Willie Smith has coached high school baseball at Coupeville a long time.

In nine years, however, he never encountered what he came across on Wednesday night.

After battling toe-to-toe with returning 2A state champion Port Townsend, the Wolves were forced to end in an 8-8 tie after seven innings due to darkness.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a tie,” Smith said. “It’s strange, it’s kind of like ‘yay, we didn’t win.’ “

Because the game is non-league there won’t be a make-up date set.

That didn’t bother Smith, however.

He was more proud that his young team, which has three freshman and three sophomores, fought back against a quality opponent.

“To be down so much and come back and tie it, I feel pretty good about that,” he said.

Trailing 8-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Wolves put together an impressive rally.

Senior Anthony La Point started a six-run explosion modestly, driving in Jack Armstrong on a sacrifice fly.

CHS then strung together five runs with two outs, started by an RBI single from senior Trevor Mueller. Senior Kirby Mitchell followed with a two-run single to right field, before sophomore Cory Black tied the game on an opposite field two-run single.

CHS had five of its six total hits in the fourth inning.

“We did a lot of good stuff offensively that inning,” Smith said.

Coupeville dug itself an early hole via mistakes.

The Wolves committed five errors over the first four innings, resulting in three unearned runs.

“It wasn’t just physical, it was mental mistakes,” Smith said. “It’s early, but those kind of things I don’t like.”

Port Townsend took a large lead in the top of the third when shortstop Tyler Kelly drilled a three-run home run off La Point over the left-field fence for a 6-1 lead.

The Wolves were able to hang around by playing small ball. They earned nine walks off four different Redskin pitchers and stole 13 bases.

Coupeville took the initial lead, 1-0, after Mitchell drove a ground ball to the right side of the infield in the first, scoring Casey Larson. Mitchell tacked on a sacrifice fly in the third, giving him a team-high four RBI.

Despite no official outcome of Wednesday’s game, Smith thinks the ability to hang with a state champion could provide just the confidence his young team needs.

“I think they all feel pretty good about coming back,” he said. “It’s important to them because our goal is to get to the tournament.”

Barring heavy rain, Coupeville is slated to host a double-header tournament today, March 26 with Adna, Tenino and Concrete. The Wolves will play Adna at 9 a.m., followed by Concrete vs. Tenino, Coupeville vs. Tenino and Concrete vs. Adna.

Port Townsend 042 200 0 — 8 8 3

Coupeville 101 600 0 — 8 8 6

Sather, Unbedacht (4), Orr (6) and Rubio. La Point, Black (5) and Larson.