Jacob Zettle crunched a triple and two singles Monday, while also playing stellar defense. (John Fisken photo)
They fought till the final frame.
Storming back from a five-run deficit Monday, the Coupeville High School JV baseball squad had the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base in the final inning, but came up just a hair short of a miracle.
Despite rapping out nine hits, including three from slugging outfielder Jacob Zettle, the Wolves fell 9-8 at Klahowya in their season finale.
That it got so close at the end was a win in itself, as Coupeville watched an early 3-2 lead turn into a 9-4 deficit headed into the top of the sixth.
The Wolves rallied, however, sending 10 batters up to hit, and plating four of them.
Gavin Straub, Ulrik Wells and Elliott Johnson all eked out walks, while Zettle and Gavin Knoblich delivered key singles.
The big blow in the inning was a double off the bat of Jake Pease.
Back within one, CHS juiced the bags in the seventh off of two walks packaged around another single by Zettle.
It wasn’t to be, though, as Klahowya bore down and got the final two outs of the afternoon, stranding the tying run at third.
Even in a loss, there were strong points.
Zettle punched a triple to go with his two singles, while joining James Vidoni in making running snags on balls blasted to the outfield.
Pease and Kyle Rockwell both had RBI doubles, with Pease and Knoblich racking up two base-knocks apiece.
Shane Losey rounded out the hit attack with a single.
Ultimately the edge in the game came down to fewer errors by the Eagles.
“Both teams hit the ball pretty well,” said Coupeville coach Mike Etzell. “They played cleaner defense and had us by one run when the dust settled.
“Add some more focus on D, increase the baseball IQ, stick to swinging at strikes, and I like the future of the young Wolves.”
Coupeville Sports 