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Big stage, big victory

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged Adeline Maynes, Asotin County, Ava Lucero, Central Whidbey Little League, Softball, state tournament on July 2, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Undefeated and flexing. (Kristi Stevens photos)

They embrace the spotlight.

With 10 of 12 players reaching base Saturday, and eight of them scoring, the Central Whidbey Little League Majors softball team opened the state tourney with a bang.

Playing in Vancouver, the Wolves demolished Asotin County 12-2 in a game mercy-ruled after four innings.

The victory lifts Central Whidbey to a crisp 15-0 on the season.

Now, the Wolves have several days off as they wait for the loser’s bracket to play out at the 10-team, double-elimination tourney.

Central Whidbey returns to the field Wednesday, July 5, when it plays the winner of South Hill and Evergreen.

South Hill hails from District 10, which pulls players from Auburn, Puyallup, and Kent, while Evergreen reps District 4, which covers Clark, Skamania, and Klickitat counties.

The championships run through July 9.

The Wolves huddle around coach Aaron Lucero, the Man in Black.

Saturday’s opening win was fueled by consistent work from the top of the lineup to the bottom.

The Wolves rapped out seven hits, with Chelsi Stevens blasting a double and Sydney Van Dyke whacking a pair of singles, while the team also collected eight walks.

Stevens also launched another successful long shot, coming all the way around to score off her base-knock.

The score book gives Asotin County two errors on the play, however, keeping it from being an “official” home run.

We know the truth, though.

Chelsi Stevens (with ball) carries a big bat, inflicting damage with each swing.

Central Whidbey jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one inning of play, then stretched the lead out to 11-1 through two frames.

“Solid play all around,” said Wolf coach Aaron Lucero. “Good hitting and base-running offensively.

“We put pressure on the defense every chance we had, and our ladies were relentless,” he added. “Good overall team hitting and win.”

Adeline Maynes prowled the pitcher’s circle for Central Whidbey, whiffing eight while scattering just three hits.

Toss in solid defense and a team-wide commitment to hustle plays and execution, and it’s simple to see why the Wolves continue to roll through an undefeated campaign.

“We’ve continued to preach “do the little things” and they’re executing,” Lucero said.

Saturday stats:

Samantha Antonio — One single
KeeAyra Brown — One walk
Adeline Maynes — Two walks
Allie Powers — One single, one walk
Cassandra Powers — One single
Selah Rivera — One walk
Chelsi Stevens — One double
Kennedy Strevel — One single, one walk
Cameron Van Dyke — Two walks
Sydney Van Dyke — Two singles

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Pack the car, they’re state bound!

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged Adeline Maynes, Ava Lucero, Central Whidbey Little League, Softball, state tourney on June 27, 2023| Leave a Comment »

District champs, and still undefeated heading into the state tourney. (Kerry Western photos)

Roll on, mighty Wolves, roll on.

Beating visiting Sedro-Woolley 10-0 for the second night in a row, the Central Whidbey Little League Majors softball team cleared a major hurdle Tuesday night in Oak Harbor.

The victory lifts the Wolves to 14-0 on the season, gives them the District 11 title, and sends them on to the state tourney.

The big dance goes down July 1-9 in Vancouver, with Central Whidbey slated to open play against the winner of District 5, which reps the lower corner of Eastern Washington.

Here’s the state bracket, just waiting for teams to be plugged in:

Click to access 2023_LLSB_State_Bracket_1.0.pdf

Tuesday night, the Wolves went for the clincher in their best 2-of-3 district rumble, and once again came up big against a tough foe.

Walks were key, as Central Whidbey racked up a ton, but the Islanders also got base-knocks from Kennedy Strevel, Chelsi Stevens, and Cassandra Powers.

The Wolves pushed three runs across in the first to snatch the lead, before tacking on two more in the third, four in the fourth, and a final tally in the fifth to push the game into mercy-rule territory.

“We were very disciplined tonight against a pair of good Sedro pitchers,” said Central coach Aaron Lucero.

“Hats off to Sedro, they came out looking to fight and made some big plays,” he added. “We had bases loaded in the first three or four innings and we just couldn’t put it away.”

Stevens launched “an absolute laser shot with the bases loaded and two outs” that might have broken the game open early, only to see Sedro’s outfielder make “a fantastic grab” to save runs.

The Wolves never backed down, however, continuing to put the pressure on their foes.

“Great job by our ladies to just keep chipping away,” Aaron Lucero said. “Putting the ball in play, aggressive base-running, and hustle, got it done for us offensively.”

Strevel and Adeline Maynes both tapped home plate twice for the Wolves, while Sydney Van Dyke, Stevens, Olivia Martin, Cameron Van Dyke, Emma Cushman, and KeeAyra Brown also scored.

Basking in the afterglow of sweet victory.

Mary Western, Ava Lucero, Selah Rivera, Samantha Antonio, and Allie Powers also played for Central Whidbey.

Maynes returned to the pitcher’s circle for Central Whidbey and was in lock-down mode most of the game, whiffing eight.

She got big-time help on defense from her catcher, Ava Lucero, who made the defensive play of the night for the final out.

Sedro had the bases jammed with two outs and was desperate to keep the game going when a wild pitch ran away from the waiting glove.

