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Posts Tagged ‘Coop Cooper’

Winless Wolves nipped in pitcher’s duel

Posted in Baseball, tagged baseball, CHS Wolves, Coop Cooper, Friday Harbor, road trip on March 27, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Coop Cooper, seen last season, delivered a strong pitching performance Thursday, whiffing 10 on Friday Harbor. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

The offensive struggles continue.

Blanked for the fourth time in five games, a largely inexperienced Coupeville High School baseball team fell 3-0 at Friday Harbor Thursday afternoon.

The Wolves, who are learning on the job, fall to 0-2 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 0-5 overall heading into a home non-conference game Saturday against South Whidbey, which sits at 1-3.

There were definite bright spots for Coupeville Thursday.

The three runs surrendered were the fewest by far this season, the Wolves committed a season-low one error, and starting pitcher Coop Cooper whiffed 10 batters in 4+ innings of work.

But the Wolves also went down 1-2-3 in six of seven innings, striking out 16 times against Friday Harbor sophomore hurler Jackson Feliz.

The only frame in which CHS put a runner on base was the top of the fourth, and it was a prime opportunity which didn’t come to total fruition.

With Feliz buzzing through a perfect game, the Wolves suddenly loaded the bases with no outs.

Landon Roberts ripped a liner to right field, Carson Grove got plunked by a wayward pitch, and Camden Glover dropped a bunt single down the third-base line.

For a team which has been outscored 50-3 this season, the chance to bust through was tantalizingly close.

Then the door slammed shut, with Feliz picking up another K, before inducing a double-play ground ball to end the rally.

Friday Harbor, which only had three hits on the day, had just enough offense of its own to salt away the win and claim a sweep of the two-game series between island rivals.

The Wolverines pushed a run across in the third, thanks to a walk, a single, and a wild pitch, before adding insurance tallies in the fifth and sixth.

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Diamond men launch new campaign

Posted in Baseball, tagged baseball, CHS Wolves, Coop Cooper, home opener, Meridian on March 18, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Coop Cooper is a veteran leader on a young Wolf hardball squad. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

There’s bound to be some bumps in the road.

After back-to-back trips to the 2B state playoffs, the Coupeville High School baseball squad finds itself in a rebuilding year.

The Wolves have just 11 players total, with four freshmen and two 8th graders, while only three guys in the lineup were letter winners a season ago.

So, Tuesday’s season opener, an 18-0 loss to visiting Meridian, a tough 1A foe with a history of excellence, is not completely unsurprising.

The trick for Steve Hilborn’s very raw Wolf team will be to let things go, learn from the loss, and bounce back quickly with a road trip to Port Townsend to play East Jefferson coming up Thursday afternoon.

The tilt with Meridian was supposed to be game #2 on the season, but a weekend road trip to Blaine was washed away by Mother Nature.

The weather on the prairie was fairly tranquil Tuesday, but the visiting Trojans were a rough and tumble bunch.

Meridian outhit Coupeville 10-1 and took advantage of eight Wolf errors to jump out to a big lead and never look back.

Up 6-0 after the top of the first inning, the Trojans methodically tacked on runs in each frame, forcing the mercy rule to be enacted after the bottom of the fifth.

Coupeville’s best offensive output came in the bottom of the first, but the hometown hardball heroes couldn’t keep a brief rally going.

Senior Landon Roberts lashed a leadoff single, but it would be the only base knock for the Wolves on this day.

Walks to Carson Grove (who was hit by a pitch) and Jayden Little filled the bags, but Meridian escaped without surrendering a run.

Coupeville’s offense sputtered through the next three innings, with the Wolves going 1-2-3 in each frame.

Down to their final at-bats, the Wolves put two runners aboard in the bottom of the fifth, with Phin Rhodes reaching on an error and Roberts eking out a walk, but that was where things ended for CHS.

One definite positive for Coupeville came via the strikeout, as four Wolf hurlers combined to record 13 K’s.

Roberts led the way with six, while Grove whiffed three and Camden Glover and Coop Cooper each recorded two.

