Nothing was going to stand in the way of Coupeville pitcher Heather Davis on Tuesday afternoon.
Not the 20 mph wind gusts racing across Ebey’s Prairie and certainly not the bats of the Darrington Loggers.
The junior had a career day for the Wolves, striking out 11, while allowing only two hits, en route to an 8-0 victory.
“That’s probably my best game ever,” Davis said.
Davis, who had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning, struck out at least one Logger in each of her seven innings pitched.
Despite her sharp control, Davis admits it took a while for her to get in the flow of things.
“In the beginning of the game I wasn’t too focused, but it got better as soon as we started getting some hits and our defense stepped it up,” she said.
Most impressive to first-year coach, Toni Crebbin, is the control Davis displayed.
“Last year, from what I understand, control was an issue,” Crebbin said. “She had five strikeouts and two walks last week and 11 strikeouts and four walks tonight, so I’ve been really pleased with her consistency.”
Davis was able to keep her control all while battling heavy wind gusts.
“The wind’s a factor in where the pitch is going and where it lands in the mitt and I threw away a few with that being a factor,” Davis said.
There weren’t too many that got away, however, as catcher Angell Black kept everything in front of her. Black, who was battling the flu all day prior to the game, made her most important play on the final out of the game, gunning out a Darrington runner trying to steal second.
“She did a great job,” Crebbin said. “She was a little bit more quiet than she normally is, but she had a hit and she threw out that runner to end the game.”
Not only was the Wolves’ pitching and defense superb, but so were their bats.
The first five batters received all the Coupeville hits, going a combined 9-for-13 with four RBI.
Davis led the charge, going 3-for-3, with a double and three runs scored.
“Heather really helped her own cause,” Crebbin said.
Michelle Pelzer and Beth Mouw also had big days at the plate.
Pelzer, who drove in the first run of the game on an infield hit, went 2-for-3 with two RBI. Mouw went 2-for-2, also with two RBI.
Now at1-1 in non-league play, the Wolves seem to be pleased with the direction they’re headed.
“As of two games I think we’re doing good,” Davis said. “I think we stepped it up a lot today. We got a chance to play at our level and we took it and ran with it.”
The Wolves play their next game at 3:15 p.m., Monday, March 29 at Shoreline Christian. They then begin league play at 3:30 p.m., Friday, April 2, at home against Friday Harbor.
Darrington 000 000 0—0 2 1
Coupeville 302 030 x—8 9 1
King, Buens (6) and Thompson. Davis and Black. WP-Davis (1-1). LP-King. 2B-Heather Davis (C). Records-Darrington 0-3 overall. Coupeville 1-1.