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Posts Tagged ‘Northwest League’

Wells, Shaw key landmark win

Posted in Softball, tagged , , , , , on May 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Izzy Wells whiffed 12 in a six-inning no-hitter Tuesday in Darrington. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Level achieved.

Taking care of business Tuesday, the Coupeville High School varsity softball squad capped another perfect run through conference play with a 10-0 win at Darrington.

The victory lifts the Wolves to 8-0 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 16-2 overall, but the season is far from done.

The current plan calls for Coupeville’s sluggers, the best in District 1, to twiddle their collective thumbs until May 21, when they’ll travel to Centralia for a winner-to-state, loser-out game against the #5 team from District 4.

That’s a long gap, made necessary by D-4, which has 20 schools playing 2B softball, holding its postseason tourney first.

Since teams can play 20 games before the playoffs, there is some hope Coupeville may be able to rustle up another non-conference game or two between now and then.

Otherwise, it’s practice, practice, and more practice as the Wolves prep for their state play-in game.

“We have to come out ready to go on the 21st in Centralia,” said CHS coach Kevin McGranahan. “Gotta treat every game from here on out like a loser-out game, because, as of right now, they are.”

While Coupeville might not have played its best game of the season Tuesday, the Wolves delivered another solid performance.

The 16th win is the second-most for a Wolf team in McGranahan’s six seasons as coach, trailing just his 2017 squad, which finished 19-5.

CHS was patient at the plate, drawing 12 walks off of Darrington’s pitchers, then delivering a couple of key base-knocks to keep everyone honest.

Wolf hurler Izzy Wells had the first big bash, smacking a double to left, while fellow senior Audrianna Shaw went yard, launching a solo shot over the fence in left-center.

“It was a no doubter,” McGranahan said of Shaw’s moonball.

Darrington had no chance at the plate. Like zip, zero, zilch.

Flinging liquid heat, Izzy Wells tossed a six-inning no-hitter, missing out on a perfect game by one batter, as she walked a single hitter in the second inning.

She struck out 12 and recorded another three outs on groundouts back to the pitcher’s circle, giving her teammates plenty of time to enjoy nature while largely standing around.

What Izzy Wells looked like to the Darrington hitters.

 

Tuesday stats:

Taylor Brotemarkle — 1 single
Mia Farris — 1 walk
Gwen Gustafson — 2 walks
Allie Lucero — 1 single, 1 walk
Maya Lucero — 1 single
Madison McMillan — 2 walks
Sofia Peters — 1 single
Audrianna Shaw — 1 single, 1 home run, 2 walks
Izzy Wells — 1 double, 2 walks
Savina Wells — 2 walks

One win from the state tourney.

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Big win, bright future

Posted in Baseball, tagged , , , , on May 3, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Scott Hilborn (left) and Sage Sharp both had two hits Tuesday in a 19-2 win. (Morgan White photos)

They closed with a vengeance, so now they sit back and wait.

Drilling 16 hits Tuesday, the Coupeville High School varsity baseball squad savaged host Darrington 19-2 to clinch at least a share of a league title.

With the win, the Wolves finish 11-1 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 13-6 overall.

Meanwhile, defending league champ Friday Harbor (10-1) travels to Orcas Island (6-4) Thursday in a must-win season finale.

Coupeville split their season series with the Wolverines, winning 11-8 at home after falling 3-2 on the road.

A Friday Harbor win Thursday sets up a third meeting between the schools May 12 on a neutral field in La Conner.

The winner of that game is the lone NWL team to advance to the 2B state tourney, while the loser is done.

However, if Friday Harbor loses at Orcas, Coupeville stands alone atop the NWL and punches its ticket to state without having to participate in a play-in game.

The Wolves made sure they would be in a prime position, jumping on Darrington from the first pitch.

Leadoff hitter Hawthorne Wolfe reached base on a Logger error, then his teammates cranked out four hits during a four-run top of the first inning.

Scott Hilborn, Cody Roberts, and Sage Sharp delivered the big blows, each rapping a double during the opening assault.

It was blowout city from there, as Coupeville slapped seven more runs on the scoreboard in the second and eight in the third, stretching the lead out to 19-0.

Eight different Wolves collected a base-knock in the game, with nine reaching base, as Darrington’s pitchers had nowhere to hide.

Jonathan Valenzuela reached base four times at Darrington.

CHS hurlers Hilborn, Sharp, and Wolfe were much-more effective, limiting the Loggers to just three hits on the afternoon.

Sharp’s stint on the mound was one of three positions he played in the game, as he also did duty at second base and shortstop.

That allowed the Wolf senior to finish his prep hardball career having played at least once at all nine positions on the field.

