Nathan Bailey fanned 18 batters and tossed six innings of one-hit ball, C.J. Edwards ripped a double and two singles and drove in two runs, and the La Conner Braves avenged an earlier double-digit loss to the Coupeville Wolves with a tidy 7-0 road victory over their longtime NW2B/1B rivals April 17.
“It was a big win for us to beat Coupeville, almost a must-win,” La Conner Coach Preston Stewart, who saw his club improve to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in league action, said afterward. “The guys really put in the work today.”
Bailey’s work was phenomenal.
The junior righthander took a no-hitter into the seventh. With one down, Coupeville’s Jesus Madrigal blooped a single to centerfield, spoiling Bailey’s no-hit bid.
Having run his pitch count to 97, Bailey turned the ball over to reliever Kamien Lopez, who nailed down the La Conner triumph by striking out the final two Wolves’ batters.
Through his first 21 Coupeville hitters, Bailey struck out 17. He walked two, hit one, and induced a weak groundout to the mound.
Wolves’ eighth grader Trent Thule nearly got aboard leading off the fifth when a third strike eluded La Conner catcher Angus Poprycz. But Poprycz was able to retrieve the ball and fire a bullet to fellow freshman Landon Stevens at first to record the out.
Bailey kept Coupeville batters off-balance all afternoon. He often got ahead on the count with swinging strikes off his fast ball and then finished off Wolves’ hitters with sharp breaking stuff.
The Braves lineup supported Bailey with patient at-bats and timely hitting.
La Conner took a 2-0 lead in the second. Jacob Hatcher and Kayden Crumpler were each hit by pitches to lead off the inning. After both stole bases, Edwards plated Hatcher with a single. Crumpler then scored on a wild pitch.
The Braves extended the margin to 5-0 with a three-spot in the third. After Bailey and Stevens drew walks and each swiped a bag, Hatcher delivered a single that scored Bailey. Stevens then tallied on a Coupeville throwing error.
With two out and Hatcher on third, Edwards delivered another RBI single.
La Conner added two insurance runs in the sixth. Edwards again was in the mix. The senior infielder flared a one-out two-bagger to right. The Braves then loaded the bases when Lopez was hit by a pitch and Poprycz walked.
Bailey drove home Edwards with a single and Lopez scored on an errant Wolves’ throw.
Coupeville, in a rare rebuilding year after two straight state tournament appearances, fell to 3-7 overall and 3-3 in NW2B/1B standings.
While Wolves’ pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts, they issued eight bases on balls and hit three La Conner batters.
The Braves combined for six hits, half by Edwards. Lopez, Hatcher, and Bailey also joined the La Conner hit parade.
“It was a total team effort,” said Andy Otis, another La Conner coach. “We talked beforehand about how everyone had to be focused.”
It was a message received by the entire La Conner roster.
Bill Reynolds: bill@laconnercommunitynews.org. Bill is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
