Unable to get a clutch hit late in the game, the Coupeville High School baseball team fell 6-5 to Sultan on the Wolves’ diamond Monday, March 14.

Coupeville put three runners on in the sixth inning and had another on third with no outs in the seventh but failed to score the tying run.

Regardless, Marc Aparicio was happy with the play of his club in his debut as the Wolves’ head coach.

“I thought they played great,” he said. “We had a few errors, but overall we played well.”

Coupeville scored first. Hunter Smith led off the bottom of the first with a single, stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a sacrifice fly by Cole Payne.

A walk, double and single gave the Turks a 2-1 lead in the top of the third inning.

The Wolves responded immediately, scoring four times in their half.

Dane Lucero slashed a double, scoring C.J. Smith and Payne, then Gabe Wynn doubled home Lucero. Jake Hoagland followed with an RBI single.

From that point, the Wolves would get only one more hit.

Sultan scored three times, all with two outs, in the fourth to tie the game, and then plated the game winner in the fifth.

The Wolves couldn’t take advantage of scoring opportunities in the sixth and seventh innings.

In the sixth, Hunter Smith reached on an error and was later thrown out at third on a botched hit and run. A walk to C.J. Smith and hit by Payne followed, but both runners were stranded.

In the seventh, Joey Lippo got aboard on a two-base error and scooted to third on a wild pitch. A strikeout, tap back to the pitcher and another strikeout ended the threat.

Coupeville (0-1) plays Concrete (0-0) twice this week. The clubs meet in Coupeville at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, and in Concrete Friday at 4 p.m.