Meridian, one of the state’s top baseball teams, defeated visiting Coupeville 10-0 in six innings in a nonleague game Thursday, April 7.

Coupeville’s Kurtis Smith broke up a combined no-hitter by three Trojan pitchers when he singled in the sixth.

Coach Willie Smith said, “Offensively, we could not get anything going against them as their pitchers were probably the best we’ve faced all year.”

After a shaky start and allowing three unearned runs in the first inning, Smith said his club “settled in and played pretty well against a very good team.”

Smith said pitchers Ian Smith and Wade Schaef threw well against a “very sold hitting team.”

Schaef, a freshman, entered the game in the fourth with the bases loaded and none out and allowed just one run while facing the heart of the Meridian order.

Coach Smith said, “What was good about this game is that we were able to overcome some early adversity on the defensive end and refocus to play five more innings of good, defensive baseball.

“We are making some strides in a lot of areas, which isn’t showing up on the scoreboard but will, by the end of the season, help us win some games.”

Coupeville goes to Archbishop Murphy Friday, April 8, and Granite Falls Monday, April 11, at 4 p.m.