Cole Payne and fellow Wolf veterans will get a chance for revenge in their playoff opener. (Sylvia Hurlburt photo)
One year and one day.
That will be the gap between playoff baseball games waged by Coupeville and Cascade Christian.
May 9, 2015, the Cougars brought an end to Willie Smith’s coaching career, sending the longtime CHS hardball guru into retirement after beating the Wolves 1-0 on Whidbey.
Now, the two teams meet again this Tuesday, May 10, only this time on a neutral field, and without the specter of a loss ending a season hanging over things.
Coupeville (10-10 on the season) is the #1 seed from the 1A Olympic League, having won its first baseball league title in 25 years.
Because of that, the Wolves skipped the one-and-done round this year and start districts off in the double-elimination portion.
Cascade Christian (10-6) survived a loser-out game Saturday, when it nipped Chimacum 2-0.
The Cougars and Wolves tangle at 4 PM Tuesday at Curtis High School in University Place.
The winner advances to the district championship May 12 against either Nisqually League champ Vashon Island (13-4) or Seattle Christian (11-8), which eliminated Klahowya 10-1 Saturday.
To take a gander at the district playoff bracket and ponder the different ways Coupeville could win two games and advance to state, pop over to:
http://www.olympicleague.com/tournament.php?tournament_id=1906&sport=6
Cascade Christian and Coupeville are fairly similar, at least stat-wise.
The Cougars (ranked #25 by ScoreCzar) have outscored foes 84-58 (5.25-3.63 per game), while the Wolves (#26 in the latest computer tally) sit at 109-94 (5.50-4.70).
Coupeville will be down a man, though, as sophomore lead-off hitter Hunter Smith has to serve a one-game suspension for being ejected in the season finale for arguing balls and strikes.
Wolf baseball moms are planning a send-off for the team Tuesday. Tentative plans have it set for 11:30 AM in front of the CHS gym.
Coupeville Sports 