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Posts Tagged ‘La Conner’

The bats were smokin’!!

Posted in Baseball, tagged , , , , , on April 19, 2018| Leave a Comment »

   Jake Hoagland ripped a pair of RBI doubles Thursday as Coupeville baseball lashed La Conner 14-2. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

They found a groove, and stayed in it all afternoon.

Poking 14 hits in just five innings Thursday, spread out among eight hitters, the Coupeville High School baseball team was unstoppable.

By the time the Wolf diamond men were back on the bus and headed to Arby’s for post-game roast beef, all host La Conner could do was turn off the scoreboard and try to ignore the 14-2 shellacking it had just endured.

The win, the fifth in the last six games for Coupeville, lifts it to 8-4 on the season.

After that non-conference tune-up, CHS gets right back at it Friday, hosting Klahowya (4 PM) in an Olympic League clash.

Win that one, and the Wolves would rise to 3-1 in conference action and stay a game back of Chimacum in the race for a league title.

Thursday, Coupeville came off the bus on fire and never let up.

The Wolves plated three in the first, using a Joey Lippo single and doubles from Dane Lucero and Jake Hoagland to ruffle the Braves hurler.

Hunter Smith (an RBI ground-out) and Julian Welling (a sac fly) knocked in the game’s first two runs, before Hoagland delivered the early KO with his two-bagger.

With Lucero cruising on the mound, the Wolves eventually stretched the lead all the way out to 10-0, with three more runners coming around in the second and four tapping home in the top of the third.

In the second, Lippo delivered a two-run double that sent Kyle Rockwell and Matt Hilborn scampering home, then the senior outfielder capped things by scoring on a La Conner error.

The Braves went to a new pitcher in the third, but the blood bath continued unabated.

Coupeville juiced the bags on a Hoagland walk and back-to-back singles from Jake Pease and Rockwell, then started unloading the bases quickly.

Nick Etzell ripped a two-run single, before the nuclear-hot Lippo delivered another RBI base-knock.

A final run scooted home on a ground-out off of Smith’s bat and the specter of the game being halted early thanks to the mercy rule reared its head for the first time.

Giving their fans a brief glimmer of hope, the Braves finally punched in a pair of runs in the bottom of the third, then held CHS scoreless for the first time in the top of the fourth.

The brief glimmer was firmly stamped out, however, as Coupeville rammed home another four runs in the fifth to effectively ice the game.

The Wolves did all their damage after starting off the inning with two outs and no one on base.

Lippo (yes, him again) singled, Smith was plunked by a wayward pitch, then Welling, the human RBI machine, brought both of his teammates home with a two-run single.

It didn’t stop there, with Lucero’s single driving home Welling and Hoagland’s second double of the afternoon plating pinch-runner Shane Losey.

Coupeville spread out its offense, with Lippo delivering a team-best four hits.

Hoagland (2B, 2B), Lucero (1B, 2B) and Rockwell (1B, 1B) chipped in with two base-knocks apiece, while Smith, Etzell, Welling and Pease all had a hit.

The only two Wolf hitters not to get a hit still reached base, as Hilborn and Jacob Zettle combined to walk three times.

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Wolves soar to summer success!!

Posted in Boys Basketball, tagged , , , , on July 14, 2017| Leave a Comment »

   CHS basketball players huddle around coach Brad Sherman during a timeout. (Kali Barrio photo)

The work continues.

Coming off of a string of summer practices under new coaches Brad Sherman and Chris Smith, the Coupeville High School boys basketball squad had a chance Thursday to flex its muscles against rival schools.

Playing in scrimmages at La Conner, the Wolves lost an overtime thriller to Mount Vernon Christian, then rebounded to blast their hosts 37-27.

The solid win, coming over a perennial power, was a solid exclamation point on the afternoon.

Seeing action for CHS were Joey Lippo, Ethan Spark, Cameron Toomey-Stout, Hunter Downes, Hunter Smith, Jacobi Pacquette-Pilgrim, Sean Toomey-Stout and Koa Davison.

The first five in that lineup are returning varsity players, while the final trio are hoping to make the jump up after starring on the Wolf JV as freshmen.

A ninth CHS player, point guard Jered Brown, battling back from an injury, was in street clothes and on the bench to support his teammates.

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Road warrior hoops stars back at it!!

Posted in Girls Basketball, tagged , , , , , on June 4, 2017| Leave a Comment »

CHS coach David King plots out strategy with his players. (Amy King photos)

More strategy, this time outside.

