First-year CHS coach Marc Aparicio is one win away from getting his alma mater its first baseball league title since 1991. (John Fisken photos)
Hunter Smith, seen here making a play in an earlier game, was superb on the mound and at the plate in a 10-2 win at Klahowya Wednesday.
The miracle ride continues.
Every pundit, every poll, every prognosticator said the same thing, and, so far, they’ve all been flat-out wrong.
Klahowya, the defending 1A Olympic League baseball champs, prepared for league play with a tough schedule full of 2A schools and did really well, earning a ranking as high as #3 in the state polls.
Then, they stepped right into the path of an oncoming train called the Wolf Express.
Exploding for seven runs in the sixth inning Wednesday, Coupeville ran away with a 10-2 win on the road and moved within a step of not only dethroning the Eagles, but winning its first baseball league title since 1991.
The Wolves have now taken two straight from Klahowya and sit at 6-0 in league play, 9-8 overall.
That gives them a two-game lead with three to play over the Eagles (4-2, 13-4), while Chimacum (2-4, 5-9) and Port Townsend (0-6, 0-13) root around down in the cellar.
Since it now owns the tiebreaker over Klahowya, Coupeville needs just one win in its final three games to clinch the title and an automatic berth in the double-elimination portion of the district playoffs.
First up is Port Townsend, which visits Whidbey Friday, with the first pitch at 4 PM.
After that comes a trip to Chimacum Monday, May 2 and a home regular-season finale against Klahowya Thursday, May 5.
The Wolves have put themselves in position to do what no CHS diamond squad has in 25 years thanks to one huge reason — their ability to get something out of everyone in the lineup.
“Every player performed when called upon, and we switched things up quite a bit. Next man up!!,” said first-year Coupeville coach Marc Aparicio.
“The highlight was “team.” Great job had by all of the kids,” he added. “Very proud of them – still have things to work on, but a great win. The kids are on fire!!!”
Coupeville used 14 players in the game, with eight of them scoring.
Sophomore Hunter Smith and freshman Matt Hilborn, who combined for the game’s first run, both crossed the plate twice to pace the attack.
With the game scoreless in the third, Coupeville finally broke through, thanks to some rough defense by the suddenly-rattled Eagles.
After only having one runner in the first two innings, the Wolves got Hilborn aboard on a one-out error by Klahowya’s third-baseman, then brought him around when Smith’s bunt was thrown into the outfield by the Eagle pitcher.
Klahowya countered with its own scratched-out run in the third, but after that could get next to nothing off Smith, who was superb.
Getting the nod on the mound after older brother CJ won the first meeting between the two squads, Hunter, AKA “Captain Cool,” whiffed five Eagles and was rarely in danger.
With Aparicio playing the mad scientist in the dugout, Coupeville took the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth.
Freshman pinch-hitter Dane Lucero eked out a crucial walk, then was replaced with sophomore speedster Nick Etzell, who used “some smart base running” to bust the tie.
“After that small switch our team was on fire,” Aparicio said. “Lots of stolen bases, we had great timely bunts and great base running overall.”
Up 3-1, the Wolves blew the game wide open with a 12-batter, seven-run assault in the top of the sixth.
Hunter Smith, CJ Smith, Kory Score, Gabe Wynn, Clay Reilly, Ty Eck and Hilborn all stamped on home as Coupeville put together its best offensive stretch of the season under the biggest spotlight.
With the game largely on ice, the Wolves went to Julian Welling to slam the door, and the sophomore didn’t fail, working a little of the ol’ Mariano Rivera magic in the seventh.
Perhaps appropriately, the game ended on an unassisted double play from Hunter Smith, the perfect cap to a remarkable game from the rising star.
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