Tightening its grip on the Olympic League pennant, the Coupeville High School baseball team clipped visiting Chimacum 2-0 Friday, April 27.
The teams entered the contest tied for first place; now the Wolves hold the edge with two games remaining.
The Cowboys beat Coupeville earlier this spring, then the Wolves countered by shutting out Chimacum twice this week to win the season series. Coupeville clipped the Cowboys 1-0 on Monday behind a strong pitching performance by Matt Hilborn.
The Wolves received another stellar effort on the mound, this time from Hunter Smith, who blanked Chimacum on seven hits, striking out nine and walking none.
Both teams have games left next week with Klahowya (1-5, 2-12) and Port Townsend (1-5, 1-10). For Coupeville to fall out of first place, it would need to lose both and Chimacum (5-2, 7-8) would need to win twice.
The Wolves (6-1, 12-4) go to Klahowya at 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 30, and host PT at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, in the regular season finale.
Coupeville 2, Chimacum 0
The Wolves scored both runs in the second inning.
Jake Hoagland reached an error, stole second and moved to third on Jake Pease’s bunt single. Kyle Rockwell singled in Hoagland.
Pease was caught stealing, but Gavin Knoblich drove in Rockwell with a base hit.
Chimacum put runners in scoring position in five different innings, but Smith and the Coupeville defense kept the Cowboys off the board.
The biggest Chimacum threat came in the sixth inning when the first two batters singled.
Smith got the next hitter to bounce up the middle, and shortstop Hilborn scooped it up, touched second and fired to first for a double play.
Smith fanned the next hitter to end the inning.
On offense, Smith and Knoblich each finished with two hits.
“Hunter pitched pretty good considering he didn’t have his best stuff,” coach Chris Smith, Hunter’s father, said.
Coach Smith labeled several plays as “huge”: Hilborn’s double play, Knoblich’s day at the plate, first baseman Dane Lucero’s picks on low throws and second baseman Joey Lippo’s over-the-shoulder catch with two outs and a runner in scoring position in the fourth inning.
“It was a fun game; I’m very happy for the kids,” coach Smith said.
Coupeville second baseman Joey Lippo settles under the final out in Friday’s win. (Photo by John Fisken)
Rightfielder Kyle Rockwell runs down a Chimacum fly ball. (Photo by John Fisken)