And … yep, more strategy. The man likes his strategy.

The calendar says June, but we’re in hoops season.

Getting in some spring work, eight Coupeville High School basketball players laced up their sneakers and battled Sunday in La Conner, coming away with a two-game split.

The Wolves held off their hosts 22-21, then were edged 22-18 by a Nooksack Valley squad which was deadly at the free-throw line.

Both games gave CHS coaches David and Amy King a chance to work on new wrinkles.

In the opening game, La Conner played zone much of the way, while Nooksack went man-to-man. The Wolves were able to run new plays based on what style they were facing.

It was the first time in months these Wolves had been in the same gym.

“Defensively we communicated very well. In the zone we were able to get our hands on some passes, got some steals and we were able to get out and run for layups,” David King said. “Rebounding was a good team effort; however, we did struggle against the taller post players.

“Just need to get back to fundamentals and block out. But that will come with more practice and playing time.”

The other side of the game was a mixed bag, mainly due to time away and adjusting to new plays.

“At times we moved the ball well, made the correct pass,” King said. “Then we had periods when our offense went stagnant and we stood instead of moving without the ball. The great thing is, these are things we can correct.”

King was highly appreciative of the players who gave up a Sunday:

Tia Wurzrainer — “Answered the call just two days ago to come play with us. It was great having her there even though the plays are new to her. As the games went on she got a little more comfortable and confident. A good building block.”

Avalon Renninger — “Was rock-solid throughout. She is someone that can play multiple positions and is willing to do whatever it takes to help the team. She’s been working on her shooting and in our open gyms and today I saw the improvements I’m looking for.”

Scout Smith — “Played with a confidence that was great to see. She handled the ball well, drove at times and even hit a nice left-handed runner in the key and got fouled. And yes, she knocked down her free throw. Her shooting form is starting to transform into a more consistent shot.”

Maddy Hilkey — “Came out and played her steady game, but after a few encouraging words about playing stronger and increasing her aggressiveness, she did just that. She is so new to the game, but when she’s in the gym she wants to get better. What a great trait to have.”

Kalia Littlejohn — “As I’ve always said, picks us up defensively by her aggressive play. How she can disrupt the other team can be a game-changer at times. She had a couple of shots off the mark, but when she settled down, she nailed a three-ball.”

Lindsey Roberts — “Works so hard on both ends of the court; players like that are who you want on your team. Her defense is ahead of her offensive game, but we will be working this summer on getting her offense going. It’s going to help with her also playing on a select team.”

Kyla Briscoe —  “Like Avalon, can play multiple positions. Today we saw her be more aggressive on offense. She really looked to dribble drive and looked more for her shot. As a team, we need her to remain aggressive offensively. This summer we are going to work on playing with confidence and letting go of mistakes.”

Mikayla Elfrank — “Has been working hard on playing under control on her fast break drives and baseline drives. Today we saw glimpses of the work she’s been putting in. Her defense was stellar again. She is able to anticipate passes and either gets her hands on the pass or gets a steal.”

“It was great being in the gym and playing a couple of games. Amy and I are looking forward to a productive off-season with these players and the rest of their teammates.”

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Complete and utter annihilation!!

Posted in Baseball, tagged , , , , on April 20, 2017| Leave a Comment »

   After crunching a pair of doubles in a 19-0 win, Hunter Smith gives lil’ sis Scout, whose softball team won 19-9, a ride. (Charlotte Young photo)

Jonathan Thurston was dealing.

The Coupeville High School senior hurler was flat-out nasty Thursday, shredding a young La Conner squad while his own teammates smacked the crud out of the ball en route to a 19-0 win.

The lopsided non-conference victory lifts the Wolves to 7-6 heading into a key Olympic League showdown Friday at Klahowya.

Wolf coach Chris Smith plopped the ball into his senior’s hand, sat back and enjoyed the show.

“Johnny threw a great game!”

La Conner got its first two hitters on base, thanks to a walk and a single, and then, after that, it was lights out.

Thurston stranded both Brave runners, striking out three in a row to escape the first, then eventually ran his streak to 10 straight hitters retired.

He gave up a one-out single in the fourth, but Coupeville promptly erased the runner when catcher Taylor Consford threw him out trying to steal second.

For the afternoon, Thurston finished with 10 strikeouts, while facing only two batters over the minimum in a game called after five innings thanks to the mercy rule.

