The Coupeville High School baseball team finished on the right side of an oddity Monday, March 20. The Wolves defeated visiting Bremerton 2-1 despite being no-hit.

Coupeville used aggressive base running, clutch pitching and several stellar defensive plays to pull out the unlikely win.

The Knights left 14 men on base, including the bases loaded four times.

There were several key plays for Coupeville, but the biggest came in the top of he sixth inning. Bremerton had scored once to make it 2-1 and had the bases loaded with two outs. Kyle Lloyd hit a soft liner down the left field line that looked like a two-run base hit at the least. Coupeville left fielder Jake Hoagland, however, made a gold-star running catch to end the threat.

Twice the Knights (1-2) loaded the bases with no outs against Coupeville starter Dane Lucero, and twice Lucero escaped unscathed. Both times he recorded back-to-back strikeouts and then induced lazy fly balls to get out the jams.

Lucero pitched four innings and allowed only two hits while striking out seven and walking six.

“Dane did an outstanding job,” coach Marc Aparicio said.

Aparicio added he “doesn’t get nervous at all” when Lucero gets into tough spots because of the sophomore’s ability to handle tight situations.

Coupeville scored in the bottom of the first when Joey Lippo walked and eventually scored on Lucero’s ground out.

In the fourth, Lucero walked and was replaced by pinch runner Nick Etzell. Etzell stole second, moved to third on a balk and eluded a tag at the plate after Matt Hilborn’s sacrifice fly to center field.

“The pitching was great today,” Aparicio said. Lucero was followed on the mound by Julian Welling and Hilborn.

Aparicio said he it was “great” to get Welling, who is dealing with “arm issues,” back on the field and that the junior is an important piece to the Wolves’ success.

Hilborn entered with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth and retired all four hitters he faced, two with strike outs.

Coupeville did not get a hit, but it did receive seven walks, three to Ethan Marx.

The Wolves (2-2) play three games in four days, beginning with a trip to North Mason (0-3) at 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 24. Vashon Island (1-1) visits at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sultan (0-2) at 4 p.m. Monday.

Coupeville’s Jake Hoagland looks in a fly ball in the fifth inning. An inning later he made a game-saving catch for the Wolves. (Photo by John Fisken)

Coupeville’ Kory Score takes a throw at first base to force out Bremerton’s Desmond Moore. (Photo by John Fisken)