A single run is all Cascade Christian needed to defeat the Coupeville High School baseball team in the opening round of the District 3 1A tournament Saturday, May 9, at Robert Sherman Field, and the 1-0 loss denied the Wolves of another deep run into the postseason.

The Cougars scored in the first inning in the loser-out game and pitcher Tyler Fox blanked the Wolves to allow Cascade Christian to move on in the tournament.

Last spring, Coupeville advanced through two rounds of the playoffs to reach the state tournament before losing a 2-1 heart-breaker to Rochester.

The Wolves and coach Willie Smith were hoping to erase some of the sting of that loss with a strong tournament performance this season, but Cascade Christian had other plans.

Two days earlier, Coupeville lost its final regular-season game to undefeated and top-ranked Klahowya in similar fashion, 1-0 on a first-inning run.

With one out in the top of the first inning, Cascade Christian received a walk from Coupeville pitcher Aaron Curtin. The runner moved to second on a passed ball and to third on a ground out.

The next Cougar hit a bounder to Coupeville third baseman Julian Welling. Welling, ranging to his left, was just able to get the tip of his glove on the ball and keep it from slipping into left field. The infield hit was good enough to drive in the game’s lone run.

Curtin shut down the Cougars the rest of the way, allowing only two other hits while striking out four and walking two.

“He threw well enough for us to win,” coach Willie Smith said.

Coupeville’s best chances to score came early in the game when it registered its only two hits off Fox.

With one out in the bottom of the second inning, Carson Risner lined a single to right and the ball skipped by the Cougar fielder, allowing Risner to reach second. Courtesy runner Joey Lippo was bunted to third, but the next batter grounded out to end the inning.

Clay Reilly started the Coupeville third by slashing a double down the left field line. After failing to bunt Reilly to third, the next Coupeville batter struck out. Fox then added another strikeout and ground out to squash the threat.

The Wolves’ next best opportunity to score came in the sixth when Cole Payne coaxed a leadoff walk. Again, the Wolves couldn’t get a bunt down, and then Payne was doubled-off on Josh Bayne’s line out.

“We couldn’t advance anyone,” Smith said. “In a game like this, you can’t win if you can’t move runners.

“Coming into the game, I felt our biggest unknown was ‘Are we going to hit?’ We didn’t, and we lost.”

Even though his club lost, Smith liked its effort this season: “I thought for all this team went through, they did a good job.”

Coupeville and its five seniors (Kyle Bodamer, Aaron Trumbull, Curtin, Bayne and Risner) ended the season with a 9-10 record.

(Coupeville third baseman Julian Welling begins a rundown for the Wolves. Coupeville eventually tagged out the runner. Photo by Jim Waller.)