Izzy Wells, seen here on a dry day, whiffed eight batters Wednesday on a cold, wet afternoon. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)
Can’t slow their roll.
Missing two starters out with illness and buffeted by horrible “spring” weather Wednesday, the Coupeville High School varsity softball squad never flinched.
Instead, the Wolves jumped on visiting Meridian, led from start to (very cold and damp) finish and claimed their tenth-straight win.
Their teeth might have been chattering as they sang their farewell song to a small band of loyal fans who survived the day, but Coupeville’s sluggers came out on top 10-6.
The non-conference win, coming over a very scrappy 1A program, lifts the 2B Wolves to 11-1 on the season.
With games against 3A Oak Harbor and 2A Lakewood set for this Friday and Saturday, respectively, Coupeville is sitting at 5-1 against schools from larger classifications.
Wednesday’s war started with the Wolves missing two of the first three hitters in their normal lineup, as senior Audrianna Shaw and freshman Savina Wells were out sick.
Toss in rain which came down steady for close to three innings, plus a persistent, nasty, bitterly cold breeze which knifed onlookers in the kidneys, and things were a bit jumbled.
But Coupeville had senior hurly Izzy Wells in the pitching circle, and the unflappable one kept Meridian largely at bay while fighting all game to get a grip on very-slick softballs.
She also got some help from her defense, with Gwen Gustafson making a bid for the best catch of the season.
With runners at the corners and two outs in the top of the first, a Meridian batter crushed a long shot to right-center.
Gustafson, moving left to right on the slick grass, went to her knees as she made the catch, cradling the ball to her chest and allowing CHS coach Kevin McGranahan to let loose with a wild yelp.
Sparked by her snag, the Wolves immediately jumped on Meridian, banging out four hits and plating three runners in the bottom half of the opening frame.
Mia Farris opened things by ripping a shot off the Trojan pitcher’s glove, with Madison McMillan and Izzy Wells following with base-knocks of their own.
Proving she’s dangerous and delightful with both bat and glove, Gustafson capped the rally by thumping a two-run double.
In a perfect grace note, the ball landed almost exactly where she had moments earlier made her running, sliding snag.
Coupeville stretched the lead out to 4-0 with a run in the second, thanks to Sofia Peters alertly scrambling to first on a dropped third strike, followed by walks to McKenna Somes, McMillan, and Wells.
With non-stop rain slashing down, the Wolves made a bid to ten-run Meridian, pushing four more runs across in the third, but the Trojans refused to completely crack.
Back-to-back singles from Maya and Allie Lucero, plus a walk to Somes, juiced the bags.
Then, pop-pop, Farris crushed a three-run double down the right field line — the ball skidding on wet grass as it sailed past first base — followed by McMillan cranking a laser the opposite way for an RBI double.
Allie Lucero and twin sister Maya combined for five hits against Meridian.
While the scoreboard was entirely in favor of Coupeville, there was to be no rescue from the weather, however.
The rain slowed down enough it didn’t totally destroy the field, allowing everyone to remain soaked, cold, and still playing as the game ended up going a complete seven innings.
Meridian, a traditional powerhouse enduring a down season, proved resilient and chipped away at Coupeville’s lead, though the Izzinator never let the Trojans fully back in the game.
Battling cold fingers, Wells still cracked off eight strikeouts on the day, peppering Somes‘ catcher’s mitt with some nasty, if damp, fireballs.
The Wolf defense, inspired by Gustafson’s highlight reel catch, handled the slick ball with style, with shortstop Taylor Brotemarkle and first-baseman Allice Lucero making nifty snags.
Coupeville pushed two more runs across, with the Lucero sisters and Sofia Peters coming up with big late-game hits, and a water-streaked scorebook was finally slammed shut.
A non-conference victory over a traditionally tough rival, coming under duress, brought a small smile and a firm nod of approval from the Wolf coach.
“Tough game in very tough weather, but the girls ground it out and showed their heart,” McGranahan said. “This type of win is good for us.”
Wednesday stats:
Mia Farris — 2 singles, 1 double
Gwen Gustafson — 1 double
Allie Lucero — 1 single, 1 double
Maya Lucero — 3 singles
Madison McMillan — 1 single, 1 double, 2 walks
Sofia Peters — 1 single
Mckenna Somes — 2 walks
Izzy Wells — 1 single, 1 walk
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