Auke Bay Post 25 reaches Alaska Legion state tournament

Klas Stolpe
Jul 20
4 min read

Juneau wins five of last seven road games to improve standing

Juneau Auke Bay Post 25 coaches talk to their team after Sunday's games against Chugiak Post 33 in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy Nolin Ainsworth)

Juneau’s Auke Bay Post 25 American Legion Baseball team turned their season around in four days — winning five of their last seven road games in Anchorage — to earn a berth in the Alaska Legion state tournament that begins Friday at Anchorage’s Mulchay Stadium.

Juneau defeated East Post 34 in the first game of a Thursday doubleheader 16-5 and then toppled Fairbanks Post 11 in the nightcap 3-2.

Juneau’s Keaton Belcourt gave up five runs to East in the bottom of the first inning, but little damage was done as Auke Bay had gathered five runs in the top half. Drew Cadigan-McAdoo (3 innings pitched, 2 hits, 4 walks -BB, 1 strikeout) and Madden Mendoza (2.2 IP, 1 H, 3 BB, 1 SO) held East scoreless the rest of the way.

Marcus Mendoza led the Juneau bats, going 3-4 with four RBI and three runs scored. Jacob Katasse went 3-5 with 3 RBI. Hunter Carte added 3 RBI. Noah Lewis, Kasen Ludeman, Landon Simonson and Cadigan-McAdoo all had two hits each.

Against Fairbanks pitchers, Christian Brown (4 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 3 SO), Katasse (2.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) and Micah Nelson (0.2 IP, 1 SO) were dominant in the win. Madden Mendoza went 2-2 with two RBI. Carte, Simonson and Brenner Harralston had one hit each.

On Friday, Juneau lost a 5-4 game to Kenai Post 20 and then swept a Saturday doubleheader, winning 3-1 over Wasilla Post 35 and 7-1 over Eagle River.

“They finally came together as a team,” Auke Bay Post 25 head coach Joe Tompkins said Saturday. “They believe in each other. Losing yesterday (Friday) opened some eyes.”

Juneau Auke Bay Post 25 players gather after Sunday's games against Chugiak Post 33 in Anchorage. (Photo courtesy Nolin Ainsworth)

Juneau trailed 4-1 against Kenai before tying the game in the top of the sixth inning and playing into the bottom of the eighth before falling. Pitchers Cayman Huff (3 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 3 BB), Marcus Mendoza (3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 SO) and Carte (1.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 2 BB) were solid in the game. Lewis, Belcourt and Cadigan-McAdoo had one RBI each. Ludeman, Marcus Mendoza and Carte had one hit each. Carte scored two runs, and Simonson and Belcourt one apiece. Lewis earned three walks.

“Seeing them settle into the roles on the team impressed me,” Auke Bay Post 25 manager Jeremy Ludeman said. “They are believing in each other and supporting each other. Wanting others to succeed and not being selfish or having a ‘what about me’ attitude.”

Added assistant coach Jake Carte, “The bats and the pitch are coming alive at the right time.”

Carte (6.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 9 SO) dominated from the bump in Saturday’s win over Wasilla, and Simonson (0.2 IP, 1 SO) closed. Lewis and Madden Mendoza led with two hits apiece, while Ludeman and Belcourt had one apiece. Ludeman led with two RBI, and Belcourt had one. Lewis, Carte and Katasse scored one run each.

In Saturday’s win over Eagle River, Ludeman showed why he is ranked among the league’s best pitchers, throwing a three-hit complete game (7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 SO). He also helped his own cause with one hit, as did Lewis, Madden Mendoza and Marcus Mendoza. Marcus Mendoza led with three RBI and Lewis added one.

On Sunday, Juneau defeated Ketchikan Post 3 in seven innings 7-0 in an early game, then fell later 8-6 to Chugiak Post 33.

Huff (7 IP, 6 H, 2 SO) pitched the complete game against Ketchikan. Ludeman went 2-4 with two RBI and one run scored, and Marcus Mendoza went 3-3 with one RBI and two runs scored to lead the Auke Bay bats.

Juneau's Auke Bay Post 25 pitcher Kasen Ludeman pitches against Eagle River during Saturday's second game. (Photo courtesy Jeremy Ludeman)

Against Chugiak, pitchers Marcus Mendoza (2 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 6 ER), Simonson (2 IP, 2 H, 3 SO) and M. Nelson (3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB) held the bump. Madden Mendoza led Auke Bay bats with two RBI, and Simonson, M. Nelson and Katasse had one each. Ludeman had two hits, while Lewis, Madden Mendoza, Marcus Mendoza, Carte, M. Nelson, Belcourt and Katasse had one each. Lewis, Ludeman, Madden Mendoza, M. Nelson and Katasse scored one run each.

Juneau has the fifth-best record in the league at 9-5 (15-10 overall). They trail Service Post 28 (13-1 league, 18-4 overall), Kenai Post 20 (12-2 L, 22-5-2 OA), Wasilla Post 35 (11-3 L, 17-9 OA), and Chugiak Post 33 (10-4 L, 19-10-1 OA). Juneau is above West Post 1 (8-6 L, 16-11-1 OA), Ketchikan Post 3 (6-8 L, 8-13 OA) and Eagle River (6-8 L, 8-13 OA).

State tournament starts with pool play: #1 seed Service, #4 seed Chugiak, #5 seed Juneau and #8 seed Eagle River are in the Denali pool, while #2 seed Kenai, #3 seed Wasilla, #6 seed West and #7 seed Ketchikan are in the Alyeska pool.