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Posts Tagged ‘Klahowya’

Aim for the top!!

Posted in Girls Soccer, tagged 1A Olympic League, CHS Wolves, Kalia Littlejohn, Klahowya, Soccer on August 30, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Junior Lauren Bayne leads a lock-down defense. (John Fisken photos)

Sophomore Ema Smith is ready for a big second season.

One step from the top.

After back-to-back second-place finishes in the 1A Olympic League, the Coupeville High School girls’ soccer squad wants to make the big push necessary to upend Klahowya.

“We want to win a title and get our soccer banner up into the gym,” said determined Wolf coach Troy Cowan.

Coupeville is coming off a season when it went 6-7-3 (tying the program record for wins), 4-2 in league.

The Wolves fell 2-0 to Vashon Island in the playoffs, the second straight season the Pirates ended Coupeville’s postseason dreams.

After several seasons of working with predominantly young teams, the CHS coaching staff has some grizzled vets to lean on in 2016.

“Hard to believe, but finally I can say experience and toughness,” Cowan said, when asked about his team’s strengths.

While he lost four-year starter Jenn Spark and fleet-footed Kirsten Pelroy to graduation, virtually everyone else, including the best single-season scorer in program history, is back.

That’s sophomore Kalia Littlejohn, who found the back of the net 10 times her first go-around, often set up by older sister Mia, now a junior.

The pair, who were both First Team All-League picks, lead a pack of veteran players back to the pitch.

Senior Lauren Grove, fresh off a dominating performance at the state track meet in the spring, is back for a second season as the team’s starting goaltender.

“I expect her to have a fantastic year in the box,” Cowan said.

Other big-timers include senior midfielders Bree Daigneault and May Rose, junior midfielder Sage Renninger, junior defenders Mckenzie Meyer and Lauren Bayne and sophomore defender Lindsey Roberts.

Supplementing the returning players is a strong batch of incoming freshman, some of whom could play key roles right off the bat.

“I am really excited to see what Avalon Renninger, Sage’s little sister, can bring,” Cowan said. “I am hopeful she can make an immediate impact with the team.

“Tia Wurzrainer, Mallory Kortuem. Megan Thorn has also had a very impressive camp as well.”

Whichever players end up on the pitch, the Wolf coaches want to see them take the next step in their evolution.

“We are always working on transition and possession,” Cowan said. “To meet our goals we will need to improve both these categories.”

After playing six league games in each of the first two seasons in the Olympic League, Coupeville will see that number jump to nine this year.

That brings soccer even with other sports like basketball, softball, baseball and volleyball.

That means three games apiece against Port Townsend, Chimacum and Klahowya.

The Wolves are a combined 7-1-1 against the first two foes, but 0-4 against the Eagles, who won a state title in 2014, before being knocked out in the first round of state last year.

Coupeville opens its season at a four-team jamboree in Oak Harbor this Thursday (6 PM), along with Lake Stevens and South Whidbey.

The season’s first “real” game is set for Sept. 8, when the Wolves host South Whidbey in a non-conference tilt.

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Clippin’ those Eagle wings!!

Posted in 1A Olympic League, tagged 1A Olympic League, 2015-2016, Chimacum, CHS Wolves, Klahowya, Port Townsend, titles on May 5, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Julian Welling played a key role for a Wolf baseball squad that surged to seven league wins and a title this spring. (Sylvia Hurlburt photo)

The CHS girls’ basketball squad went 9-0 in league play for a second straight year en route to playing in the state tourney. (John Fisken photos)

Jared Helmstadter capped a four-year run on the hard-courts by helping lead the Wolves to a league title in the fall.

Jazmine Franklin and her teammates are 11-0 in 1A Olympic League tennis matches.

Some of the shine has come off the Eagles.

As year #2 of the 1A Olympic League rolls towards a close, the other three schools in the conference have worked at steadily shaving away at Klahowya’s early domination.

Despite having a student body which almost doubles Coupeville (445.07 to 227 in this year’s count of students in grades 9-11), Klahowya’s success against the Wolves and league mates Port Townsend (278.25 students) and Chimacum (250.38) waned a bit during the 2015-2016 school year.

