Lakewood evened its three-game baseball series with Coupeville High School at 1-1 with an 11-1 five-inning home win Wednesday, April 28.

The two teams finish up their series and the regular season Friday in Coupeville at 4 p.m. It is a crucial game for the Wolves. A win will give Coupeville (8-9, 10-9) third in the final Cascade Conference standings, the No. 2 seed in the district tournament and a direct spot in the double-elimination portion of the tournament.

A loss and a Granite Falls win over South Whidbey, and the Wolves drop to fifth in the conference and will have to play a loser-out game to start district.

Things looked good, briefly, for Coupeville in Wednesday’s game at Lakewood (9-8, 10-8). The Wolves loaded the bases in the first inning and then got nothing from the threat. From that point Coupeville generated little offense. Coach Willie Smith said, “Extremely frustrating; offensively, we pretty much shut down after the first against a pitcher that wasn’t nearly as good as they threw at us on Monday.

Our offensive approach seems to vary from game to game.”

Erik King was the lone offensive highlight, going 3-for-3.

Defensively, the Wolves also struggled. Smith said, “We went back to being mentally unfocused on defense, misplaying four fly balls and committing three errors in the infield.”