And La Conner needed mercy, as Coupeville’s hitting mixed with its own inability to hang on to the ball doomed the Braves.

By the time the Wolves were done, they had rung up 14 hits.

Tack on 13 La Conner errors and the runs were flying across the plate in season-high numbers.

Coupeville plated seven in the first, added three in the second, another four in the third, then coasted home with five in the fourth.

In a game in which eight different Wolves notched at least one hit, Dane Lucero had the hottest bat, rapping out three singles and piling up five RBIs.

Four other CHS sluggers — Hunter Smith, Joey Lippo, Matt Hilborn and Clay Reilly — had two base-knocks apiece, with both of Smith’s being doubles.

Julian Welling, Kory Score and Consford added singles, with Hilborn, Welling and Score notching three RBIs apiece.

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Let the hits rain down!!

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , , on April 20, 2017| Leave a Comment »

   Hope “The Surgeon” Lodell carved up La Conner for three hits Thursday, including one which nearly ripped off the pitcher’s leg. (John Fisken photo)

It was a weird game.

But it was a win, and in the end, that’s what matters most.

Piling up 18 hits, with every starter recording at least one base-knock, the Coupeville High School softball squad crushed visiting La Conner 19-9 Thursday afternoon.

The non-conference victory, called in the sixth inning thanks to the mercy rule, lifts the Wolves to 9-1, matching the best start in program history.

With a big Olympic League showdown coming Friday at Klahowya, CHS coach Kevin McGranahan tried to keep his #1 pitcher, daughter Katrina, out of the pitcher’s circle.

It mostly worked.

The younger McGranahan had to make a first-inning cameo, then took over the game for good late in the fourth inning as #2 hurler Sarah Wright struggled with her control.

Normally Coupeville’s starting catcher, Wright did not give up a hit and whiffed five Braves while in the circle, but frequent walks made her life tougher than she wanted.

La Conner drew first blood, plating six during a long, drawn-out top of the first.

The Braves collected their one and only hit — a two-out, two-run single to right off of McGranahan — but everything was set up by five walks.

Not missing a beat, Coupeville went right to work in the bottom half of the inning, and did it in a completely different style.

Bashing away, the Wolves piled up nine runs of their own, off of nine legitimate hits.

CHS got hits from its first four batters — consecutive singles by Lauren Rose, Jae LeVine, McGranahan and Wright — to score two runs, then tacked on two more on a passed ball and an overthrow at third.

Sensing La Conner’s spirit breaking, Hope Lodell tried to actually physically break the Braves hurler, whacking a single sharply off of her leg.

Beware when “The Surgeon” says she’s ready to operate on you…

Having tenderized their prey, the Wolves went right back to beating her pitches senseless.

Tiffany Briscoe thumped a two-run double to tie things at six, Tamika Nastali and Rose added singles, then McGranahan topped things off with a long triple.

Given the lead back, Wright was far more effective the rest of the way, and she got a bit of help from her defense.

Playing short, McGranahan pulled off an unassisted double play, spearing a soft liner, then hopping on second to nab the straying runner.

Coupeville continued to add to its lead, adding two in the third — an RBI double from LeVine and an RBI single from McGranahan — two more in the fourth and a solo run in the fifth.

The fourth-inning runs came courtesy a two-run double by Rose.

Heading into the bottom of the sixth up 14-9, Coupeville got playing time for all of its bench players and took advantage of a change in pitcher to close out the game by playing take-your-base, La Conner style.

The Wolves, after only sitting around long enough to draw two walks in the first five innings, were super patient as La Conner’s reliever issued eight more free passes in the final inning.

Emma Mathusek knocked in a run on a nicely hit grounder, while both Nicole Lester and Mackenzie Davis forced home runs with bases-loaded walks.

Lester’s came a bit more painfully, as she got plunked, which caused the Wolf baseball players in attendance to scream their support for her willingness to wear the pitch.

Rose led the hit attack, whacking three singles and a double, while Lodell (three singles) and McGranahan (two singles and a triple) had three base-knocks apiece.

LeVine (a single and double), Wright (two singles), Mikayla Elfrank (double), Tiffany Briscoe (double), Nastali (single) and Veronica Crownover (single) rounded out the assault.

Coupeville got all 16 players on its roster into the game, with Kyla Briscoe scoring a run while pinch-running, as well as Scout Smith, Robin Cedillo and Melia Welling getting at-bats.

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