CJ Smith tossed a complete-game shutout Friday, as Coupeville rolled 9-0 at Concrete. (John Fisken photo)
This one was over quickly.
After playing one-run affairs in both of its first two games this season, the Coupeville High School baseball squad strolled through Friday’s game at Concrete.
Scoring in six of the seven innings played, the Wolves pounded their very accommodating hosts 9-0 to sweep a home-and-away series with the Lions.
Now 2-1 on the young season, Coupeville returns home to face Cedarcrest Monday and Sequim Tuesday, as they play four of their first five games on the prairie.
Making the drive off-Island didn’t seem to hurt the Wolves on the field or in their ability to draw fans, as a fairly large collection of Coupeville supporters showed up to watch the diamond men work.
Before all the traveling fans had even settled in, CHS put the game away, taking just three batters to score all the runs they would need on this day.
Hunter Smith led off, lashing a single to left, then came around to score on an RBI single to center from older brother CJ.
The elder Smith soon scampered around the base-paths himself, propelled by Cole Payne, who kept a recent hot streak alive by crunching an RBI double to deep right field that landed in the shadow of the snow-capped mountains.
While the initial assault quickly sputtered out, with a double play off of a fly-out by Dane Lucero (Payne was thrown out trying to advance to third) blunting the attack, it would be all CJ Smith would need.
The senior hurler went the distance on the mound and was untouchable most of the afternoon.
He retired the side in order in four of the seven innings, and gave up just a single base runner in two of the other three frames.
The only time Concrete was able to get anything going was in the bottom of the sixth, but CJ Smith never broke a sweat getting out of the mini-jam.
Bearing down, the unflappable righty got a Lion to pop out to Lucero at first, stranding multiple base runners and earning a fist pump from dad Chris Smith, who was pacing on the edge of the dugout.
Coupeville kept picking away at Concrete’s pitching staff, adding a single run in the the third, fourth and fifth, before dropping three in the sixth and another solo run in the seventh.
Lucero, Hunter Smith and Cameron Toomey-Stout knocked in runs to stretch the lead to 5-0, then the Wolves put together their best sustained rally in the top of the sixth.
Payne ripped a one-out single, Lucero smacked an RBI double, Gabe Wynn sent a screamer over the third baseman’s head for another RBI double and Brenden Gilbert eked out a bases-loaded walk and the rout was on.
Not content to stop with eight, Coupeville saved its most thrilling journey across home plate for the final inning.
With Payne perched on third, after another double and a wild pitch, Joey Lippo laced a grounder to the Lion first baseman for the inning’s second out.
The crafty senior crept down the line, then exploded at the last second, sliding under the frantic tag as Concrete’s catcher juggled the throw while trying to slap the ball on Payne’s leg.
Popping up to a roar from his own personal cheering section, Cole was all smiles, a familiar sight among Wolf players and fans on this afternoon.
Coupeville Sports 