Merchants take 2 from Woodinville | Legion

A week after losing to Longview twice, the Coupeville Legion A baseball team recovered to wallop host Woodinville 12-3 and 10-0 Sunday, June 17.

Longview defeated the Merchants in Coupeville 7-3 Saturday, June 9, and 10-0 the following day.

In the opening win over Woodinville, Aaron Trumbull pitched a six-hitter and was supported by a strong defense, according to coach Willie Smith.

The Merchants scored in all but one inning and pounded out 12 hits. Morgan Payne was 4-for-4 with a double, Jake Tumblin 2-for-5 with a double and Brian Norris 2-for-4.

Defensively, Kurtis Smith made a diving catch in the outfield and doubled a runner off first, and left fielder Aaron Curtin gunned down a runner at the plate.

Coach Smith said, "Early in the game, we capitalized on walks and some errors by them, were able to be very aggressive on the base paths and executed at the plate when we needed to."

In the second game, Curtin gave up only three hits over five innings and struck out five. Kurtis Smith went 3-for-3 and Payne was 2-for-3 with a double.

Curtin, like Trumbull, was aided by a steady defense, highlighted by center fielder Wade Schaef's diving grab.

Coach Smith said a lack of focus on both offense and defense hurt the Merchants in their double loss to Longview. In the first game, Curtin doubled and Tumblin and Kurtis Smith singled for the only hits. The Merchants were no hit in the second contest.

Coupeville (2-3, 4-5) begins a busy week when its hosts Bellingham South at 6 p.m. Monday, June 18. Tuesday the Merchants go to Mount Vernon's Sherman Anderson Field for a 4:30 p.m. double header, and then on Wednesday they go to Bellingham South at 6 p.m. Friday The Merchants finish the week with a home double header at 4:30 p.m. with Bellingham North.

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

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