Cedarcrest scored three runs off Coupeville in the top of the first inning in Friday’s Cascade Conference softball game and many of the fans thought they would be witnessing an early blowout.
However, Megan Smith led off the bottom half of the inning with a triple, and when Nikki Griffin tripled her home with one out and later crossed the plate herself on an error the score was three-to-two and things were looking much brighter for the hometown gals.
Unfortunately, those would be the last two runs Coupeville would score as Cedarcrest rolled to a 13-2 victory that resulted in the game being called after six innings on the 10-run rule.
Red Wolves’ pitcher Erica Taylor gave up just three hits over the next three innings before turning the game over to reliever Christina Tolley who retired the final six Coupeville batters in order.
“I thought our girls were on Taylor early but as things progressed, she got control of the game and shut us down,” Coupeville coach Jim Wheat said. “She threw our top hitters consecutive change ups and that got them off their stride.”
Cedarcrest scored four additional runs in the top of the fourth inning on four hits, a hit batter and an error to make the score 7-2. The Red Wolves added a single run in the fourth and two in the fifth, before putting the game away with three runs in the top of the sixth.
Coupeville had an opportunity to put a few more runs on the board by loading the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth, but a pair of fielder’s choices led to runners being forced out at home plate and an infield pop up ended the threat.
“We couldn’t get the timely hit, that’s kind of been the story of our season,” Wheat said.
The Red Wolves’ season record is 11-2 in the Cascade Conference, one-half game behind league-leading Archbishop Murphy.
“They are well deserving to be on top of the league,” Wheat said. “I thought our girls played well against them and we’ll just keep getting ready for the sub-district tournament that is coming up and use every opportunity to do so.”
Coupeville (2-12, 2-13), hosts Sultan at 4 p.m. today.
