Senior Mckenna Somes is a key returning player for the Coupeville High School softball squad. (Jackie Saia photos)
How do you follow up perfection?
Hopefully with a lot more of the same.
At least that’s the goal for the Coupeville High School softball program, which is coming off a 12-0 run during a pandemic-shortened 2021 season.
“Big expectations for this season!” said Wolf coach Kevin McGranahan.
“Our goals are to win the league, be the number one seed for districts, and go to state and cause a whole lot of havoc once there.”
The last time any softball teams had a chance to advance to the big dance, way back in 2019, that’s exactly what Coupeville did – cause some havoc.
Playing in the 1A classification at the time, the Wolves, with freshman hurler Izzy Wells firing BB’s from the pitcher’s circle, thrashed highly rated Deer Park and came within a play of upending Cle Elum.
That capped a three-games-in-one-day jaunt which kicked off with a game against eventual state champ Montesano.
Coupeville was primed for more, and then, whammo, pandemic city.
A 2020 season completely erased by Covid, then a 2021 one chopped down to just league contests, with no playoffs.
But as Wells and hard-hitting Audrianna Shaw — the other remaining member of the 2019 state tourney team — take the field for their senior season, things are looking up.
Coupeville has a full 20-game regular-season schedule which includes non-conference matchups with bigger schools such as Lynden Christian and South Whidbey.
Plus, the promise of the postseason is a thing again.
“The girls need this,” McGranahan said. “I hope that we can play a normal season and playoffs and they can finally put this behind them.”
Wells and Shaw are joined by returning players such as senior Mckenna Somes and juniors Allie and Maya Lucero.
“They will anchor our defense and provide the offensive spark we need,” McGranahan said.
Allie Lucero is a weapon on both offense and defense.
Coupeville has a deep roster, with a strong pack of nine freshmen making the jump to high school ball after finishing their little league careers with a fourth-place finish at the state tournament.
Those young Wolves, players like Taylor Brotemarkle, Madison McMillan, and Savina Wells, can contribute today and tomorrow.
“We have 22 girls out this season and every one of them are essential to the program and getting us to our goals,” McGranahan said.
“The freshmen will be key to carry the program into the future seasons and will have big moments this season as well.
While the Wolves crushed their way through the Northwest 2B/1B League last season, outscoring foes 154-41 across those 12 wins, McGranahan takes nothing for granted.
In particular, he has his eye on Friday Harbor, which will be young but also is likely to “be our toughest test in the league.”
Whether the foes hail from the NWL or not, McGranahan and his players will approach each game with an eye on always getting better.
“We need to work on our softball IQ,” he said. “We are a young team and need to get softball smart.
“Great athletes — just need to harness the softball knowledge.”
Coupeville has a power pitcher, strong hitters, steady defenders, and a few secrets, as McGranahan is keeping some things close to the vest.
Asked about his team’s best points, the veteran coach just smiled.
“Everyone will see our strengths soon enough. Not gonna give out that info,” he said with a laugh, before going right back to work.
