Crimson Bears girls battle to last out at state softball tournament

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé falls to Wasilla to end season

This file photo shows the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé softball team on a road trip in Anchorage in May. From left are Crimson Bears Brynn Wheeler, Cassie Cheoweth, Blythe Lockhart, Ryann Oliva, Sadie Lockhart, June Troxel, Alayna Echiverri, Gwen Nizich, Kiki Galletes-Swafford, Reegan Hansen, Ari Ma'ake, Lily Hayes and Maisey Mar. (Photo courtesy JDHS softball)

By Klas Stolpe  

Juneau Independent

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears girls continued to battle in the 2026 ASAA Softball State Championships in Fairbanks on Friday but fell in the last innings to Wasilla 8-4 and were eliminated from play.

“We had too many errors,” JDHS coach Lexi Razor said. “You can’t win with that many and not enough hits.”

JDHS had nine fielding errors to just three from Wasilla. Despite the miscues the Crimson Bears were in position to win the game.

Trailing 5-4 with Wasilla batting in the bottom of the sixth inning JDHS had a potential momentum-turning play.

Wasilla leadoff batter Maylee Metcalf reached on an error and continued on to third base. The Warriors' Selah Sundberg hit a hard ground ball to JDHS senior pitcher Gwen Nizich, who threw to junior first baseman for an out. Williams threw to junior catcher Cassie Chenoweth as Metcalf tried to score. Metcalf tried to retreat to third base, but Chenoweth ran her down for the second out.

That play stopped a sure score, but a controversial call on the next batter who hit into the field put another runner on base. Officials said the batter was impeded on their way to second base. Wasilla would score three runs in the inning to take the 8-4 lead.

“Officials said we were in the way of the path,” Razor said. “They said you get an initial attempt, but then you can’t be in the path.”

JDHS went into their last at-bat with three solid swings. Echiverri connected, but popped up to Wasilla shortstop Metcalf. Troxel rapped a hard ground ball back to Wasilla pitcher Lash and was thrown out to first baseman Baird. Nizich swung with power, but popped out to Baird at first base.

“Over the past four years playing for the Crimson Bears, I’ve learned the importance of sacrifice and effort,” Nizich said later that evening. “There is nothing that compares to playing with a group of girls that lays it on the line for the team. The outcome this year was not what we had hoped, but as our season comes to an end I reflect on all the positives, friendships, and moments I’ll carry with me forever that came from softball.”

Wasilla scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first inning and JDHS tied the game in the top of the second inning. Crimson Bears sophomore Sadie Lockhart led off with a single, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored two outs later on a single to right field by freshman Blythe Lockhart.

Wasilla added another run in the bottom of the second inning for a 2-1 advantage.

JDHS threatened in the top of the third but stranded seniors Alayna Echiverri and Nizich on base. Wasilla took a 3-1 lead in the bottom half.

The Crimson Bears took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth inning as Williams hit a leadoff double. One out later B. Lockhart hit a pop fly that dropped to put runners on first and second. Senior Reegan Hansen reached on an error and Williams scored with B. Lockhart advancing to third. Chenoweth singled to center field, scoring B. Lockhart to tie the game at 3-3. Freshman pinch runner Aurora Lee came in for Chenoweth and Echiverri singled to center field, scoring Hansen.

Wasilla would take a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, started by a leadoff single by Deirdre Ferguson. A good fielding play by JDHS junior third baseman to junior second baseman June Troxel turned a hit by Wasilla’s Aday Lash into a force out of Ferguson at second. Wasilla’s Morgan Schoon hit a one-out single and Sydney Shaw followed with a bases-loaded hit. Wasilla’s Taylor Stivers hit a blast on the ground to Hayes who threw to Chenoweth at home for the second out, but Wasilla’s Millie Baird hit a pop fly that dropped to score Shaw and Schoon for the 5-4 lead.

JDHS’ Nizich and Wasilla’s Lash both pitched the entire game. Nizich went six innings, allowed seven hits and eight runs, walked three batters and struck out four. Lash went seven innings, allowed seven hits and four runs and struck out 11.

Echiverri, B. Lockhart and Chenoweth had one RBI each. Echiverri and B. Lockhart led with two hits apiece, S. Lockhart, Williams and Chenoweth one each. S. Lockhart, Williams, B. Lockhart and Hansen scored one run each. S. Lockhart stole one base.

Shaw led Wasilla with two RBI, Ferguson, Lash, Schoon and Baird one each. Sundberg, Lash, Schoon and Baird had two hits each, Ferguson and Shaw one apiece. Sundberg and Schoon scored two runs apiece, Shaw and Stivers one apiece. Lash, Schoon and Stivers earned one walk each.

Williams had seven putouts at first base, including one ground ball fielded. Troxel had two putouts at second base on throws from Chenoweth and Nizich. Chenoweth had two putouts at home plate and threw out one runner at second. Hansen caught two fly balls in left field, Eachiverri one in center and B. Lockhart one in right. Hayes caught a pop-up at third base. Hayes also fielded four ground balls, Nizich two and S. Lockhart one. Nizich, Echiverri, Troxel, S. Lockhart, B. Lockhart, Hansen and Hayes all had fielding attempts.

JDHS had lost three games in pool play on Thursday, falling to Sitka 19-14, Service 9-0 and South 11-1.

• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com