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Posts Tagged ‘Izzy Wells’

Wolves return to hardwood

Posted in Basketball, tagged , , , , on April 26, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Izzy Wells snags a rebound. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Hawthorne Wolfe is the top active scorer for CHS basketball, boys or girls, with 410 points through his first two seasons.

Basketball is back.

Or, at least it will be when we hit May, barring any pandemic-related shenanigans.

Winter sports, which is girls and boys basketball in Coupeville — and we’ll thank you not to ask for anything else — are going last during this off-kilter 2020-2021 school year.

The first practice is set for next Monday, May 3, the first games for May 18, and Senior Night caps things June 17.

The season will be shorter than normal, with 12-game schedules (instead of 20) and no playoffs.

That’ll give the Wolves a chance to play home-and-away contests with their six rivals in the Northwest 2B/1B League.

Hopefully.

Friday Harbor sat out fall sports completely after Covid cases spiked in the San Juans, and the one thing we’ve learned during the Age of Coronavirus is no schedule is safe.

Ever. At any point.

But, with our fingers crossed, we move forward with the hope we’ll witness Hawthorne Wolfe and Xavier Murdy raining three-balls, while Ja’Kenya Hoskins dominates in the paint.

The schedules as of 4:45 PM, April 26, 2021, with JV start times listed first (even when they don’t play first), and varsity second.

 

BOYS BASKETBALL:

Tues-May 18 — @ Mount Vernon Christian — (4:30/7:30)
Thur-May 20 — Orcas Island — (3:30/5:00)
Sat-May 22 — @ Friday Harbor — (11:30/1:00)
Tues-May 25 — Concrete — (5:15/7:00)
Thur-May 27 — La Conner — (5:15/7:00)
Fri-May 28 — @ Darrington — (4:30/7:30)
Thur-June 3 — Mount Vernon Christian — (5:15/7:00)
Sat-June 5 — @ Orcas Island — (3:30/5:00)
Tues-June 8 — Friday Harbor — (3:00/5:00)
Thur-June 10 — @ Concrete — (TBD/7:30)
Mon-June 14 — @ La Conner — (4:30/7:30)
Thur-June 17 — Darrington — (5:15/7:00)

 

GIRLS BASKETBALL:

Tues-May 18 — @ Mount Vernon Christian — (3:00/6:00)
Thur-May 20 — Orcas Island — (5:00/3:30)
Sat-May 22 — @ Friday Harbor — (1:00/11:30)
Tues-May 25 — Concrete — (7:00/5:15)
Thur-May 27 — La Conner — (7:00/5:15)
Fri-May 28 — @ Darrington — (3:00/6:00)
Thur-June 3 — Mount Vernon Christian — (7:00/5:15)
Sat-June 5 — @ Orcas Island — (5:00/3:30)
Tues-June 8 — Friday Harbor — (5:00/3:00)
Thur-June 10 — @ Concrete — (TBD/6:00)
Mon-June 14 — @ La Conner — (3:00/6:00)
Thur-June 17 — Darrington — (7:00/5:15)

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Perfection, rewarded

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , on April 16, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Junior pitcher Izzy Wells was team MVP for a CHS softball squad which finished 12-0. (Jackie Saia photo)

A season of perfection ended with a shower of awards.

After rolling to a 12-0 mark in their pandemic-shortened introduction to the Northwest 2B/1B League, the Coupeville High School softball squad honored its players Friday night.

Gathering his team at the CHS field, head coach Kevin McGranahan handed out an assortment of awards, while lettering all 24 girls on the roster.

“All contributed in a varsity game, and I wanted to reward them for practicing for a year and only playing for five weeks,” he said.

Headlining the awards were junior pitcher Izzy Wells, named team MVP for her stellar work both in the pitcher’s circle and at the plate.

Seniors Mollie Bailey and Chelsea Prescott were tabbed as the Offensive MVP and Defensive MVP, respectively.