When you compare the 10 primary varsity sports in which Coupeville competes in (we don’t count track because schedules don’t match up and team “results” are wildly skewed), the Wolves, Cowboys and RedHawks have made serious inroads, both in terms of games won and titles claimed.

There are two league softball games left (Klahowya vs. Port Townsend and Klahowya vs. Chimacum), so our stats are not 100% set in stone, but, based on current records, it’s fairly safe to project the Eagles will split those games.

Port Townsend softball is on a two-year-plus losing streak, while Chimacum has clinched its second straight title and boasts an 8-0 mark at the moment.

Projecting a split for Klahowya softball, 2015-2016 will finish looking like this:

Klahowya — 44 wins, 3 titles (volleyball, girls soccer, boys soccer)
Coupeville — 42 wins, 4 titles (boys tennis, girls basketball, baseball, girls tennis)
Chimacum — 27 wins, 2 titles (boys basketball, softball)
Port Townsend — 22 wins, 1 title (football)

P.S. — Coupeville and Klahowya both finished 7-2 in baseball, but Coupeville won the season series 2-1 and enters the playoffs as the #1 seed.

I would argue that makes the Wolves league champs, though I understand the counter argument that the teams shared the title.

Then again, this blog ain’t called Klahowya Sports, so tough nuts, Eagles.

In 2014-2015, it looked like this:

Klahowya — 52 wins, 5 titles (volleyball, girls soccer, boys soccer, boys tennis, baseball)
Coupeville — 40 wins, 2 titles (girls basketball, girls tennis)
Chimacum — 23 wins, 2 titles (boys basketball, softball)
Port Townsend — 20 wins, 1 titles (football)

So, split or not for Eagle softball, Klahowya is down in both total wins and titles in year #2, while all three other schools went up in wins and Coupeville claimed more titles.

P.S. #2 — The Wolf netters were undefeated this year (4-0 in boys tennis, 5-0 in girls tennis), but had three league matches first postponed, then cancelled by their rivals.

If they had gotten to play the missing two boys matches against Port Townsend and the missing girls match against Klahowya, Coupeville would likely be looking at 45 wins.

In that world, they either edge Klahowya 45-44 or tie 45-45, if the Eagle softball sluggers pull of an upset in their finale.

Also, another side note for Wolf fans:

Coupeville was the only school not to suffer a win-less season in any of the 10 sports this school year.

2015-2016 varsity league wins sport-by-sport:

Baseball — Coupeville 7, Klahowya 7, Chimacum 4
Boys basketball — Chim 7, PT 7, Coup 4
Boys soccer — Klah 6, PT 4, Coup 2
Boys tennis — Coup 4, Klah 3
Football — PT 6, Klah 4, Coup 1, Chim 1
Girls basketball — Coup 9, Klah 4, PT 4, Chim 1
Girls soccer — Klah 6, Coup 4, Chim 1, PT 1
Girls tennis — Coup 5, Klah 2, Chim 1
Softball — Chim 9*, Klah 6*, Coup 3
Volleyball — Klah 6, Coup 3, Chim 3

So, what does this all mean?

Here’s what I get out of it — Klahowya is still very good, but the other schools, especially Coupeville, are proving student body size really doesn’t matter.

Despite playing for the sixth-smallest 1A school in the state, the Wolves essentially stood toe-to-toe all school year with the second-biggest 1A school and never backed down.

Coupeville repeated as league champs in two sports and stepped up to take two new titles, and they did so at a time when the majority of the school’s top athletes are underclassmen.

The Wolves only lose one senior from the girls basketball squad, two starters from the baseball team and just a handful of netters.

With strong junior and sophomore classes ready to assume the mantle of leadership and no reason to fear any school in the league, this would seem to be the dawn of what could be a great era for CHS sports.

Some sports need to maintain, while others have work to do, but the Wolves are as solid as anyone in their league, and it’s a conference which, thanks to this year’s classification rulings, they will remain in for at least another four years.

Time to step up and commit. Put in off-season work. Never stop striving for improvement.

Coupeville was more than decent in year #1. Stronger in year #2.

Year #3? It could be, it should be, the year of the Wolves.

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Never lose faith!!

