Smith, seniors go out in style / Baseball

By Jim Waller • May 3, 2018 1:30 am
Hunter Smith, shown here pitching in a game earlier this season, pitched a no-hitter in his final game on the Coupeville High School diamond Wednesday. (Photo by Karen Carlson)
Hunter Smith, shown here pitching in a game earlier this season, pitched a no-hitter in his final game on the Coupeville High School diamond Wednesday. (Photo by Karen Carlson)

Hunter Smith saved his best for last.

Playing the final home game of his highlight-reel career, Smith led the Coupeville High School baseball team to a 11-0 win in five innings over Port Townsend Wednesday, May 2.

Smith, a four-year starter, two-time, all-Olympic League pitcher and leading candidate for this spring’s MVP award, tossed a no-hitter with six strikeouts and no walks.

He was equally as impressive at the plate, slugging two hits, driving in four runs and stealing three bases — one of home.

Smith is one of six seniors on the squad, and all played a role in the win: Joey Lippo, run, two walks, RBI; Julian Welling, hit, run, two RBI, stolen base; Jake Hoagland, run, RBI; Jacob Zettle, walk; James Vidoni, walk, run, stolen base; and Nick Etzell, two runs, stolen base.

Coupeville finished the conference season with an 8-1 record and its second Olympic League title in three years.

The Wolves (14-4) begin the postseason at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 8, against Charles Wright Academy (9-5) at Tacoma’s Foss High School. The district tournament continues May 10 and 12, and the Wolves will need to win two of three games to advance to the state tournament.

Coupeville 11, Port Townsend 0 (five innings)

With two outs, Smith was hit by a pitch in the first inning and eventually scored the game’s initial run by stealing home.

Coupeville scored five times in the second inning.

Zettle walked and Gavin Knoblich singled. Matt Hilborn forced Zettle on a fielders’s choice, and then Lippo walked to load the bases.

A walk to Smith forced in one run; Welling singled in two more, then Dane Lucero singled in another. Hoagland’s sacrifice fly plated the fifth run.

In the third inning, the Wolves added two runs.

Knoblich and Matt Hilborn walked, and Etzell, running for Knoblich, scored on a wild pitch. Smith singled in Hilborn.

A three-run fourth finished the scoring. Hoagland reached on an error, Vidoni walked and Shane Losey was hit by a pitch. Lippo walked, pushing in Hoagland, then Smith singled in the final two runs in his final home at bat.