Mollie Bailey paced the Wolves in almost every offensive category. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

 

Other awards:

Rookie of the Year — Maya Nottingham

Most Improved — River Ozturk

Spirit of the Wolf — Coral Caveness

Coaches Award — Bella Whalen

Captains — Chelsea Prescott, Mollie Bailey

Four-Year Awards — Ivy Leedy, Coral Caveness, Mollie Bailey, Chelsea Prescott

 

Sophomore Bella Whalen swung a big bat in her Wolf debut, earning the Coaches Award. (Jackie Saia photo)

 

Letter winners:

Mollie Bailey
Elisa Caroppo
Karyme Castro
Coral Caveness
Jackie Contreras
Gwen Gustafson
Ivy Leedy
Lily Leedy
Allie Lucero
Maya Lucero
Lacy McCraw-Shirron
Heidi Meyers
Allison Nastali
Melanie Navarro
Maya Nottingham
River Ozturk
Sofia Peters
Chelsea Prescott
Jill Prince
Audrianna Shaw
Mckenna Somes
Kylie Van Velkinburgh
Izzy Wells
Bella Whalen

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Perfect, start to finish

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , on April 4, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Junior Izzy Wells was a major force in the pitcher’s circle and at the plate for a CHS softball team which finished 12-0. (Jackie Saia photos)

They are not the best team in the history of Coupeville High School softball, maybe, but they are the only one to go undefeated.

It’s hard to top the 2002 Wolves of Sarah Mouw and Ashley Ellsworth-Bagby, who went 24-3 and finished 3rd at the state tourney.

But 19 years later, this 2021 edition, playing through a pandemic-shortened campaign, knocked down every rival on its schedule, finishing a pristine 12-0.

Along the way to a Northwest 2B/1B League title, Coupeville outscored its foes 154-41 (and it could have been far, far worse) and trailed just once all season.

There are no playoffs, no chance to advance to state for the fourth time in program history, thanks to the pandemic.

Still, these Wolves, led by a group of seniors who lost their junior season to Covid, will stand large.

They had booming bats. A fireball-chucking pitcher. Slick gloves. And most of all, a savvy mix of heart and desire.

Saturday, Coupeville, giving ample playing time to everyone in a uniform, shredded winless La Conner 15-1 and 26-3, earning a season-capping doubleheader sweep.

The final show of domination was appropriate, expected, and delivered with as much respect for their rival’s feelings as possible in a competitive sport.

These diamond queens took an imperfect scenario and crafted a perfect season out of it. They deserve all the kudos.

Mollie Bailey was a terror at the plate during her senior season.

 

How Saturday played out:

 

Game 1:

Wolf coach Kevin McGranahan got 16 players on the field, with an emphasis on getting game time for the players of the future.

The Wolves bolted out of the gate with a six-run first inning, sparked by singles from Audrianna Shaw and Chelsea Prescott, and the first of two resounding doubles off the bat of Izzy Wells.

From there, CHS tacked on a run in the second, two more in the third, then put the mercy rule into play with a six-run burst in the top of the fifth.

Wells, who has been virtually lights-out in the pitcher’s circle this season — and should be the Vegas favorite if we’re betting on who wins league MVP honors — only tossed two innings on this day.

After that, McGranahan went to sophomore Allie Lucero, and she threw three strong innings in relief.

For Coupeville, 14 of 16 players reached base in the opener, with 11 of them recording a base-knock.

Wells, Prescott, Bella Whalen, and Maya Lucero blasted doubles, Maya Nottingham and Kylie Van Velkinburgh delivered key hits, and Karyme Castro and Heidi Meyers were among those who eked out walks.

Meanwhile, Mckenna Somes and foreign exchange student River Ozturk each had a pair of singles.

Coming on the heels of her nabbing a hit in an earlier game, Ozturk’s strong afternoon brought a smile to McGranahan’s face.

