It was a good beginning to the 2018 baseball season for Coupeville High School.
A fast start in the first inning of the first game led to the Wolves’ first win in a 7-3 victory over visiting Lynden Christian Saturday, March 10.
Coupeville scored three runs in the opening inning and never trailed from there in the non-league game. The next game is for keeps when the Wolves host Chimacum at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, in the Olympic League opener.
Lynden Christian scored a two-out, unearned run on an error in the top of the first inning.
Coupeville quickly countered. Matt Hilborn reached on an error, then after a strikeout, Hunter Smith, Julian Welling, Dane Lucero and Jack Hoagland hit consecutive singles to score two runs. A walk to Gavin Knoblich forced in another.
The Lyncs scored single runs in the third and fourth innings, and, again, the Wolves countered.
In the bottom of the third, Welling, Lucero and Hoagland all singled to give Coupeville a 4-2 lead.
An inning later, Hilborn singled, went to third on a pair of wild pitches and scored on Wellings’ ground out.
Coupeville finished the scoring In the fifth when Hoagland reached on an error, Nick Etzell walked and Hilborn singled in both.
Lucero picked up the pitching win, going five innings with three runs (only one earned), two strikeouts and five walks. Hilborn threw the final two innings, allowing no runs on three hits; he struck out two.
At the plate, Hilborn and Welling led the Wolves with two hits and two RBI each. Lucero and Hoagland had two hits and a run batted in, and Smith collected the team’s other hit.
Dane Lucero fires a pitch against Lynden Christian. The junior picked up the win for the Wolves. (Photo by John Fisken)
Kyle Rockwell focuses on a pitch Saturday. (Photo by John Fisken)
Shortstop Hunter Smith throws to first to force out an Lynden Christian hitter. (Photo by John Fisken)