 

Tuesday stats:

Chase Anderson — 1 single
Peyton Caveness — 1 walk
Scott Hilborn — 2 doubles
Xavier Murdy — 1 single, 1 walk
Cody Roberts — 1 double, 1 walk
Sage Sharp — 1 single, 1 double, 1 walk
Jonathan Valenzuela — 1 single, 1 double, 1 triple, 1 walk
Cole White — 2 singles
Hawthorne Wolfe — 4 singles

Hawthorne Wolfe, ready to cause havoc.

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Fancy like first place

Posted in standings, tagged , , , , , on April 30, 2022| Leave a Comment »

CHS tennis guru Ken Stange keeps a watchful eye on the standings. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

The Wolves slide into May.

The transition begins.

The week ahead brings an end to the regular season for three of Coupeville High School’s four spring sports teams.

Wolf baseball and softball cap things with a road trip to Darrington Tuesday, May 3, while CHS track begins the postseason trek with a trip to La Conner May 4 for the Northwest 2B/1B League championships.

Both diamond squads will play beyond their Darrington trips, but everything after those games will have a postseason flair.

Meanwhile, the Wolf netters are scheduled to play a home-and-away series with South Whidbey May 3 and 6, respectively.

Tennis will still have one more regular-season match left on the schedule, with a league clash against Friday Harbor set for May 10, before it also begins the postseason journey.

As we head into May, a look at standings through games of Apr. 30:

 

Northwest League baseball:

School League Overall
Coupeville 10-1 12-6
Friday Harbor 9-1 12-2
Orcas Island 5-4 6-5
MV Christian 5-5 7-6
Darrington 2-6 2-7
La Conner 2-8 2-9
Concrete 0-8 0-8

 

Northwest League girls tennis:

School League Overall
Coupeville 1-0 3-0
Friday Harbor 0-1 0-2

 

Northwest League softball:

School League Overall
Coupeville 7-0 15-2
Friday Harbor 5-2 6-6
Darrington 3-4 6-5
Orcas Island 2-4 2-6
La Conner 0-7 0-11

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One step closer to title town

Posted in Baseball, tagged , , , , on April 29, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Hawthorne Wolfe and fellow Coupeville seniors won their final home game. (Morgan White photo)

“A great send off for our seniors!”

Coupeville High School varsity baseball coach Will Thayer was in a good mood Friday as afternoon faded into evening.

And why not?

His squad had bounced back from a non-conference loss a day before, pounding visiting Orcas Island 12-5 Friday on Senior Night.

The victory lifts the Wolves to 10-1 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 12-6 overall, with a road game at Darrington next Tuesday, May 3 the regular-season finale.

Coupeville remains a half-game up on Friday Harbor (9-1, 12-2) in the chase for the league crown.

While the Wolves finish at Darrington, the defending NWL champs host La Conner May 3, then travel to Orcas May 5.

If Coupeville and Friday Harbor — which split their two-game season series — finish in a tie, they will play May 12 on a neutral field in La Conner.

That game would be a winner-to-state, loser-out game.

But that’s down the road, and Friday was all about staying in the here and now and taking care of business.

Consider it mission accomplished for Coupeville.

On a day when CHS honored seniors Sage Sharp, Cody Roberts, Xavier Murdy, Cole Hutchinson, and Hawthorne Wolfe, the sun was out, the wind was sharp, and the Wolves were sharper.

Roberts was dealing on the mound, finishing with eight strikeouts while scattering just four hits.

Cody Roberts is in the mood to generate strikeouts. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

Meanwhile, with Roberts reaching base four times, he and his teammates scorched Orcas pitching for 12 base-knocks and six walks, building an 11-0 lead, then coasting home for the win.

Coupeville broke through early, plating three runners in the bottom of the sixth, thanks to a string of walks and a couple of key hits.

Peyton Caveness and Wolfe laced singles to knock the visiting Vikings back on their heels, and the rout was underway.

The third inning was Coupeville’s finest moment, as Jonathan Valenzuela crunched a triple as part of a game-busting five-hit, six-run explosion.

Up 9-0, the Wolves tacked on two more tallies in the fourth and a final run in the sixth, while Orcas scraped out four runs in the top of the fifth to keep from being mercy-ruled.

 

Friday stats:

Chase Anderson — 1 single
Peyton Caveness — 2 singles, 1 walk
Scott Hilborn — 1 single
Cole Hutchinson — 1 single, 1 walk
Xavier Murdy — 1 single, 1 walk
Cody Roberts — 2 singles, 2 walks
Sage Sharp — 1 walk
Jonathan Valenzuela — 1 single, 1 triple
Hawthorne Wolfe — 2 singles

Xavier Murdy and Co. are in first place in the Northwest 2B/1B League. (Morgan White photo)

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Sweet win for Wolf hardball squad

Posted in Baseball, tagged , , , , , on April 27, 2022| Leave a Comment »

Jack Porter and Coupeville bounced Friday Harbor to move into first place in the Northwest 2B/1B League. (Photos by JohnsPhotos.net)

Is there anything sweeter than hearing the fans of a rival team getting really, really quiet?

