It’s one down, one to go for the Coupeville High School softball team in its quest for the Olympic League title.
The Wolves walloped Klahowya 15-1 in six innings Wednesday, March 28, in Silverdale.
Coupeville and Klahowya are the only two schools in the conference with softball teams this spring. Port Townsend and Chimacum did not have enough players to field squads.
Therefore, the winner of the three-game series between the Wolves and Eagles will claim the Olympic League pennant.
Now Coupeville needs to win only one of the two remaining contests with Klahowya to sew up the crown.
The teams meet again April 20 in Coupeville and April 30 in Silverdale.
Wednesday’s game was close for a while, then Coupeville scored twice in the fifth inning to get a little breathing room. The Wolves then put the game away with a 10-run sixth.
“Huge win for us, and now we are in the driver’s seat for the league title,” coach Kevin McGranahan said. “Now they have to come to us.
“Hang on, it’s going to be a wild ride.”
Coupeville reached Klahowya ace Amber Bumbalough for three first-inning runs. Lauren Rose singled, Katrina McGranahan walked and both scored as Sarah Wright and Veronica Crownover followed with base hits.
The scored stayed 3-0 until the fifth.
Bumbalough, a two-time Olympic League Most Valuable Player, settled in and blanked the Wolves over the next three innings, striking out nine trough four innings.
Meanwhile, Coupeville pitcher McGranahan and her defense turned back several Eagle threats. Klahowya loaded the bases in the first, third and fourth innings but couldn’t score.
Wright, the Wolves’ catcher, ended one threat by picking a runner off third base with the bases full in the third.
Coupeville scored twice in the fifth when Wright tripled in Scout Smith and McGranahan, who had singled.
A double by Crownover and singles by Smith, Wright, Chelsea Prescott, Hope Lodell, Coral Caveness and Emma Mathusek fueled the 10-run sixth.
“Sarah had a monster game,” coach McGranahan said of Wright’s effort. “She was clutch all day.”
“Coral also had a great game with a big hit off Amber,” he added.
Coupeville (4-1) plays a non-league doubleheader at Blaine (0-5) at 1 p.m. Monday, April 2.
