Braves fall short at Coupeville

The La Conner High School baseball team was late to the chase in NW2B/1B baseball action at Coupeville last Tuesday.

The Braves fell behind early to Coupeville, who took a 7-0 lead despite a late La Conner push across eight runs over the final two innings.

In the end, the Wolves posted an 18-8 victory.

La Conner fell 0-2, both conference setbacks. The Braves, scheduled at Orcas yesterday, resume NW2B/1B play this Friday when they entertain Concrete at 4 p.m.

Despite their loss at Coupeville, head coach Jeremiah LeSourd felt his team made strides against the Wolves.

“We came into the game with three goals,” LeSourd told the Weekly News. “I wanted to make sure each of our pitchers who didn’t pitch in game one (a 7-0 loss at Darrington) got an appearance on the mount to help them relax and gain confidence.”

“I also wanted us to be aggressive offensively and defensively,” he said.

Nathan Bailey led off a six-run La Conner fourth with a single. As La Conner batted around in the frame, Bailey would also join C.J. Edwards, Kamien Lopez, and Mason Wilson in drawing walks during the rally.

Haydin Dinuis, Cameron Burks, and Logan Burks highlighted La Conner’s big inning by lashing run-scoring singles.

The Braves weren’t done there. They tacked on another two runs in the fifth inning.

“The young guys,” LeSourd said of the Braves’ underclassmen, “have fire in their bellies and stood up for the older guys. It was exciting to see.”

LeSourd praised his players for playing with energy and confidence.

“In the end we came up short,” he said. “We can learn from the experience and build on it. They have it in them to be successful.”