Coupeville error opens door for Murphy | Baseball

By JIM WALLER
Whidbey News Times Sports editor
April 3, 2012 · Updated 11:03 AM 

What a difference a play makes.

One mistake by the Coupeville defense turned a close game into a 7-0 win for Archbishop Thomas Murphy in Everett Monday, April 2.

Coupeville sophomore Ben Etzell and ATM's ace Levi Mavorhis were hooked up in a scoreless pitching duel heading into the bottom of the fourth.

After allowing one run, Etzell induced a fly ball with two outs that should have ended the inning. Unfortunately, the ball was dropped and another run scored. A walk loaded the bases and then Trevor Morrison unloaded a grand slam, and suddenly it was 6-0.

The Wolves couldn't counter against Mavorhis, who finished with a 12-strikeout three-hitter. Etzell collected two of the hits; Aaron Trumbull had the other.

Coach Willie Smith said, "Overall, I felt we played very well, and if we can come up with the catch in the fourth, we are looking at a 1-0 deficit and who knows what could have happened."

Coupeville (0-5, 2-7) gets another shot at first-place Archbishop Murphy (9-0) at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, at Robert Sherman Field.

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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