Crimson Bears softball team splits at Sitka

JDHS wins two of three games on the road

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Brynn Wheeler pitches against Sitka at the Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park field on Friday, May 1, 2026. JDHS played at Sitka over the weekend. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

By Klas Stolpe  

Juneau Independent

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team won two and lost one at Sitka over the weekend.

The Crimson Bears opened the road trip with an 8-0 loss in the first game of a Friday doubleheader, then defeated the Wolves 5-3 in the nightcap and 6-5 on Saturday.

In the opening loss, JDHS recorded just five hits, two from sophomore Ari Ma’ake, and one apiece from senior Alayna Echiverri, junior Lily Hayes and sophomore Kiki Galletes-Swofford.

JDHS junior Brynn Wheeler pitched three innings, allowed six hits and four runs, walked three batters and struck out three. Senior Gwen Nizich relieved (1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 BB).

Sitka senior Alina Lebahn earned the win (5 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 SO). Freshman Kensie Phippen led with three runs batted in and three runs scored, senior Sadie Saline two RBI, Lebahn two runs scored and freshman Taylor McCarty three hits.

In the nightcap win, Nizich (4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 6 SO) earned the win and Wheeler (3 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) the save. Nizich and Hayes led with two hits apiece, junior June Troxel led with two runs scored, Echiverri, sophomore Sadie Lockhart, Hayes and freshman Aurora Lee had one RBI each.

Sitka senior Delayna Barry (6 IP, 8 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 SO) took the loss, Lebahn (1 IP, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 SO) relieved. Lebahn led the Wolves bats with three hits.

In Saturday’s 6-5 win, Wheeler earned the complete game win (7 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 1 SO) behind six putouts by Lee at first base on fielding throws from right fielder Galletes-Swafford (1), Nizich at short (3) and Hayes at third (1). Troxel had four putouts at second and two ground ball pickups, Echiverri had four putouts in center and Williams three at first base.

Sitka’s Barry (5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 2 SO) and Lebahn (2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 SO) pitched. Phippen led with two runs scored. Phippen, Lebahn, Saline, junior Bristol Clifton and freshmen Addie Marx and Emery Carley had one each.

JDHS will host Ketchikan on Friday (7 p.m.) and Saturday (1 p.m., 4 p.m.). Senior night will be Saturday between games.

The Southeast Conference Region V tournament will be in Sitka on May 28-30.

Two teams from the Division I SEC will advance to the state tournament in Fairbanks, June 4-6.

• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com