Wolves lose, look to rebound at district / Softball

The Coupeville High School softball team is out of sync.

Port Angeles scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat the visiting Wolves 7-6 Friday, May 11, in the final regular season game.

Coupeville, the Olympic League champion, goes into the postseason on a three-game losing streak.

All of the loses were non-conference games against 2A teams. Regardless of the size of the opponent, the games were littered with uncharacteristic mistakes, according to coach Kevin McGranahan.

“Our bats have found a bad time to go to sleep, our defense has been suspect and we just aren’t playing as our normal selves,” he said.

McGranahan believes his club will get back on track. The Wolves have a week to prepare and “we will definitely give districts our best.”

The district tournament is Friday and Saturday, May 18 and 19, at the regional athletic complex in Lacey. The Wolves (11-7) face Vashon Island (8-10) at noon Friday. Coupeville will need to win two of three games to earn one of the two berths into the state tournament.

Bellevue Christian (15-5), Seattle Christian (3-11) and Klahowya (9-5) are also competing at district.

The tournament will be played on turf fields, so the Wolves will practice on the surface at NAS Whidbey Island next week to prepare.

Port Angeles 7, Coupeville 6

The Roughriders used a single, error, walk and error to score two runs in their final at bat to claim the win.

Because of four Coupeville errors, only one of Port Angeles’ runs were earned. The Wolves’ Katrina McGranahan pitched a five-hitter with 10 strikeouts and three walks.

Two of the five hits were a triple and home run by Kiana Watson-Charles, who also earned the win in relief in the circle.

Coupeville led 6-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, then the Roughriders finished with a flurry while the Wolves’ offense dimmed.

The Wolves had only three hits in the game, and two of those came in a four-run third inning.

Lauren Rose singled, scored and drove in a run and Scout Smith ripped a two-run double during the rally.

Emma Mathusek singled and scored in the fifth inning.