Posted in Softball, tagged 1A Olympic League, Amber Bumbalough, CHS Wolves, Jae LeVine, Klahowya, Sarah Wright on April 27, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Robin Cedillo made a sparkling catch while patrolling the outfield Wednesday. (John Fisken photo)

There are peaks and valleys in almost every season.

For the Coupeville High School softball squad, they are most definitely wandering in the latter right now.

Which means it’s very likely there’s another peak right ahead. You just have to stay positive.

After absorbing a 9-1 loss at Klahowya Wednesday, the Wolves, who started the season with six wins in seven games, have now suffered the exact reverse.

They sit at 7-7 overall and 2-4 in the 1A Olympic League, which puts them squarely in third-place in the four-team league.

Defending champ Chimacum (5-0, 9-4) is in control, at least for the moment, while Klahowya (3-1, 8-5) is still looking to unseat the Cowboys.

Port Townsend (0-5, 0-10), which has a 32-game losing streak which officially hits two years Thursday, brings up the rear.

The loss to Klahowya eliminates Coupeville from any chance of winning the league title, but it remains in play for second-place, though, admittedly, faces an uphill battle.

First, the Wolves need to regroup and focus on beating Port Townsend at home Friday.

Finish off the season sweep (they captured the first two meetings 19-4 and 24-6), and CHS clinches a playoff berth.

Facing the Eagles Wednesday, Coupeville showed improvement in trying to deal with Klahowya hurler Amber Bumbalough, the reigning league MVP.

“The bats did better today,” said CHS coach Kevin McGranahan. “We just couldn’t get the big hits to drive in the runs.”

Coupeville notched its lone run in the top of the second, when Jae LeVine rapped a sharp single to right to plate Sarah Wright, who had opened the inning with a walk.

Making her first career start in the pitcher’s circle, Wright, a freshman, went the distance for the Wolves, whiffing two.

“She did a good job and the defense played well behind her,” McGranahan said. “The girls played upbeat today and again never hung their heads and fought to the end.”

Tamika Nastali and Robin Cedillo came up huge in the outfield with “great catches” to spark the defense.

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“The kids are on fire!!”

Posted in Baseball, tagged 1991, 1A Olympic League, CHS Wolves, Hunter Smith, Klahowya, league title on April 27, 2016| Leave a Comment »

First-year CHS coach Marc Aparicio is one win away from getting his alma mater its first baseball league title since 1991. (John Fisken photos)

Hunter Smith, seen here making a play in an earlier game, was superb on the mound and at the plate in a 10-2 win at Klahowya Wednesday.

The miracle ride continues.

Every pundit, every poll, every prognosticator said the same thing, and, so far, they’ve all been flat-out wrong.

Klahowya, the defending 1A Olympic League baseball champs, prepared for league play with a tough schedule full of 2A schools and did really well, earning a ranking as high as #3 in the state polls.

Then, they stepped right into the path of an oncoming train called the Wolf Express.

Exploding for seven runs in the sixth inning Wednesday, Coupeville ran away with a 10-2 win on the road and moved within a step of not only dethroning the Eagles, but winning its first baseball league title since 1991.

The Wolves have now taken two straight from Klahowya and sit at 6-0 in league play, 9-8 overall.

That gives them a two-game lead with three to play over the Eagles (4-2, 13-4), while Chimacum (2-4, 5-9) and Port Townsend (0-6, 0-13) root around down in the cellar.

Since it now owns the tiebreaker over Klahowya, Coupeville needs just one win in its final three games to clinch the title and an automatic berth in the double-elimination portion of the district playoffs.

First up is Port Townsend, which visits Whidbey Friday, with the first pitch at 4 PM.

After that comes a trip to Chimacum Monday, May 2 and a home regular-season finale against Klahowya Thursday, May 5.

The Wolves have put themselves in position to do what no CHS diamond squad has in 25 years thanks to one huge reason — their ability to get something out of everyone in the lineup.

“Every player performed when called upon, and we switched things up quite a bit. Next man up!!,” said first-year Coupeville coach Marc Aparicio.

“The highlight was “team.” Great job had by all of the kids,” he added. “Very proud of them – still have things to work on, but a great win. The kids are on fire!!!”

Coupeville used 14 players in the game, with eight of them scoring.

