In four games played against larger schools, the Coupeville fastpitch team has held its ground. The 1A Wolves are 2-2, with wins over 3A Sequim and 2A Port Townsend.

“We’re playing with these schools…I feel extremely pleased with the results so far,” CHS head coach Jim Wheat said.

The Wolves’ success against larger programs continued through five innings on Monday afternoon, but depth proved too much in a 10-3 loss to Granite Falls.

The Tigers jumped out to the initial lead in the first, scoring three runs behind three walks and one error.

“What seems to be plaguing us, and we sort of laugh about it in the dugout, is the three spot,” Wheat said. “I’m pretty sure that we’ve given an opponent three runs in the first inning of every game so far.”

Despite the early deficit, Coupeville didn’t give in.

The Wolves rallied for one run in the second inning after sophomore Paige Mueller scored from second base via an errant throw to first.

The Tigers tacked on one more in the top of the third, but CHS countered in the bottom half of the inning via an RBI single from freshman Nikki Griffin. The RBI brought the score to 4-2, however, that was as close as the Wolves got.

Granite Falls inched away over the final four innings, due in large part to walks. The Tigers generated 11 free passes for the game and also capitalized on three Coupeville errors.

Griffin, who was starting just her fourth game as a high school pitcher, allowed only two hits through the first five innings, but also gave up eight of her 11 walks in that span.

“She had a rough outing and she knew that,” Wheat said. “We talked about it in the dugout. She felt that she was lacking control and just had a few walks at the wrong time.”

Granite Falls broke the game open in the final two innings scoring two in the sixth and three in the seventh off of six hits.

Coupeville scored its final run in the bottom of the sixth after Griffin doubled to the left field fence and freshman Silver Daher followed with an RBI groundout.

Griffin and fellow freshman Amanda Murdy were 2-for-3 at the plate for the Wolves.

Granite Falls starter Jennelle Jones went four innings and had seven strikeouts. Reliever Ashley Millican came in and had five strikeouts over the final three innings.

“Concrete is pretty equivalent, but in our league we don’t see pitching comparable to this, so to see my young kids get the ball on the bat is impressive to me,” Wheat said.

Monday’s game was the first of four straight games for the Wolves this week. They hosted South Whidbey yesterday, host Concrete today, March 29 and travel to Orcas Island, tomorrow, March 30.

“This is a big week for our club,” Wheat said. “It exposes what you’re doing well and what you need to work on.”

Granite Falls 301 102 3 — 10 8 1

Coupeville 011 001 0 — 3 6 3

Griffin and Murdy. Jones, Millican and Todd. WP-Jones. LP-Griffin (2-2).