Wolves rally for improbable win / Softball

Quite a way to begin the season.

The Coupeville High School softball team overcame a 10-run deficit in the final two innings to clip visiting Friday Harbor 18-17 Tuesday, March 12.

Down 9-0 and 12-2 earlier in the game, the Wolves trailed 16-6 going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

Walks and timely hits – the game winner by senior Sarah Wright – fueled the unlikely comeback.

A strong pitching effort by freshman Izzy Wells in relief kept the Wolves in the game.

Coupeville, which didn’t get a hit until the fourth inning, finished with eight (five for extra bases) and was helped along by a whopping 20 walks. Half those walks went to Scout Smith and Emma Mathusek, who each received five bases on balls.

The Wolves trailed 16-6 heading into their half of the sixth inning. Three walks, a two-run single by Wright and an error made it 16-10. Audrianna Shaw’s triple plated two more Coupeville runs.

Friday Harbor scored once in the seventh to go up 17-12.

In the Coupeville seventh, Veronica Crownover doubled in one run, then four Wolves walked with the bases loaded, setting up Wright’s game winner.

Crownover finished with two doubles, Wright had a single and triple, Chelsea Prescott and Shaw tripled, and Wells and Mollie Bailey added singles.

“We were down by10 twice but managed to never give up and kept fighting,” coach Kevin McGranahan said. “Once again this team will not quit and they are never out of a game.”

Coupeville (1-0) plays at Lynden Christian (0-1) at 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 15.