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Curtin on the short list!!

Posted in Baseball, tagged Aaron Curtin, Aaron Trumbull, All-State, baseball, CHS Wolves, Josh Bayne, Kyle Bodamer on June 4, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Kyle Bodamer, breaking bats (and hearts) wherever he goes. (Shelli Trumbull photos)

Wolf seniors (l to r) Aaron Curtin, Aaron Trumbull, Josh Bayne and Bodamer get serious for one last group photo op.

Bayne has places to go and he always believes in arriving early.

South Whidbey’s Trent Fallon (middle) and Mo Hamsa (beard) joke around with their Coupeville counterparts.

Trumbull and Curtin, who played together since little league, exchange one last fist bump.

Trumbull and Curtin, who have played together since little league, exchange one last fist bump.

One hurdle down, one to go.

Coupeville High School senior pitcher Aaron Curtin was nominated for the All-State baseball series Wednesday after playing in the 1A/2B/1B Northwest Regional Feeder Games in Bellingham.

Curtin was one of 10 players to be nominated, and the only one from the four Wolf players who participated in the feeder games.

Fellow CHS seniors Aaron Trumbull, Kyle Bodamer and Josh Bayne wrapped up their high school careers by playing in the two-game series at Joe Martin Field.

Final decisions on the All-State rosters will be announced June 7, with the games in Yakima June 13-14.

If Curtin makes the final cut, it would give Coupeville a representative for the second straight year.

Last year, Ben Etzell got the call and pitched in the second game at All-State.

The feeder games in Bellingham were part of a state-wide effort to showcase senior diamond men.

Coupeville’s quartet played for the Americans team, which was coached by South Whidbey’s Tom Fallon.

They tied 6-6 in the opener Wednesday, then lost 4-3 in the nightcap.

Nooksack Valley’s Cole Mattice won the second game when he singled home Meridian’s Tanner Tutterrow with two outs in the seventh inning.

The winning rally included a boost from a player who could have been a Wolf.

Taylor Gardner attended elementary school in Coupeville, before a family move took his baseball skills to Nooksack Valley.

His walk in the seventh, packaged between singles from Tutterrow and Overlake’s Mike Lau, juiced the bags for Mattice.

Along with Curtin, the other nominees for All-State include Tuterrow, Ryan Gelwicks (Nooksack), David McLaurin (Cedar Park Christian), Andrew Young (Darrington), Curtis Handy (Nooksack), Mo Hamsa (South Whidbey), Aaron Mell (Overlake), Evan Sather (Overlake) and Gibson Fichter (Concrete).

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Camera clicks turn to cold, hard cash!!

Posted in awards, tagged Aaron Trumbull, awards, baseball, Basketball, CHS Wolves, John Fisken photos, Julia Myers, Soccer, tennis on June 2, 2015| Leave a Comment »

After appearing in many photos over the years, Julia Myers is now reaping a financial benefit. (John Fisken photos)

After appearing in many photos over the years, Julia Myers (with ball) is now reaping a financial benefit. (John Fisken photos)

Aaron Trumbull works hard for his money.

John Fisken came out from behind the camera Tuesday night.

After spending most of the school year clicking away, the Oak Harbor-based lensman swung by Coupeville High School to award his second annual scholarships.

Taking home the honors (and some cash) were Wolf seniors Julia Myers and Aaron Trumbull.

The duo follow in the footsteps of Breeanna Messner and Brandon Kelley, who won the inaugural awards in 2014.

The scholarships, which honor student/athletes who play at least two sports for all four years, are financed by families and fans purchasing photos Fisken shoots, then puts up for sale on various sites.

All those times when I dropped a plug for his work, this is where it pays off.

To be eligible, CHS seniors had to also have a GPA of 3.0 or better, not be getting any financial aid for playing sports from a college program and write an essay.

They then topped things off with a one-on-one interview with Fisken, who alone made the final call.

Myers, who played soccer, basketball and tennis, plans to attend Western Washington and study kinesiology, with a goal of becoming a physical therapist.

She developed an interest in the field after having to undergo physical therapy while rehabbing a soccer injury. Myers hopes to one day obtain a position with a professional sports team.

A fan of her leadership class (Pre-Calculus not so much…), she singled out CHS basketball coaches David and Amy King and soccer/basketball teammate Makana Stone as big inspirations.

Looking back over her busy sports career, Myers remembered a rec soccer game where she stopped every shot that came to her in an OT shootout as her personal favorite highlight.

Trumbull, who played basketball and baseball all four years, was a key player on the Central Whidbey Little League baseball team that won a state title.

Years later, that remains a treasured memory for him.

He plans to attend Olympic College, where he’ll play baseball, before eventually transferring to Central Washington University.

He hopes to earn an engineering degree and go into the military, possibly as a pilot.

Coupeville baseball guru Willie Smith was Trumbull’s favorite coach, while Aaron Curtin, a close friend who also played basketball and baseball, was his pick for most inspirational teammate.

In school he greatly enjoyed Barbara Ballard’s UW English class (a class all of the nominees mentioned), but could have done without taking Spanish.

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Bayne Train rumbles through Birthday Land!!

Posted in Baseball, Football, Happy birthday, tagged baseball, CHS Wolves, Earl Barden All-Star Classic, football, Happy birthday, Josh Bayne on June 2, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Josh Bayne, being all awesome and stuff.

The coolest cat in the room. Always.

Josh Bayne has glided through life at Coupeville High School in much the same way he slices ‘n dices defenses on the football field — with ease, while always looking stylish doing it.

