Teagan Calkins and her fellow Wolf diamond queens picked up a ton of experience this summer playing for a travel softball squad. (Photo courtesy Shawn Calkins)
The uniform may change, but the game remains the same.
Coming off another successful high school softball season, six Coupeville sluggers stayed on the diamond this summer, playing for the Whidbey Thunder travel team.
Allie Lucero, Taylor Brotemarkle, Madison McMillan, Teagan Calkins, Maya Lucero, and Mia Farris formed the core of the squad, which played almost every weekend in June and July.
“They had a very good and productive summer, getting in tons of extra reps with the bat and also in the field,” said CHS coach Kevin McGranahan, who played the role of fan this time around.
“The experience they gained will pay huge dividends for us next season,” he added. “And hopefully lead us to another league/district championship.”
McGranahan was in the stands in Federal Way this past weekend for the finale and came away pleased with what he witnessed.
“I got to see the work they are putting in firsthand, and it was impressive to see them leading their combined team of travel players and the overall growth they showed.”
The Wolves taking advantage of the extra work range from rising seniors (the Lucero twins) to sophomores-to-be (Brotemarkle, McMillan, Farris) and an incoming freshman (Calkins) who saw varsity playing time as an 8th grader.
Not only did the players benefit from their summer work, but they also helped inspire their high school coach.
“I took the summer off to regroup and rest a little,” McGranahan said. “But watching them play their hearts out has relit my passion for the game.”
Coupeville Sports 