Leaving runners on base has caused difficulties for the Coupeville baseball team so far this season. Those same difficulties continued to haunt them Tuesday afternoon, when they fell 5-2 to Concrete.

Down 4-0 going into their half of the fourth, the bats began to come alive for Coupeville. A lead off single by pitcher Dale Horton started things off for the Wolves. Coming in to pinch run for the pitcher, Kirby Mitchell advanced to third base on two passed balls. After a walk of Casey Mitchell, John Palacio made contact and hustled down the line for an infield RBI single that scored Kirby from third. With one out Mike Bagby continued to keep the rally alive as he pushed a bunt to the right side, driving in Coupeville’s second run of the inning.

Things then turned south for the Wolves. With runners on first and third and one man down, the inning ended abruptly. A potential sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of Steven Dozier resulted in an out and no tag and score from the Coupeville runner at third base. Trying to get himself in scoring position, Bagby was gunned down attempting to steal second, resulting in the final out of the inning.

“I actually thought we were going to get more runs out of the fourth inning but a base running mistake at third cost us a run and some momentum,” head coach Willie Smith said. “That to me was the turning point of the game.”

The Wolves saw their chance again in the sixth inning but were robbed by an amazing diving catch by the Concrete left-fielder. After a lead off single by Horton, Casey Jensen drove a sinking liner to the outfield that at the last possible moment was snared by the diving outfielder.

“If that gets by him or gets down we have them in all kinds of trouble, but that is pretty much the way our season has gone,” Smith said. “We’re in every game but we can’t seem to put the offensive stuff together.”

Horton had another solid outing on the mound for Coupeville. Aside from giving up three runs in the first inning, he was almost flawless.

“Dale pitched extremely well,” Smith said. “He only threw 91 pitches in the game and if we execute defensively in the first, who knows what happens in the game.”

With the loss Coupeville’s record fell to 1-6 in league and 1-9 overall, but there is no let down from the players, according to Smith.

“The guys are determined to put some wins together and they are the hardest working group that I’ve had since I’ve been here,” he said. “They haven’t got down on each other and they do a great job of picking up each other during games and the season.”

With seven games remaining there are no doubts the key to gathering some wins will be driving in base runners.

“In order for us to be successful in the last part of the season we’ll need to cut out our mental mistakes and begin to capitalize on our opportunities,” Smith said.

Coupeville plays at 2 p.m., today, April 26 at home against non-league South Whidbey.

Concrete 3 0 1 0 0 1 0—5 6 1

Coupeville 0 0 0 2 0 0 0—2 5 1

Horton and Whitaker; Aldridge, Wilson (6) and Hoover. WP-Aldridge, LP-Horton (1-4). Records: Coupeville 1-7 league, 1-10 overall; Concrete 4-4, 5-5.