CJ Smith (4), seen here playing the infield in an earlier game, got the complete game win on the mound for the Wolves Friday. (Shelli Trumbull photos)
“Run like you wanna make your momma proud, Trumbull!!”
“Speed kills, baby, and we have speed!!”
Coupeville High School baseball coach Willie Smith was ecstatic after the finish of Friday’s thriller against visiting Lakewood, and why not?
Using their fleet feet, and a timely hit or two, his Wolves had just exploded for three runs in the bottom of the seventh to steal a huge 6-5 win.
The victory, the second straight over a 2A biggie, lifted the Wolves back to .500 at 6-6.
They are 5-6 in Cascade Conference play and hot on the heels of South Whidbey for the #1 playoff seed among the league’s 1A schools.
“It was a great testament to the character of this team and the ability of our team to rise up to the challenge of this game!,” Smith said.
With the game on the line, Coupeville made every play count.
Trailing 5-3 and down to their final at-bat, the Wolves put two runners on via a Lakewood error and a walk. Both runners (sophomore CJ Smith and junior Josh Bayne) are quick, and they took advantage of a jumpy Cougar defense.
Jake Tumblin, a speed demon himself, laid down a bunt and beat the pitcher’s throw.
But, instead of just holding on to the ball and accepting a bases-loaded situation, the Lakewood hurler tried to nail Tumblin going into first and accidentally uncorked a throw past the first baseman and down the right field line.
Running full tilt, Smith and Bayne came around to score on the error, knotting the score up.
Tumblin promptly made a bid to win the game in electrifying fashion, stealing home on the next play, but was nipped at the plate by an alert throw.
Instead of settling for the tie and heading into extra innings, Coupeville staged a second rally.
Wade Schaef walked, Ben Etzell blasted a single and Aaron Trumbull reached on a Lakewood error to juice the bases. With two outs, it was then time to go to Church.
Junior Aaron Curtin, who has been battling through a shoulder issue, delivered the sermon and it was a winning one, jacking an RBI single back up the middle to set off the pandemonium on the prairie.
It was the perfect capper to a strong all-around game for Coupeville.
CJ Smith tossed a complete game, whiffing six and giving up just four hits.
With Tumblin’s recent hand injury still preventing him from catching, his back-up, sophomore Cole Payne, was a beast, throwing out four potential base stealers.
“CJ was cool as a cucumber on the mound,” Willie Smith said. “Mixing up pitches and keeping their hitters off-balance throughout the game.”
Coupeville’s speed on the base-paths flustered Lakewood all game, with five of the first six runs being plated thanks to Cougar errors.
Tumblin, Ben Etzell (who paced the Wolves with two hits) and Trumbull represented the early game runs.
The game also marked the varsity debut of freshman Clay Reilly, who got his ticket to the big time punched by a string of injuries to CHS starters.
