The Coupeville High School baseball team used a five-run first inning to jump start a 7-6 conference win at Chimacum Thursday, April 14.

The Wolves are now in first place in the early Olympic League standings with a 2-0 conference mark (5-7 overall). Next up is a visit from defending champion Klahowya (1-0, 8-2) at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 19.

Coupeville needed each of its first inning runs as the Cowboys evened the score at 5-5 by the fourth inning.

The Wolves tacked on two runs in the sixth and then withstood a Chimacum run in the seventh for the win.

In the first inning, Hunter Smith reached on an error and CJ Smith and Cole Payne walked to fill the bases.

After a strikeout, Dane Lucero hit into a fielder’s choice, with the Cowboys throwing home to get the lead runner.

Julian Welling followed with a two-run single, then Clay Reilly singled in another run. After Gabe Wynn walked, Matt Hilborn drove in two more runs with a base hit.

Chimacum scored once in the first and then mixed three hits with two errors and an interference call to score four runs off starter CJ Smith.

After the big first inning, Coupeville’s offense went silent until the sixth. With one out, Hilborn reached on an error and scored on Hunter Smith’s double. After an out, Payne slipped a grounder through the infield to plate Hunter Smith with what would be the winning run.

In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Chimacum used a single and double to get within one run. CJ Smith coaxed the Cowboy cleanup hitter into a groundout to lock up the win.

Welling and Hilborn each had two hits; Hunter Smith recorded a double; and CJ Smith, Payne and Reilly singled.

Coupeville coach Marc Aparicio used 13 players in the game and called the win “a great team effort,” adding, “(I’m) very proud of the kids for playing strong — great start for the league games.”