Elfrank’s home runs spur Coupeville by Sequim / Softball

The Coupeville High School softball team tuned up for the district tournament by sweeping a non-league double-header at Sequim Wednesday, May 10.

The Whidbey Island Wolves beat the Olympic Peninsula Wolves 5-3 and 4-3. The second game was the conclusion of a contest that went two innings May 4 in Coupeville before being suspended because of lightning and rain.

Coupeville (17-3), the second-place team from the Olympic League, plays Vashon Island (7-9), the third-place team from the Nisqually League, in the single-elimination first round of the 1A District 3 Tournament at 4 p.m. Friday, May 19, at Tacoma’s Sprinker Fields.

Coupeville defeated Vashon Island 13-5 in a non-league game March 25.

The winner of the district game advances to the four-team, double-elimination portion of the tournament and plays Nisqually champion Bellevue Christian (11-1) at 6 p.m. Friday.

Klahowya (8-7), the third-place team from the Olympic League, meets Seattle Christian (7-4), the second-place team from the Nisqually League, in the other loser-out game Thursday. That winner takes on Olympic League champion Chimacum (9-4) later that evening.

The tournament concludes Saturday; the top two teams earn state tournament berths.

Coupeville’s two games against Sequim (8-5), one of the top teams in the Olympic League’s 2A division, started and finished in similar fashion. Coupeville’s Mikayla Elfrank blasted a three-run, first-inning home run in both contests, then Coupeville hung on for the wins.

Coupeville 5, Sequim 3

Before the game, Sequim coach Tim Lusk told the Coupeville players he would supply a Dairy Queen treat to anyone who could launch a softball into the carnival that was set up beyond the center field fence.

Elfrank obliged by ripping a Blizzard-winning shot that thumped a ride well beyond the center field fence to get the Whidbey Islanders off to a strong start.

Katrina McGranahan, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, and Sarah Wright, who was hit by a pitch, scored in front of Elfrank.

Coupeville scored again in the third, and again Elfrank did the damage. The junior shortstop hit a double, scoring McGranahan, aboard on a single.

Sequim scored twice in the fourth inning and once in the sixth to make it 4-3.

Coupeville added an insurance run in the seventh when LeVine singled and eventually scored on a passed ball.

McGranahan pitched a five-hitter and was backed by an errorless defense.

Elfrank (home run and double) and LeVine (two singles) had two hits for Coupeville. McGranahan, Wright, Scout Smith and Tamika Nastali each singled.

Coupeville 4, Sequim 3

This game was picked up in the third inning with Coupeville up 4-0. Sequim scored twice in the fourth inning and once in the sixth but couldn’t complete the comeback.

Elfrank’s first-inning “home run” in Coupeville a week earlier proved to be the game’s big blow. With the bases loaded, she drove the ball out of the park but was credited with only a single because she passed Wright on the base paths between first and second. Wright was waiting to see if the ball would be caught while Elfrank was hustling around the bases in case the ball didn’t clear the fence. Elfrank was declared out, but the three runs counted.

In the second inning, Hope Lodell and Robin Cedillo singled to produce the Wolves’ other run.

McGranahan pitched a three-hitter and struck out seven.

Lauren Rose also had two hits and Veronica Crownover one for Coupeville.