Haylee Armstrong arrives, and the scoreboard numbers start to jump. (Jackie Saia photos)
The Smash Sisters are back in business.
Rebounding nicely from a rare loss, the Coupeville High School softball squad thrashed host East Jefferson 19-0 in a mercy-ruled game Friday afternoon.
Thumping 17 hits, including a bonanza of extra-base blows, the Wolves wrap the regular season with a 17-2 record and now turn their attention to the playoffs.
As the Northwest 2B/1B League champs, CHS is the #1 seed to the three-team district tourney and will play the survivor of a loser-out game between Friday Harbor and Orcas Island in the championship game.
Win or lose, Aaron Lucero’s squad has already punched its ticket to state as well, the fifth time in program history and the first time the diamond queens have qualified for the big dance in back-to-back seasons.
The district tourney goes down May 14 in Mount Vernon, and you can see the bracket and order advance tickets here:
https://www.wpanetwork.com/wiaa/brackets/tournament.php?act=view&tournament_id=5105
Friday’s regular season finale, a non-conference clash with East Jefferson, which is a mash-up of former Coupeville league rivals Chimacum and Port Townsend, was a perfect tune-up for the postseason.
In control from start to finish, the Wolves were able to get playing time for 13 girls, while letting their three flamethrowers share pitching duties.
Staff ace Adeline Maynes started and cruised through three innings of work, whiffing seven and allowing just a single base runner.
After that, cousins Capri Anter and Haylee Armstrong each threw a scoreless frame, with Armstrong picking up a K, while Anter celebrated as laser-armed catcher Teagan Calkins threw out a would-be base stealer by a solid three steps.
“All (the pitchers) did a great job with location and changing speeds,” Aaron Lucero said.
At the plate, the Wolves steadily pushed runs across the plate, dropping four on the scoreboard in the first, adding a solo tally in the second, then getting two in the third and another three in the fourth.
Cue the fifth inning and Coupeville exploded for nine runs in its final at-bats, turning a romp into a blowout which gives CHS a 291-45 scoring advantage heading into the postseason.
All nine starters reached base, with Calkins thumping an inside-the-park home run, narrowly missing on another one (she settled for a ground rule double), and smoking a foul ball 300+ feet as fans jaws dropped.
Anter, back in the groove after missing several games due to an injury, also hit a line shot which smacked off the base of the fence for a double, coming within an inch or two of earning cash from her family for nailing an out of the park tater.
Friday stats:
Capri Anter — Two doubles, one walk
Haylee Armstrong — One single, one triple
Teagan Calkins — One single, one double, one home run, one walk
Marina Jadwin — One walk
Emma Leavitt — One walk
Ava Lucero — One single
Adeline Maynes — Two singles, one double, one walk
Chelsi Stevens — One single
Cami Van Dyke — Three singles, one walk
Sydney Van Dyke — Two singles
Also played:
Emma Cushman
Emily Rains
Zayne Roos
“On to the playoffs!!”
Coupeville Sports 