Maya (left) and Allie Lucero celebrated their 18th birthday Saturday with a win on the softball diamond. (Photo courtesy Jess Lucero)
The weather? Wicked.
The score? Divine.
Buffeted by goosebump-inducing prairie winds Saturday — but no rain — the Coupeville High School varsity softball squad cracked visiting Concrete.
Taking advantage of 20 walks, three well-placed hits, and several errors by the Lions, the Wolves strolled to a 20-0 win in a game called after three innings due to the mercy rule.
The victory, coming in a game which was originally supposed to be played in Concrete, lifts Coupeville to 3-1 in Northwest 2B/1B League play, 5-4 overall.
Facing a rebuilding Lions team which is led by former Wolf JV coach Stephanie Henning, CHS did everything possible to not run up the score, while trying to get off the field and escape the brutal breeze.
All 14 Wolves who picked up a bat reached base in the rout, while 8th grader Haylee Armstrong chipped in with stellar defense.
Saturday’s game started as a road affair, then turned into a homestand for Coupeville, thanks to the weather forecast being (slightly) better for Whidbey than it was for Concrete.
While the hardy Wolf fans screamed in silent agony as the prairie lived up to its reputation of often making diamond teams feel like they’re playing in the middle of a cyclone, some were happy to see the game play out.
“I can’t feel my face!” (Jennifer Marzocca photo)
CHS aces Allie and Maya Lucero celebrated their 18th birthday during the win, while fellow senior Gwen Gustafson was flawless in the pitcher’s circle.
Facing the minimum nine batters across her three-inning stint, she whiffed seven Lions and recorded one of the two other outs on a comebacker.
“Gwen was on fire today, throwing BBs from the circle,” said Wolf coach Kevin McGranahan. “She was too much for the Concrete hitters.”
Coupeville put the game away quickly, tossing nine runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first, another eight in the second, then hitting the three-inning mercy rule when Mia Farris cranked an RBI single to score foreign exchange student Layla Heo.
That was one of three base knocks for the Wolves, with fellow sophomores Madison McMillan and Taylor Brotemarkle joining Farris on the hit parade.
Concrete, which is winless this season, is scrambling to improve, and having a former Coupeville coach in charge of the program is a big advantage.
“They are a very, very young team and inexperienced,” McGranahan said. “But I give them credit for fielding a team and never quitting, and having smiles on their faces.
“Glad to see Concrete back on the field, with a good head coach,” he added. “Stephanie will get them back on track.”
Coming off the win, the Wolves have a busy week ahead of them.
They host Darrington Tuesday, Apr. 11, then travel to La Conner Apr. 13 and Onalaska Apr. 15. That last trip will be for a doubleheader.
Saturday stats:
Capri Anter — One walk
Taylor Brotemarkle — One single, two walks
Teagan Calkins — Three walks
Mia Farris — One single, two walks
Gwen Gustafson — One walk
Jada Heaton — One walk
Layla Heo — One walk
Allie Lucero — Two walks
Maya Lucero — One walk
Chloe Marzocca — One walk
Madison McMillan — One single, two walks
Melanie Navarro — One walk
Sofia Peters — One walk
Bailey Thule — One walk
Coupeville Sports 