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Posts Tagged ‘Nicole Lester’

One bad stretch dooms Wolves!!

Posted in Girls Basketball, tagged , , , , , on January 16, 2018| Leave a Comment »

   Nicole Lester dropped in four points and was a force on the boards Tuesday against Klahowya. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

For two quarters-plus Tuesday, the Coupeville High School JV girls basketball squad was locked in a war with visiting Klahowya.

But then it all slipped away.

A 16-0 third-quarter run by the Eagles, spurred by a shutdown press defense, lifted the visitors to a 41-27 win in a game that felt a lot closer than the score might sound.

The loss drops the Wolf young guns to 2-3 in Olympic League play, 6-9 overall.

Coupeville, which led after the first quarter, knotted things at 16-16 on the opening play of the second half.

Maddy Hilkey cranked up a jumper from the left side and hit nothing but net, causing local fans to lean forward in anticipation.

Even after Klahowya netted a layup and free throw to edge out in front, the Wolves countered with their own freebie off of the fingertips of Avalon Renninger.

With the deficit just a bucket at 19-17, anything seemed possible.

Except it wasn’t.

Frustrated by the Eagles, who launched a back-court trap on them, the Wolves went through an extremely rough stretch for several minutes.

CHS turnovers piled up, with Klahowya turning many of them into breakaway layups, and what was a close game turned into a 35-17 rout as the third-quarter clock headed towards 0:00.

Renninger finally stopped the bleeding, hitting a silky runner in the paint off of a ball tipped her way by Hilkey, and the Wolves showed some grit down the stretch.

Coupeville closed the game on a 10-6 surge, scoring the final two buckets in both the third and fourth quarter.

Better yet, that late run featured four different Wolves — Renninger, Nicole Lester, Ashlie Shank and Genna Wright — banking home buckets.

Wright’s came on a put-back off of a rebound, nice payback after she got her head yanked clean off her neck by a rabid Eagle on a previous play.

So blatant it caused dad Ron to bellow “Hey now!” from the stands, it, nonetheless, failed to generate a foul call from refs who were letting the clock run out as they apparently had dinner reservations they needed to make.

Shank paced the Wolves with eight points, while Renninger (7), Lester (4), Hilkey (4), Wright (2) and Mollie Bailey (2) also scored.

Tia Wurzrainer, Kylie Chernikoff and Julia García Oñoro also saw floor time for Coupeville, with each playing tough defense down in the trenches.

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Walk this way!!

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , , on April 21, 2017| Leave a Comment »

   Emma Mathusek had two hits and a walk Friday, as the Wolf JV rolled to a 15-2 win. (John Fisken photo)

Patience pays off.

Drawing an astounding 17 walks in just three innings Friday, the Coupeville High School JV softball squad crushed host Klahowya 15-2.

The win lifts the Wolf young guns to 2-0 on the season.

All nine CHS players reached base at least once, with freshman Emma Mathusek leading the way.

Batting lead-off, she collected two of Coupeville’s three hits, rapping out a pair of singles sandwiched around a walk.

Nicole Lester had the other Wolf hit, crushing a third-inning double.

Scout Smith, Kyla Briscoe and Mackenzie Davis drew three walks apiece, while Melia Welling and Robin Cedillo each nabbed two free passes.

Tamika Nastali and Hope Lodell settled for just a solo base on balls, as the Wolves scored in every inning.

After putting up a six spot in the first, CHS added five in the second and four in the third, before the call of the ferry ended the game early.

While Klahowya’s young hurlers had issues, Wolf pitcher Scout Smith was on point.

The fab frosh scattered two hits.

“Scout pitched very well and the defense played very well behind her,” said Coupeville coach Kevin McGranahan. “Great way to gain experience for both squads.”

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Kill ’em, but with compassion!!

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , on March 31, 2017| Leave a Comment »

   Mikayla Elfrank is a woman for all positions. Coupeville’s starting shortstop, she can also catch, and, as of Friday, pitch. (John Fisken photos)

   Sarah Wright (left) had three hits, while Nicole Lester thumped a resounding double in a 22-0 win.

Friday was tricky for Kevin McGranahan.

The Coupeville High School softball coach approaches every game, especially league clashes, aiming for a win.

But he also realizes the situation Port Townsend is in, and wanted to be compassionate in how his high-flying team delivered a beat-down while on the road.

He headed home with mixed feelings after watching his undefeated Wolves romp to a 22-0 win, which moved them into a first-place tie with two-time defending Olympic League champ Chimacum.

“I am not proud of the score; I am super proud of all the girls,” McGranahan said. “But I feel like I ran up the score.”

