The Coupeville High School baseball team was a bit of a surprise last spring, winning its first league championship since 1991.

After losing only two starters to graduation, the defending champion Wolves won’t be sneaking up on anyone this season.

The key this year will be to produce a better finish. After winning the first seven conference games last spring, the Wolves dropped their last two and then fell twice in a row in the postseason.

“We don’t have a lot of experience in the postseason —— this year we will test that,” coach Marc Aparicio said.

The team’s strength, Aparicio said, is its wealth of returning talent.

“We have about six good pitchers and a solid infield,” he added.

Returning lettermen are seniors Ethan Marx, Clay Reilly, Kory Score, Jonathan Thurston and Gabe Wynn; juniors Nick Etzell, Jake Hoagland, Joey Lippo, Hunter Smith and Julian Welling; and sophomores Matt Hilborn and Dane Lucero.

Smith earned first-team, all-Olympic League honors as a pitcher last year, and Hilborn was a first team third baseman. Score was named to the second team as a first baseman. Aparicio and his assistants (Chris Smith and Mike Etzell) were Staff of the Year.

Among the newcomers is Oak Harbor transfer Taylor Consford, who lettered for the Wildcats last year.

“We also added six very good freshman,” Aparicio said. “(I’m) looking forward to a long stretch of good seasons.”

The goal this year is to win the state championship, Aparicio said.

“We have the expectation to keep everyone healthy and in good standing with their grades,” he added.

Coupeville, which finished 10-12 last year, will have its depth tested right away when it opens the season with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 11. The Wolves will open the day against La Conner and then meet host Lynden Christian.