“River hit two lasers right back up the middle. She has come a long way in a month since never playing.”

 

Game 2:

The second contest was even more of a blowout, despite McGranahan’s best efforts to keep things from getting out of control.

“We batted lefty and bunted a lot, and gave courtesy leaving-early outs, but still couldn’t keep the score down, even with no stealing,” he said.

“We hit the ball well when they threw a strike, but that was few and far between as they were new pitchers just learning.”

Maya Lucero took the ball in game two, stepping into the pitcher’s circle to replace her twin sister, and tossing all five innings of the nightcap.

She got plenty of support thanks to big hits from players such as Sofia Peters, who rapped a standup double.

Saturday’s games were a juggling act, with McGranahan getting a curtain call for his seniors — Mollie Bailey, Prescott, Lacy McCraw-Shirron, Ivy Leedy, Meyers, Coral Caveness, and Elisa Caroppo — while also building for the future.

“Lots of good experience for a young group of hungry Wolves today,” McGranahan said. “It will only make us better.”

Jill Prince (back) and Gwen Gustafson are part of a talented group of younger players with several more seasons to play.

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All the hits, all the runs

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , , on April 2, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Heidi Meyers bashed a two-run single Friday, part of a 16-hit, 20-run Coupeville attack. (Jackie Saia photos)

The Big Red (and Black) Machine keeps rolling.

Swinging sizzlin’ bats from the top of the lineup to the bottom, the Coupeville High School softball squad cruised to a 20-5 win Friday afternoon on Friday Harbor.

The victory lifts the Northwest 2B/1B League champ Wolves to a pristine 10-0 headed into their season finale Saturday at La Conner.

Facing off with Friday Harbor, which was the big dog in the NWL before Coupeville arrived this season, CHS went bonkers, running out to a 19-0 lead before taking its collective foot off the gas pedal.

“Everyone was on fire with the bat and we had several long innings,” said Coupeville coach Kevin McGranahan. “We played spoiler on their Senior Night with a lot of extra-base hits, and everyone played and contributed.”

The fireworks were loud and sustained, as the Wolves combined to rap out 16 hits, including four doubles.

On the day, 10 of 12 players reached base, with nine notching at least one base-knock as they methodically shattered Friday Harbor’s pitching staff.

The game was actually close for a hot second, as the two squads exchanged scoreless first innings, each getting a runner aboard but unable to bring them around.

It looked like that might hold in the top of the second as well, but a bit of luck (at least for Coupeville) cracked things open.

With runners at the corners and two out, Jill Prince slapped a grounder towards third base, then lit out for first.

Rushing to make the play and end the inning, Friday Harbor’s third-baseman uncorked a less-than-successful throw, allowing Prince to reach base safely, while Bella Whalen crashed home with the game’s first run.

Given new life, Coupeville tacked on three more runs in the inning, courtesy an RBI single to left from Coral Caveness and a two-run single to center off the bat of Chelsea Prescott.

With Izzy Wells firing BB’s from the pitcher’s circle, the Wolves held Friday Harbor down, then brought out the really big bats, torching Friday Harbor for 15 runs over the next two innings.

Kylie Van Velkinburgh smoked a two-run double as the Wolves won 20-5.

The Wolves sent 15 batters to the plate in the third, scoring nine of them in a variety of ways.

The first two came home on a gorgeous two-run double to deep left from Kylie Van Velkinburgh, then Audrianna Shaw and Caveness plated two more with bases-loaded walks.

The latter of those two free passes was more painful than the first, as Caveness, making a run for Nicole Laxton’s (unofficial) CHS softball record for being plunked, got drilled for the 3,523rd time this season.

Giggling, yet wincing, as she ambled down to first, the Wolf senior drew a round of applause from her teammates, and fans watching long-distance thanks to internet streaming.

Even after getting drilled by yet another pitch, Coral Caveness can smile (under her mask) about being 10-0.