Sophomore Hunter Smith and freshman Matt Hilborn, who combined for the game’s first run, both crossed the plate twice to pace the attack.

With the game scoreless in the third, Coupeville finally broke through, thanks to some rough defense by the suddenly-rattled Eagles.

After only having one runner in the first two innings, the Wolves got Hilborn aboard on a one-out error by Klahowya’s third-baseman, then brought him around when Smith’s bunt was thrown into the outfield by the Eagle pitcher.

Klahowya countered with its own scratched-out run in the third, but after that could get next to nothing off Smith, who was superb.

Getting the nod on the mound after older brother CJ won the first meeting between the two squads, Hunter, AKA “Captain Cool,” whiffed five Eagles and was rarely in danger.

With Aparicio playing the mad scientist in the dugout, Coupeville took the lead with two runs in the top of the fifth.

Freshman pinch-hitter Dane Lucero eked out a crucial walk, then was replaced with sophomore speedster Nick Etzell, who used “some smart base running” to bust the tie.

“After that small switch our team was on fire,” Aparicio said. “Lots of stolen bases, we had great timely bunts and great base running overall.”

Up 3-1, the Wolves blew the game wide open with a 12-batter, seven-run assault in the top of the sixth.

Hunter Smith, CJ Smith, Kory Score, Gabe Wynn, Clay Reilly, Ty Eck and Hilborn all stamped on home as Coupeville put together its best offensive stretch of the season under the biggest spotlight.

With the game largely on ice, the Wolves went to Julian Welling to slam the door, and the sophomore didn’t fail, working a little of the ol’ Mariano Rivera magic in the seventh.

Perhaps appropriately, the game ended on an unassisted double play from Hunter Smith, the perfect cap to a remarkable game from the rising star.

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Live to fight another day!!

Posted in Boys Soccer, tagged 1A Olympic League, Abraham Leyva, CHS Wolves, Klahowya, Soccer on April 26, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Coupeville midfielder Ethan Spark slows down Klahowya’s attack with the old “my shoe fell off” trick. Nicely played. (John Fisken photo)

The streak lives.

Abraham Leyva bolted in from the right side midway through the second half Tuesday night, beat Klahowya’s goalie and rattled home the 18th goal of his stellar senior soccer season.

The lone score for Coupeville in a 5-1 loss to an Eagle squad with legitimate dreams of competing for a state title, it kept alive Leyva’s streak of scoring in every game this season.

It also added to what is already a single-season CHS scoring record.

That goal, and several brilliant saves by Wolf goaltender Connor McCormick, who was under fire most of the night, were the highlights in a match that was largely controlled by the visitors.

The loss dropped Coupeville to 1-2 in league play, 4-6-1 overall, and, for the moment, puts them in third place in the 1A Olympic League.

Klahowya (3-0, 11-1-1) is out in front as it tries to defend its league title, with Port Townsend (2-1, 5-5-1) a game up on the Wolves with three to play.

Chimacum (0-3, 1-9) is firmly wedged in the cellar and would be odd man out in a league in which three teams will advance to the postseason this year.

Coupeville travels to Port Townsend Thursday for a crucial match-up with the RedHawks, who beat them 2-1 in their first meeting.

Win and they would move back into a tie for second-place, which is huge, as the #2 team out of the Olympic League will host its opening playoff game.

Facing off with one of the state’s premier 1A teams Tuesday, the Wolves, who were missing five varsity players, including three starters, held their own for a very solid opening 15 minutes.

While the Eagles relentlessly pushed the attack, Coupeville scrambled on defense, kept the ball away from the net as much as possible and gave McCormick a chance.

The senior net-minder made several strong saves (though he saved his best, in which he went airborne and punched a shot away, Superman-style, for the second half) and was fairly spot-on.

But, Klahowya has a team chock-full of precision shooters and they eventually broke through, netting a goal in the 15th minute.

A second shot skittered through in the 26th minute when McCormick got wedged in the middle of a scrum right in front of the net and couldn’t get free, then the Eagles tacked on two more scores right before the half.

Making a solid charge in the second half, Coupeville racked up several shots on goal, with Leyva’s goal being the one that found the back of the net, but while Klahowya’s defense bent a bit, it rarely broke.

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