Auke Bay Post 25 sweeps Dimond Post 21 in Legion doubleheader
- Klas Stolpe
- Jul 12
- 6 min read
Juneau looks to improve into state tournament
Juneau’s Auke Bay Post 25 American Legion Baseball team toppled visiting Dimond Post 21 in a Saturday Alaska Legion doubleheader at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park, winning 5-4 in a walk-off opener and 8-3 in the nightcap.
Juneau’s Jacob Katasse laid down a one-out, bases-loaded bunt that scored Madden Mendoza in the bottom of the seventh inning for the opening game victory.
“Just get the ball in play,” Katasse said. “It is pretty hard, especially when he is throwing it above my head, but I got it down.”
Katasse chased two high pitches and fouled them away as Mendoza was at full speed toward home plate on each pitch. On the next pitch, Katasse sent the ball back toward the Dimond pitcher, but Mendoza crossed the plate for the win before the ball was fielded.
Juneau trailed 4-3 heading into their last at-bat. Kasen Ludeman earned a lead-off walk, and Madden Mendoza doubled him to third. Marcus Mendoza followed with a ground ball out that softened the Dimond infield and Ludeman would score on a wild pitch to tie the score at 4-4.
Juneau’s Landon Simonson was intentionally walked to load the bases and set up a possible double play, but Auke Bay Post 25 executed their suicide squeeze play to perfection for the win.
“It is important to get Ws so we can move up in the rankings, which is important so we can get to the state play,” Juneau head coach Joe Tompkins said. “Otherwise we do the other tournament. It is just Juneau pride. You want to play in the upper tournament.”
The top eight teams qualify for the Legion AA State Tournament at Mulcahy Stadium July 25-30. The bottom eight play in the Legion AA Matson Invitational at Kosinski Fields July 22-24.
The top two teams in the state tournament qualify for the Northwest AAA Regional in Billings, Montana, Aug. 6-11, while the top team in the Matson plays in the NWCART at Burley, Idaho.
“We want to fight and give these guys the best advantage and most baseball they can play,” Tompkins said. “The more they can play the better they can learn. They are growing, you can see with the win where they put the ball in play with a suicide bunt with two strikes is a lot of pressure. But if you don’t give the boys the chance — then don’t expect that type of play, and they don’t think you believe in them. I am showing them I believe in them.”
Juneau starter Cayman Huff pitched a gem through six innings, allowing seven hits, four runs (four earned runs), walking three batters and striking out two. His 87 pitches included 49 for strikes.
“We’re three and three in the conference and we have to be in the top eight out of however-many teams,” Huff said. “So the chance to get above .500 is a big-time game.”
Huff looks unassuming on the bump, but continues to keep opposing bats relatively silent.
“I just do my thing and go right at them,” Huff said. “My curveball is probably my best pitch.”
Huff also has an off-speed pitch that appears to be a slow-motion orb floating through the strike zone, but hitters either leave it alone or weakly tap it in play.
“It throws off their timing,” Huff said. “Keeps them guessing. There were some shaky moments tonight, some rough innings, but I took us into the seventh, and that’s all I can ask for is to take us late into the game and give us a chance to win.”
Marcus Mendoza relieved for the final inning (2 H).
Juneau scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning as Madden Mendoza was hit by a pitch and scored on a double by Marcus Mendoza.
Dimond tied the score in the top of the third inning and added a run in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Owen Severson.
Juneau tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, as Hunter Carte led off with a single, advanced on a wild pitch and an error and scored on a ground out by Katasse for a 2-2 game.
Dimond added a run in the top of the fifth inning as Hudson Willis scored on a sacrifice fly for a 3-2 lead.
Juneau tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning as Carte led off with a single, Simonson was hit by a pitch, Katasse moved the runners on an out, Keaton Belcourt hit into a fielder’s choice that outed Carte at home plate, Brenner Harralston pinch ran for Simonson on third base and scored on a single by Micah Nelson for 3-3.
Juneau's Auke Bay Post 25 players stand with Gastineau Channel Little League Majors All-Stars during the National Anthem on Saturday. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)
Dimond scored their final run in the top of the seventh inning as Shane Flannery singled in Willis. The Auke Bay Post 25 outfield stopped any further damage as Katasse caught the final two outs in center field and set the stage for Juneau’s bottom half heroics.
“This means a lot,” Madden Mendoza said. “We’re currently .500 right now, just trying to get above .500 and get a winning streak going.”
Mendoza was three-quarters of the way to home plate when Katasse laid down the winning bunt.
“Just a suicide play,” Mendoza said. “If Jacob gets the ball down we are scoring and game over.”
Katasse led Juneau with two RBI, and Marcus Mendoza and M. Nelson had one apiece. Carte had three hits, Madden Mendoza and Belcourt two apiece, Marcus Mendoza, Katasse and M. Nelson one each.
The Auke Bay Post 25 infield added another top defensive weapon in the return of Simonson, who played third base in the doubleheader, fielding next to shortstop Ludeman, Madden Mendoza at second base and Keaton Belcourt at first base.
“I am happy to be back with the boys,” Simonson said. “I am just happy to be back. I’m just trying to keep up with the younger guys. A lot of new faces, but there is really good leadership from the current juniors and seniors I’m seeing.”
In Saturday’s nightcap, Belcourt led with two RBI, and Ludeman and Marcus Mendoza had one each. Belcourt and Marcus Mendoza had two hits apiece, Noah Lewis, Ludeman, Madden Mendoza, Carte and Simonson one each. Madden Mendoza and Carte scored two runs apiece, Lewis, Ludeman, Marcus Mendoza and Belcourt one each. Madden Mendoza earned two walks and Carte one.
Ludeman started on the mound (5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 SO) and Marcus Mendoza closed (2 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 1 SO).
Auke Bay Post 25 also defeated Dimond 6-5 in a non-league game Friday and will play another non-league game at noon Sunday against Dimond.
Alaska Legion standings to date include: Wasilla Post 35 at 10-2 (14-6 overall), Service Post 28 at 10-1 (14-4 OA), Kenai Post 20 at 8-2 (17-5-2 OA), West Post 1 at 7-4 (12-9-1 OA), Chugiak Post 33 7-2 (16-7-1 OA), Dimond Post 21 at 5-6 (6-12 OA), Eagle River at 4-5 (8-9 OA), Palmer Post 15 at 3-8 (7-14 OA), Juneau Post 25 at 6-6 (7-14 OA), East Post 34 at 3-7 (7-13 OA), South Post 4 at 3-7 (6-14 OA), Ketchikan Post 3 at 2-7 (4-12 OA), Bartlett Post 29 at 0-10 (2-15 OA) and Fairbanks Post 11 at 0-2 (6-7 OA).
• Contact Klas Stolpe at kstolpe@juneauindependent.com.