Meridian’s other two outs came on fly balls to the outfield, as the Trojans didn’t record a single out on a groundball.

Riley Lawless, Trent Thule, Chris Zenz, Leo Rodriguez, and Jesus Madrigal rounded out the Wolf roster, joining Rhodes in making their CHS baseball debuts.

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Can’t kill a quality program

Posted in Baseball, tagged baseball, Camden Glover, CHS Wolves, Coop Cooper, Spring Sports Preview on March 13, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Camden Glover returns to anchor the Wolf offense and defense. (Ryan Blouin photo)

It’s a whole new world.

After advancing to the state tourney two seasons in a row, the Coupeville High School baseball team had to fight just to keep the program alive this spring.

Losses to graduation, family moves, injuries, and veteran players opting not to suit up left Wolf coach Steve Hilborn and his staff scrambling.

But they got there, relying on a core group which didn’t flake out like others, and will open the season Saturday with a road trip to Blaine.

The roster is thin, but the spirit is strong among those who remain committed.

“Looks like we’ll have a team. We have 11 right now,” Hilborn said. “Several kids new to baseball but with lots of potential.

“We’re working on basics and having fun,” he added. “And that’s the name of the game.”

Landon Roberts is a rare veteran on a rebuilding Wolf team. (Sherry Bonacci photo)

Leading the way will be senior Landon Roberts, who pitched, played first base, and patrolled the outfield last season.

Juniors Camden Glover and Coop Cooper provide big arms and steady bats, while freshmen Carson Grove and Jayden Little are back for a second year of varsity baseball.

Joining them will be a group of newcomers including senior Jesus Madrigal, making the jump from team manager to on-field player.

Sophomore big man Riley Lawless, freshmen Leo Rodriguez and Phin Rhodes, and 8th graders Trent Thule and Chris Zenz round out the current roster.

Junior Aiden O’Neill, a starter in center field last season, is sidelined as he recovers from surgery after a football injury but will be a key part of the team’s support crew from his perch on the bench.

Carson Grove, already a grizzled vet and just a freshman. (Mindy Grove photo)

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Long trip, short game

Posted in Baseball, tagged baseball, CHS Wolves, Coop Cooper, Napavine, state playoffs on May 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Landon Roberts is one of several key Coupeville High School baseball players who can return next season. (Sherry Bonacci photo)

One run ends, another continues.

Coupeville’s seven-game winning streak on the baseball diamond came to an end Tuesday in Napavine, as the Wolves fell 11-0 in the first round of the state playoffs.

With the victory, which was mercy-ruled after five innings, the Tigers get to 21-4, and have won 16 of their last 17 games. Next up is a quarterfinal matchup Saturday with River View.

For Coupeville, a team which overcame numerous obstacles and put together a sensational second-half run, the season ends at 11-9.

While the loss stings, the simple fact the Wolves were one of just seven 2B schools from last year’s 12-team state tourney lineup to make it back to the big dance is worthy of high praise.

Two seasons, two trips to the big dance under coach Steve Hilborn. (Sherry Bonacci photo)

It’s the first time a CHS baseball squad made it to state in back-to-back seasons since 1990-1991.

And it was more than a little surprising after the Wolves started 4-8.

Missing injured ace Chase Anderson for much of the season, Steve Hilborn’s squad also lost cleanup hitter Yohannon Sandles to a mid-season family move.

But something clicked, and the Wolves closed like champs.

“Steve and I are very proud of the progress the program made,” said CHS assistant coach Jon Roberts.

“We came out of what looked like an impossible hole to dig out of to take a co-league title, a district title and a berth at state.

“Serious progress was made by many players to get better at the craft.”

While the Wolves lose seniors Peyton Caveness, Seth Woollet, Aidyn McDermott, and Cole White, the core of the team is made up of sophomores and juniors, most of whom have played together since little league.

Getting back to state was huge. Now making the jump to be able to fully compete with teams like Napavine will be the next goal.