You know, that moment when all the bluster turns into sweet, sweet tears as the guys and gals in the wrong colors realize their ferry ride home is going to be a long, sad one.

Such was the plight for Friday Harbor fans Wednesday afternoon, as the sun faded over the prairie, and their baseball team’s unblemished league record got all dinged up.

Bushwhacked 11-8 by a Coupeville hardball squad which played fast, loose, and dangerous all day, the Wolverines fell out of first place in the Northwest 2B/1B League for the first time this season.

Now it’s the real Wolves, the ones sporting black and red, who sit atop the seven-team conference at 9-1 in league play, 11-5 overall.

Friday Harbor falls a half-game back at 8-1, and Coupeville’s win all but assures the teams will meet for a third time — at a neutral site — to decide which school will claim the NWL’s only berth to the 2B state tourney.

For now, the Wolves will briefly bask in the win, then immediately hit the road to play a non-conference tilt Thursday at South Whidbey.

Senior Night against Orcas Island is Friday, with a May 3 trip to Darrington wrapping the regular season.

Wednesday’s royal rumble under rare sunny skies meant everything for Coupeville, as a Friday Harbor win would have clinched that trip to state for the visitors.

The Wolverines stole a 3-2 win the first time around, courtesy a late-game meltdown by the CHS pitching staff, but the rematch was a different story.

Coupeville hurlers Hawthorne Wolfe and Scott Hilborn largely held Friday Harbor at bay, getting into a few sticky spots at times, but almost always finding a way back out.

That was true from the get-go, as the visitors loaded the bags in the top of the first when what would have been an inning-ending third strike kicked away from CHS catcher Xavier Murdy.

Showing no nerves, Hawk nodded.

X nodded.

And the duo promptly punched out the next batter to end things with the first sob breaking loose from the throat of a Friday Harbor fan.

Sparked by the wham-bam ending, the Wolves jumped on the Wolverines for three runs in the bottom half of the frame.

Wolfe singled, Jonathan Valenzuela walked, Hilborn beat out a chopper, then Murdy whacked a ball back up the middle which Friday Harbor misplayed into a two-run error.

After that Coupeville proved it didn’t know how to flinch, with Peyton Caveness and Sage Sharp both gritting their teeth as wayward pitches found random body parts.

Peyton Caveness reached base three times in the win.

Sharp’s walk the hard way pushed the lead out to 3-0 and gave a brief glimmer of hope that CHS might just 10-run the Wolverines.

Alas, it wasn’t to be, as Friday Harbor scraped its way back into the game, dumping three runs on the board in the second, and another tally in the third to reclaim the lead.

But, just as Friday Harbor fans started to puff out their chests and let loose with a lot of pro-Wolverine chatter, Coupeville punctured their dreams.

A couple of hits, a couple of walks, and a lot of aggressive running on the basepaths — which provoked Friday Harbor errors both physical and mental — allowed CHS to bolt back in front at 8-4 through three frames.

That was a lead the Wolves would never lose.

Friday Harbor sliced the margin to 8-5 in the fourth, then 8-7 through the top of the fifth, but time and again Coupeville proved resilient.

Wolfe sliced an RBI single to center to push the lead back to two runs, before the Wolves slapped home twice on face-first dives into home in the bottom of the sixth.

Murdy came crashing home hard on a wild pitch to make it 10-7, before Caveness hugged the plate after Cody Roberts bopped a long sac fly.

Down to their final outs, the visitors got one more run in the top of the seventh but watched their final baserunner wilt as Hilborn bore down to slam the door.

First he induced a groundout to Valenzuela at third, who came up with a gorgeous throw.

As the ball snapped into the waiting glove at first, there were “oohs” and “ahs” from Coupeville fans, and a “sweet son of a goat lickin’ whore!!” (or something close) from an especially-peeved Friday Harbor rooter.

Think how that dude felt when Hilborn erased the final batter with a strikeout, the bat missing the ball by a healthy six to eight inches?

Oh, enough sweet, salty Friday Harbor tears to fill all the bathtubs in Coupeville tonight!

 

Wednesday stats:

Peyton Caveness — 2 singles, 1 walk
Scott Hilborn — 1 single
Xavier Murdy — 2 singles
Cody Roberts — 1 walk
Sage Sharp — 1 single, 2 walks
Jonathan Valenzuela — 1 walk 
Cole White — 1 single, 1 walk
Hawthorne Wolfe — 3 singles

Hawthorne Wolfe smacked three hits Wednesday, and got the win as a pitcher.

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