As he celebrates his birthday today, with graduation just a few days away, he is at the top of his game.

Olympic League MVP and All-State on both sides of the ball during football season, with an invitation to the Earl Barden East-West All-Star Classic later this month.

When baseball arrived, Bayne punched out his usual stellar season, earning his second First Team All-Conference selection of the school year.

Wednesday he’ll be in Bellingham, joining Wolf teammates Aaron Curtin, Kyle Bodamer and Aaron Trumbull at the state feeder games.

And, while he didn’t play basketball, he was always front and center to cheer on his classmates. If there was a costume to be worn, he was your man.

The rampaging force of nature who CHS hardball guru Willie Smith tabbed “Awesome Joshsome” was a truly electrifying athlete.

Whether rupturing spleens by launching himself like a heat-seeking missile at ball carriers or sporting a huge grin as he shot around third base after hammering a home run into the parking lot, Bayne enjoyed his days in the red and black.

As he moves on to accomplish big things in the real world, we, his fans, want to wish him the best and send him big birthday greetings.

You can’t stop the Bayne Train. You can’t contain him. But you can applaud him as he sails by.

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Well done, A-a-ron!!

Posted in Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Tennis, tagged Aaron Curtin, baseball, Basketball, CHS Wolves, Churchy, medalist, state, tennis on June 1, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Aaron Curtin (Photo courtesy Ken Stange)

Aaron Curtin submits to a photo op with his state tennis medal. (Photo courtesy Ken Stange)

Curtin flies up court during basketball season. (John Fisken photo)

The joy of a game-winning hit. (Shelli Trumbull photo)

Let’s take a moment to honor the quiet warrior.

For four years Aaron Curtin has been as good an athlete as Coupeville High School has had.

Tennis. Basketball. Baseball.

He was talented at whatever he played, and he attacked everything he did with passion.

Aaron was his own man the whole way, as well.

He would pop up in photos, usually with a small smile, but he didn’t hunger for the camera the way some Wolves do.

A lot of what we do here at Coupeville Sports is full of exclamation points and kids goofing off for the camera and big-bigger-biggest.

Curtin chose to glide through all that, being a great athlete, a quality guy, but a low key one.

Which is totally his right.

I give him all the credit in the world for doing things his way, the way that made him comfortable.

He handled his business with class every step of the way, and his family, his coaches, and us, the fans, should be proud we got to be a small part of it.

His tennis coach, Ken Stange, reflected on Aaron in the moments after Curtin placed eighth at the state tennis tourney, fighting through four epic matches in two days of searing Yakima heat:

“It was beautiful to watch.

I’ve spent four seasons with Aaron. He played nearly 100 matches for CHS, over the course of four regular and post seasons.

I was so incredibly proud of his effort, and was happy he’d be earning a medal.

I have a hard time finding words to describe the moments he and I shared, just after the match.

It’s surprising because I’m usually not shy about descriptions.

That’s okay, though.

This one was special–it was Aaron’s and it was ours. He’s a pretty quiet and private young man, so I guess it’s appropriate that I can’t give you a description.

It was such an enjoyable experience, and I think it was even more so for Aaron.”

As he prepares to graduate this week, Curtin leaves behind visible reminders of his excellence.

Every time Wolf fans enter the CHS gym in the years to come, they will see his face on the wall of honor, forever enshrined as one of the Wolf Athlete of the Years.

But it will be the memories that will last longer.

The mental images of a young man of sterling character, who fought through tough times on the basketball court as a program rebuilt with young players.

Of a quietly confident veteran who baffled hitters with his fastball, tossing a no-hitter on his home diamond.

Of a class act who never gave in, never gave up, always, ALWAYS fought to the final moment and sacrificed himself for his teammates.

Aaron Curtin was one of the greats, and he stayed true to himself every step of the way.

It was a pleasure to cover your exploits, sir.

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Diamond dandies dazzle!!

Posted in Baseball, Little League, Softball, tagged Ballet, baseball, Central Whidbey Little League, John Fisken photos, quicksand, Softball on May 27, 2015| Leave a Comment »

"Try and sneak past me, will you, Mr. Softball?!?! Feel my wrath unleashed!!" (John Fisken photos)

“Try and sneak past me, will you, Mr. Softball?!?! I’ll murderize ya!!” (John Fisken photos)

“Quicksand?!?! Why did it have to be QUICKSAND?!?!?!?”

“They said I threw like a girl and I asked them why they kept swinging and missing. They don’t talk much anymore…”

"You want to check the balls, just cause I said I was a Tom Brady fan?

“You want to check the ball, just cause I said I was a Tom Brady fan?”

"No, I don't need to open my eyes to get a hit.

Another successful graduate of the Stevie Wonder Hitting Academy.

A double play and a Tour en l’air on the same play? Nice.

“And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger!!” What do you mean, he’s too young to quote “Pulp Fiction?”

“And where do we think we’re going? No one escapes my glove. I said NO ONE!!”

“Just try and catch my heater!”

“Um, no thanks … I’m good…”

The diamonds overflow with action.

Every time you turn around, another Central Whidbey Little League team is playing, and never-say-take-a-nap photo man John Fisken is there to click away each time.

Or, at least it seems that way.

The action above covers a wide array of divisions, with a little bit for everyone.

To see tons more pics (and possibly purchase some, thus keeping Mr. Fisken in Diet Coke), pop over to:

Rookie softball — http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf35fe9c7a36

Rookie baseball — http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf35fe727ad8

Majors baseball — http://www.shutterfly.com/progal/album.jsp?aid=768a5498cf35fe83ef5f

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