“Coach, we flipped the switch.”
Those words came from senior Carson Risner in the baseball team huddle following Coupeville High School’s 10-2 non-league win at Cedarcrest Thursday, April 2.
Now, coach Willie Smith hopes the switch stays on for the remainder of the season — a season hampered by inconsistent play.
Coupeville improved to 3-4, and Cedarcrest suffered only its second loss in seven games.
The game, which assistant Chris Chan called the most complete by the Wolves in several years, featured timely hitting, strong pitching and stellar defense.
The defense, which has been a bugaboo for the Wolves all season, was particularly spectacular.
Coupeville committed no errors and turned in a bushel of web gems.
Center fielder Josh Bayne set the defensive tone with a running, over-the-shoulder catch in the first inning to rob the Red Wolves of an extra base hit.
In the sixth inning, Bayne made the “the defensive play of the year,” Smith said, when he sprinted to the deepest part of the park for a catch at the wall with a man on that took “the wind out of them” and “pretty much sealed the deal.”
Clay Reilly made two nice running catches in right field while looking into the sun, Smith said.
The infield also got into the act.
Pitcher C.J. Smith knocked down a line drive which ricocheted to Cole Payne, who stepped on second and fired to first for a double play.
Third baseman Aaron Curtin ended the game with a backhand stop and throw to first.
C.J. Smith pitched a complete-game, four-hitter.
“He was in total command working the corners and keeping them in check by mixing his pitches extremely well,” coach Smith said. “Carson did a great job behind the plate calling the game and keeping C.J. locked in and focused.”
Offensively, Curtin, Kyle Bodamer, Risner and Payne continued their hot streaks.
Curtin finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBI and three runs; Bodamer was 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI; Risner went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI; and Payne was 2-for-4 with a double, three runs and an RBI.
In all, Coupeville rapped out 14 hits.
The Wolves exploded for three runs in each of the first two innings.
Doubles by Payne, Curtin and Risner and a single by Bodamer fueled the three-run first.
Reilly started the second with a single, moved to second on Hunter Smith’s bunt and to third on Bayne’s ground out. Payne singled him home. After Curtin’s base hit, Bodamer drove in two runs with a long single.
The Wolves ended their scoring with four runs in the fourth.
Hunter Smith and Bayne started the inning with singles, then Payne reached first when Cedarcrest failed to cover on his bunt.
A double by Curtin, singles by Bodamer and Risner and a ground out from Aaron Trumbull plated the runs.
Coach Smith said he team had a “more relaxed and focused attitude.”
“I’m hoping … we settle in and play consistently the remainder of the year. Yesterday was certainly more of what I though we were capable of doing. It’s just one game, but I’m hopeful.”
Coupeville will now play four straight home games, opening with La Conner (3-3) at 4 p.m. Friday, April 10.