A couple of Friday Harbor wild pitches and a dropped third strike helped pad the lead, which was 13-0 and growing by the end of the inning.

Wanting to toss a little defensive heat into what was largely an offensive extravaganza, Wells promptly got fancy, picking a runner off second in the bottom half of the third.

Whirling and firing a laser, she teamed up with Prescott as the Wolf shortstop went creepin’ behind the runner.

Then it was back to the big bopper show, with Wells lashing a two-run double and Shaw smashing an RBI two-bagger.

In between, senior Heidi Meyers strolled to the plate as a pinch-hitter and promptly laced a two-run single — a fiery shot which singed uniforms as it sailed between defenders.

Friday Harbor’s seniors fought hard, even down 19-0, and put together a couple of short rallies to pick up three runs in the fourth and a final two in the bottom of the fifth.

Coupeville’s final run, cracking the 20-run mark, was Prescott scrambling home in front of a booming Bailey double which left her bat like a circus performer flying out of a cannon.

On the afternoon, Wells finished with five strikeouts from the pitcher’s circle, and a team-high three hits at the plate.

Caveness tied her pitcher, drilling three singles to go with her painful walk, while Bailey (1B, 2B), Van Velkinburgh (2B, 1B), Prescott (1B, 1B), Shaw (2B), Gwen Gustafson (1B), Whalen (1B), and Meyers (1B) all had hits.

The Wolves also walked 10 times, with Gustafson (3) and Shaw (2) leading the way.

Rounding out the roster were the Battlin’ Lucero Twins, Allie and Maya, who both saw time in the field and at bat.

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Sluggers sizzle on stat sheet

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , on March 25, 2021| Leave a Comment »

Bella Whalen leads Coupeville in triples, and is in the top four in all 10 offensive categories. (Tiffani Blazek photo)

Rack up some numbers.

As the Coupeville High School softball team has rolled to a 7-0 start on the season, it has gotten production across the board.

Wolf coach Kevin McGranahan has found varsity at-bats for 16 players, with his leading ladies collecting some sweet stats.

Seniors Mollie Bailey and Chelsea Prescott are pacing the CHS hitters, with the former topping the team in hits, doubles, RBI, and batting average.

Prescott isn’t too far off, currently holding the top slot in runs and stolen bases, while tying with Bailey for #1 in doubles.

While both of those stars are playing their final games in a Wolf uniform, junior Izzy Wells and sophomore Bella Whalen are among the young guns ready to lead the program.

Wells has been the best pitcher in the Northwest 2B/1B League by a mile, while Whalen is in Coupeville’s top four players in 10 different offensive categories.

Where the Wolves stand heading into a home doubleheader Saturday against Darrington:

 

Hitting:

Player AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR SB BB RBI Avg. OBP
A. Shaw 29 13 13 2 1 3 3 5 .448 .457
M. Bailey 27 4 15 3 1 2 10 .556 .567
C. Prescott 27 14 11 3 9 4 6 .407 .375
B. Whalen 24 8 12 2 2 2 5 8 .500 .548
G. Gustafson 22 9 8 3 5 1 .364 .433
I. Wells 21 6 8 2 1 7 4 .381 .536
K. VanVelkin 19 8 8 1 3 1 .421 .500
C. Caveness 12 3 3 1 2 6 .250 .450
J. Prince 11 1 2 2 2 3 .182 .267
M. Lucero 11 1 4 2 1 3 .364 .417
H. Meyers 10 3 1 .300 .300
A. Lucero 4 1 2 1 1 1 .500 .500
L. McCraw 3 1 1 .000 .250
M. Somes 2 1 .000 .333
S. Peters 1 .000 .000
M. Navarro 1 1 .000 1.000

 

Pitching:

Player W/L ERA IP ER K BB K/BB BB/7
I. Wells 7-0 2.12 43.0 13 58 10 5.800 1.628
G. Gustafson 0-0 5.25 4.0 3 2 4 0.500 7.000

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