The win lifts Coupeville to 2-0 in league play, 4-0 overall heading into a non-conference home doubleheader with Blaine Monday.

The 2A Borderites will carry a 1-5 record down from the Canadian border.

CHS has four non-conference games before they welcome Chimacum (2-0, 3-1) to town for a first-place showdown.

The Cowboys, who last played Mar. 24, will sit a staggering 17 days before playing Port Townsend and Coupeville on back-to-back days April 11-12.

When Coupeville thumped Port Townsend Friday, they handed the RedHawks their 40th straight loss.

In three games this season, PT has been outscored 58-0 and the road to rebuilding the program is a long one.

Faced with that, McGranahan went all the way down his bench, gave substantial playing time to his freshmen and had two players — Scout Smith and Mikayla Elfrank — pitch for the first time in a varsity game.

At no time was a normal varsity lineup all on the field at the same time and the Wolves downplayed their normal aggressive running style, but the bats still barked, no matter who was swinging.

“We had hot bats again and started early and often,” McGranahan said. “Their pitchers struggled and our hitters were on it when they threw strikes.”

The biggest blow wasn’t intended to happen, but before the coach could call for a bunt from his slugging daughter, Katrina McGranahan “got a rare strike and hammered it.”

The junior basher deposited the ball over the center field fence for a grand slam, marking the second straight game a Wolf has gone yard.

Sarah Wright laced a three-run double to kick off the game, as Coupeville scored in every inning.

After putting up four in the first and three in the second, the Wolves dropped seven more in the third, before coasting home with four-run bursts in the final two innings.

The game was called after five innings due to the mercy rule.

Nine different Wolves rapped out a hit, led by Wright (1B, 2B, 2B) and Katrina McGranahan (1B, 1B, HR) with three apiece.

Lauren Rose and Jae Levine added two hits each, Kyla Briscoe thumped a triple and Nicole Lester whacked a double.

Tamika Nastali, Melia Welling, Emma Mathusek, Mackenzie Davis, Veronica Crownover, Tiffany Briscoe, Hope Lodell and Robin Cedillo all shared time on the field, as well, as CHS went 16 players deep.

“Total team effort and the young girls really shined today,” Kevin McGranahan said.

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Sluggers swing into spring!!

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , on May 2, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Sarah Wright (John Fisken photos)

   “Listen, and understand! That Terminator is out there! It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are struck out.” (John Fisken photos)

Veronica

Veronica Crownover dares the pitcher to try and slip one past her.

Is this new, or has it always been there and I'm just legally blind?

Is this new, or has it always been there and I’m just legally blind?

Hannah Benway

  Hannah Benway prepares to go from zero to 160 MPH at the mere crack of the bat.

Nicole Lester

Nicole Lester is taking this one downtown.

The later in the season, the better the weather gets.

That’s true every spring, and this year is no different.

Taking advantage of the suddenly-abundant sunshine, the Coupeville High School softball squad drilled visiting Port Townsend Friday, while the rays also helped wanderin’ photo man John Fisken focus his camera.

The pics above are courtesy him.

To see more, and possibly purchase some, thereby helping fund college scholarships for CHS student/athletes. pop over to:

http://www.olympicleague.com/index.php?act=view_gallery&gallery=11402&league=21&page=1&page_name=photo_store&school=24&sport=0

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One family, two stars!!

Posted in Happy birthday, tagged , , , , , , on March 2, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Birthday twins Lindsey Laxton and Nicole Lester. (Photos by Amy King and John Fisken)

Birthday twins Lindsey Laxton and Nicole Lester. (Photos by Amy King and John Fisken)

Sister, my sister.

Two of Coupeville High School’s brightest young athletic stars, twin terrors Nicole Lester and Lindsey Laxton, celebrate a joint birthday today.

In their short time at the high school, both have dove right in, playing two sports in the first two seasons.

Lindsey was a member of the Wolf girls’ soccer squad in the fall, while Nicole dropped spikes with the volleyball team.

Then, both teamed back up to play for Amy King on the Coupeville JV girls’ basketball team, where they were part of a fun-loving, exciting group of players on the rise.

While both sisters have their own personalities, they do share some characteristics.

Lindsey and Nicole come across as friendly, enthusiastic young women who show great love for their family, who could often be seen at their games.

As we head into spring, the duo have the chance to join a rare club, as three-sport athletes.

I look forward to seeing what they will accomplish, both on and off the field, as they move through their days here in Coupeville.

They have bright futures, as sunny as their personalities, and they are welcome additions to Wolf Nation.

Happy birthday, ladies. I hope it’s a great one!

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