Showing no rust from nine days off, the Coupeville High School softball team beat visiting South Whidbey 18-1 in five innings Tuesday, April 9.
The Wolves (3-1, 5-5) took a half-game lead in the North Sound Conference with the win. South Whidbey slipped to 0-2 and 3-4.
Coupeville scored three runs in the first inning with the help of hits from Emma Mathusek, Mollie Bailey and Veronica Crownover.
The Wolves added two runs in the second behind a double from Scout Smith and Mathusek’s single.
Coupeville put the game away with an eight-run third. The big blow was Nicole Laxton’s bases-loaded double (or home run). The umpires ruled that the ball bounced over the fence, but spectators in the outfield said it cleared the barrier on the fly.
A home run by Crownover, a triple by Sarah Wright and a double by Bailey highlighted a five-run fourth.
Smith and Bailey finished the game with a double and two singles; Smith drove in two runs and Bailey three.
Crownover collected two hits and four RBI.
Mathusek and Chelsea Prescott had two singles each; and Wright had three RBI to go along with her triple.
Smith earned the win in the circle with a three-hitter.
“After a long layoff between games, our offense came out hot, and the defense was also on fire,” coach Kevin McGranahan said.
He praised the play of Prescott, who had “an awesome game at shortstop with a few great snags on hot ground balls.”
The Wolves host Meridian (4-5) in a non-league game at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 13.
Coupeville’s Mollie Bailey looks in a pitch. (Photo by John Fisken)
Coral Caveness hits a ground ball to third base. (Photo by John Fisken)
Coupeville’s Veronica Crownover tags first to force out a South Whidbey runner as second baseman Coral Caveness (1) comes over to help out. (Photo by John Fisken)
Coupeville shortstop Chelsea Prescott throws to first for an out. (Photo by John Fisken)
Scout Smith throws a pitch on the way to spinning a three-hitter. (Photo by John Fisken)
Catcher Sarah Wright receives a pitch Tuesday. (Photo by John Fisken)