“It’s definitely going to take off-season work by many for the Wolves to make the next step up,” Roberts said. “And there are several who are on different travel/tourney ball teams.

“Some will start practice tomorrow.”

Sophomore slugger Camden Glover has two more seasons to play. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Facing off with Napavine, Coupeville’s hitters got a chance to test themselves against one of the state’s most accomplished 2B athletes in Ashton Demarest.

The Tiger pitcher is best known for his work on the gridiron, where he went 36-3 over three seasons as his school’s starting quarterback.

The Washington State Football Coaches Association Offensive Player of the Year during his senior season this past fall, he threw for 2,248 yards and 30 touchdowns, while picking up almost another 1,000 yards and 17 scores with his feet.

Demarest can also huck a baseball, as he showed while holding Coupeville to four singles and striking out eight.

The Wolves were unable to put together a rally, getting one runner aboard in four consecutive innings, but never more than that.

Coop Cooper lashed half of his team’s base knocks, delivering singles in the second and fifth inning, while Anderson reached base on a third-inning bunt single and Caveness laced a hit in the fourth.

Napavine went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first, but then found its groove, pounding out 12 hits across the next three frames.

The Tigers plated three in the second thanks to five of those hits, before blowing the game open with a seven-run third to push the lead out to 10-0.

One more run in the fourth set the final margin, with Demarest ending the game with three straight strikeouts to strand Cooper at first in the fifth.

In the aftermath of the loss, Wolf coaches praised those who are moving on, while looking to a bright future.

“We will definitely miss Peyton behind the dish. I’ve coached him for 10 years,” Roberts said. “We will miss Cole’s energy, smile, positive attitude and give at shortstop.

“I will also miss Aidyn and his can-do attitude and Seth’s crazy pitching.

“But with that we’re confident that we have young men ready to step up!”

Johnny Porter and crew will be back, and twice as strong. (Parker Hammons photo)

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Diamond rally falls short

Posted in Baseball, tagged baseball, CHS Wolves, Coop Cooper, Peyton Caveness, Sultan on April 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Chaos reigns on the baseball diamond. (Ryan Blouin photo)

The good news is they rallied. The bad news is it was too little, too late.

Returning from Spring Break Monday, the Coupeville High School varsity baseball squad started off cold, then warmed up a bit in the latter stages of a 9-4 loss to visiting Sultan.

The non-conference defeat drops the Wolves to 3-7 on the season and kick-starts what could be a very busy week.

CHS is slated to travel to Darrington Tuesday, host La Conner Thursday, then trek to Forks Saturday, with the first two of those rumbles against Northwest 2B/1B League rivals.

With 10 regular season games down and nine left to play, the Wolves hope the second half of the campaign plays out like the second half of Monday’s game.

Held hitless until Cole White plunked a leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth, Coupeville was in a 7-0 hole at that point.

Four errors on defense stung, and an inability to get anything going on offense didn’t help on a cold, windy, slightly rain-splattered day.

White’s base knock finally lit a fire under the Wolves, as they scratched out two runs in the fourth, one more in the fifth, and a final tally in the seventh.

But while Coupeville sliced the lead down to 7-3, it never got closer than that.

Sultan tacked on a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to stretch the margin back out to six runs, before CHS briefly mounted a rally in its final at-bats.

Peyton Caveness thumped his second double of the day, followed by an RBI triple from Johnny Porter, but the Turks escaped thanks to a double play and strikeout.

Sultan finished the day with an 8-5 lead in hits, though the Wolves eked out a 6-4 advantage in walks.

Steven Gonzalez, Aidyn McDermott, and Landon Roberts each earned a pair of free passes, while Coop Cooper collected a single to round out the hit parade.

Coupeville used four pitchers on the day, with Seth Woollet whiffing five in 4.2 innings of work to carry the biggest portion of the load.

He was joined on the hill by Jack Porter, Camden Glover, and Cooper, who combined for another five strikeouts.

It was Cooper’s season debut on the mound, and the Wolf sophomore pitched a perfect seventh inning, setting two batters down on K’s before inducing a groundout back to his glove.