Braves teams celebrate despite losses to league rival Coupeville

Bill Reynolds | May 08, 20240

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Karla Reynolds count

SENIOR MOMENT – La Conner High School senior baseball players Logan Burks, Ivory Damien, Kenai Zimmerman, Brogan Masonholder and David Holt meet once last time at home plate following their home finale against Coupeville on May 2. The Braves seniors helped lead the team to a winning record (9-8) in regular season play this spring. See Page 4 for the report on La Conner's final baseball and softball games of the season.

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Madoc Hiller count

ANOTHER RUN FOR THE HOME TEAM – Kaleb Otis, scoring one more time in the final game of the season, helped the La Conner Braves keep it close against Coupeville last week.

The La Conner High baseball and softball teams lost their regular season finales at home last week, but each program still had cause to celebrate.

For the Braves and Lady Braves, all wasn't lost last Thursday despite suffering tough setbacks to NW2B/1B archrival Coupeville.

That's because La Conner coaches and fans had occasion to honor senior players who in four years have overcome hurdles imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic to resume their spring pastime.

"This senior class lost time to COVID but became very competitive and showed the younger players how to win," La Conner baseball coach Jeremiah LeSourd said following his club's 8-4 loss to Coupeville.

Across campus, the La Conner softball team wrapped up the 2024 campaign on the short end of a 14-0 clash with the Lady Wolves, who rode a combined one-hitter tossed by three pitchers.

Lady Braves coaches Loran James and Taysha James-Sherman have adopted a unique season-ending tradition of honoring their seniors by presenting them with jars filled with infield dirt from the diamond on which they have toiled for four years.

The Lady Braves entered their final 2024 contest having swept a doubleheader with Concrete the previous weekend, totaling 43 runs scored during the twinbill.

But offense was harder to come by when La Conner faced the trio of Coupeville hurlers Adeline Maynes, Haylee Armstrong and Capri Anter. The playoff-bound Lady Wolves also benefited from a 14-hit attack while working a dozen free passes.

Sophomore catcher Teagan Calkins led the victors with a two-run inside-the-park homer.

The Lady Braves closed with a 2-13 mark.

The Braves, meanwhile, crafted a 9-8 overall slate and 5-7 league record to clinch the fifth spot in a seven-team conference format. La Conner had downed Friday Harbor 6-1, two days before facing Coupeville.

The Wolves (10-8 overall, 9-2 in league) bolted to an 8-0 lead on Thursday, then withstood two-run La Conner rallies in each of the sixth and seventh innings.

Coop Cooper and Camden Glover each had a double and a single to lead the visitors. Johnny Porter and Wolves pitcher Seth Woollet each lined a pair of singles while Landon Roberts chipped in a lone safety.

Senior Brogan Masonholder led La Conner with a double and a single. Classmates Logan Burks and Ivory Damien added a single apiece, as did Kaleb Otis.

Damien, Masonholder and eighth grader Charles Jackson shared mound duties. Masonholder was especially effective, retiring Coupeville in order in the seventh frame.

With its win, Coupeville advances to Bi-District play in Lakewood on Saturday.