Responding instantly, Ava Lucero scrambled to the backstop, sliding on one knee to snatch the ball off the ground and fire it back to Maynes, who slapped the game-ending tag on an incoming runner.

Now, it’s off to the big stage for the Wolves, with their coach ready to hit the open roads for another long trip.

“Really proud of these players on a truly undefeated season,” Aaron Lucero said. “They showed a lot of grit.”

On to the next challenge!

Want to help the Wolves make their trip to state?

You can support the 14 girls — 12 from Coupeville, and one apiece from Oak Harbor and South Whidbey — two ways.

Checks made out to Central Whidbey Little League can be mailed to P.O. Box 222, Coupeville, WA 98239.

Or use Venmo to send money through Wolf Mom Kelly Powers, who can be found at https://account.venmo.com/u/Coupeville2029.

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One win down, one to go

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged Adeline Maynes, Central Whidbey Little League, district playoffs, Sedro-Woolley, Softball on June 26, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Chelsi Stevens and her Central Whidbey Little League softball squad are halfway to winning a district title. (Kristi Stevens photo)

They’re halfway to the promised land.

The Central Whidbey Little League Majors softball squad kept its unbeaten streak alive Monday, thrashing Sedro-Woolley 10-0 in the District 11 playoff opener.

Playing in Oak Harbor, the Wolves combined timely hits, a keen eye at the plate, and the overpowering pitching of Adeline Maynes to push their record to 13-0 on the season.

Central Whidbey now has two chances to punch its ticket to the state tourney.

Game #2 of the best-of-three district royal rumble is Tuesday on the fields next to the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool, with first pitch set for 6:00 PM.

If Sedro stays alive, a winner-take-all game #3 would be Wednesday, same location, same time.

The state tourney goes down in Vancouver July 1-9.

Monday’s game was close for a bit, with the Wolves pulling away to end things early thanks to the 10-run mercy rule.

Central Whidbey put up three runs in the bottom of the first, went scoreless in the second, then slapped on a fourth tally in the third.

Two more runs in the fourth frame stretched things out to 6-0, before a four-run uprising in the bottom of the fifth put a bow on things.

“Team was very resilient and battled every inning,” said Wolf coach Aaron Lucero.

“Had some hiccups I attribute to a few weeks layoff, but we kept fighting and never backed down,” he added. “Big game jitters. Sedro was a tough opponent and made some good plays.

“Luckily we had solid pitching, baserunning, and put pressure on the defense every opportunity we could.”

Sedro’s offense was never able to get much going, as Maynes went the distance in the pitcher’s circle, retiring 12 hitters via a strikeout.

She also scored three times, with seven different Wolves tapping home plate.

Sydney Van Dyke came around twice, while KeeAyra Brown, Emma Cushman, Kennedy Strevel, Ava Lucero, and Cameron Van Dyke also made the scoreboard operator earn their (likely nonexistent) paycheck.

Chelsi Stevens, Allie Powers, Samantha Antonio, Mary Western, Cassandra Powers, Selah Rivera, and Olivia Martin also saw playing time for the Wolves.

“Very proud of these young women,” Aaron Lucero said.

“Told them at the end of the game our work isn’t over and need to come out tomorrow ready to play ball.”

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CWLL sluggers chase state tourney dreams

Posted in Little League, Softball, tagged Adeline Maynes, Central Whidbey Little League, Chelsi Stevens, district tourney, Softball on June 25, 2023| Leave a Comment »

Have bats, will bash. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Two victories away from a big-time road trip.

The Central Whidbey Little League Majors softball squad carries an undefeated 12-0 record into the District 11 tourney, which runs June 26-28 at Oak Harbor’s Volunteer Park.

The Wolves — featuring 12 Coupeville girls, plus one additional postseason player from both South and North Whidbey — clash with Sedro-Woolley in a best 2-of-3 series.

The games, played on the Juniors field next door to the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool, kick off at 6:00 PM each night.

Whichever team emerges from the royal rumble holding the district trophy advances to the state championships in Vancouver.

That tournament is July 1-9.

Central Whidbey spent the regular season bashing the living snot out of the softball, scoring in double digits in each of its 12 wins, with two of those coming against Sedro-Woolley.

The Wolves got contributions from everyone on the roster — at the plate, in the field, and from the pitcher’s circle.

Staff ace Adeline Maynes, one of five Wolves likely making their final little league run as they can play high school ball next spring as 8th graders, was lights out all season when flinging heat.

Coupeville coaches, however, are taking the long view, not letting their players get too infatuated with their stellar stats.

You still have to perform if you want to advance.

“I’ve impressed upon our players that it’s a brand new season with postseason play,” Aaron Lucero said.

“While I’m pleased with the result of the work the players have put in thus far, our work is just starting, and we cannot take anyone lightly.

“We have to continue execute on the little things.”

Central Whidbey’s playoff roster:

Samantha Antonio
KeeAyra Brown
Emma Cushman
Ava Lucero
Olivia Martin
Adeline Maynes
Allie Powers
Cassandra Powers
Selah Rivera
Chelsi Stevens
Kennedy Strevel
Cameron Van Dyke
Sydney Van Dyke
Mary Western