allen (15th) 6:01.11 *PR*

3200 — Epp (2nd) 11:19.19

110 Hurdles — Tate Wyman (4th) 19.34 *PR*; C. Wilson (5th) 19.82 *PR*

300 Hurdles — T. Wyman (3rd) 47.59 *PR*; C. Wilson (7th) 51.28

4 x 100 Relay — Ursu, Coffman, T. Wyman, N. Guay (1st) 47.34

4 x 400 Relay — Hall, Boilek, Milnes, A. Wilson (1st) 3:54.22

Shot Put — Kai Wong (4th) 34-07 *PR*; Josh Upchurch (5th) 34-02 *PR*; Zac Tackett (10th) 31.08.50 *PR*; Zane Oldenstadt (18th) 27-06; Josh Guay (35th) 20-06

Discus — Tackett (1st) 116-01 *PR*; Epp (8th) 86-02 *PR*; Oldenstadt (9th) 85-05.5; Wong (12th) 80-08 *PR*; Upchurch (15th) 76-06.50 *PR*; J. Guay (20th) 69-08.50

Javelin — Ursu (6th) 100-09; Hall (14th) 93-06; Wong (18th) 89-09 *PR*; Somes (20th) 85-03 *PR*; Cunningham (27th) 70-06 *PR*; Boilek (28th) 66-07 *PR*; Nick Shelly (31st) 65-08; J. Guay (41st) 47-06

High Jump — N. Guay (1st) 5-11 *PR*; Coffman (2nd) 5-06; A. Wilson (4th) 5-06 *PR*; C. Wilson (5th) 5-04 *PR*

Long Jump — Murdy (2nd) 18-10 *PR*; Ursu (5th) 17-02 *PR*; Cunningham (12th) 15-05 *PR*; Merino-Martinez (16th) 14-05 *PR*; Allen (23rd) 12-08 *PR*; Sturtevant (25th) 12-01 *PR*

Triple Jump — A. Wilson (1st) 38-09; Milnes (3rd) 35-02 *PR*