Crimson Bears softball team stays alive to meet Sitka in championship game

JDHS defeats Kayhi in elimination game, one day after falling to Lady Kings

In this file photo Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Reegan Hansen bunts against Ketchikan during the Crimson Bears senior celebration 6-2 win over the Lady Kings at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Independent)

By Klas Stolpe  

Juneau Independent

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears eliminated Ketchikan from the Region V Softball Tournament in Sitka, 15-3, on Friday and will face the host Wolves in the championship game at 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

JDHS junior Brynn Wheeler started in the circle and pitched the run-shortened four-inning game, allowing six hits and the three runs, walking four batters and striking out two.

JDHS junior Lily Hayes went 3-3 at the plate with two runs batted in and three runs scored to lead the Crimson Bears’ bats. Senior Gwen Nizich went 3-3 (1 RBI, 2 R), sophomore Sadie Lockhart 1-3 (2 RBI, 3 R), sophomore Ari Ma’ake 1-2 (3 RBI, 1 R), freshman Blyth Lockhart 1-2 (1 RBI, 2 R) and junior June Troxel 1-4 (1 R). Senior Reegan Hansen scored one run.

Kayhi’s Peyton Nickich (2.1 IP, 7 H, 13 R, 7 BB, 4 SO) and Willow Vierra-Sonnenschein (1.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB) shared the pitching circle. Ashlyn Hancey went 2-2 (1 RBI, 1 R) to lead the Lady Kings.

JDHS had opened the tournament with a 12-10 loss to Ketchikan. Wheeler started in the circle (4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) and Nizich relieved (3 IP, 8 H, 9 R, 4 BB, 3 SO). 

Troxel and Hayes led with two hits, and Echiverri, Nizich, Williams, B. Lockhart and Lee had one each. Nizich led with two RBI, while Troxel, S. Lockhart, Williams, Hayes and B. Lockhart had one each. Echiverri, Troxel and Nizich scored two runs each, and S. Lockhart, Williams, Hayes and Lee one each.

Kayhi’s Vierra-Sonnenschein pitched the complete game (7 IP, 9 H, 10 R, 3 BB, 4 SO). Ashlyn Harold went 3-3 (3 RBI, 3 R) to lead the Lady Kings, Mariah Peachy-Austin went 2-3 (1 RBI, 3 R) and Amanda Sivertsen 2-3 (2 RBI. Cereniti Buendia had two RBI and Emily Mendoza two runs.

Ketchikan then lost to Sitka 16-1 to open play Friday and fell into the elimination game Friday night.

Sitka’s Delayna Barry (2 IP, 2 H 1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO) started, and Alina Lebahn (1 IP, 2 SO) closed in the run-shortened game.

Taylor McCarty, Lebahn, and Sadie Saline led with two RBI each for Sitka and Ally. Mayville went 3-3 at the plate with three runs scored. Lebahn scored three runs, Emery Carley and Payton Bergman two apiece, Kenzie Phippen, Saline, Adeline Marx, Maleah Partido, and Penelope Blankenship one each.

Kayhi’s Harold took the loss (2.1 IP, 7 H, 10 R, 4 BB, 4 SO) and Vierra-Sonnenschein relieved (6 H, 7 R) in the three inning game. Ashlyn Hancey, Nickich and Mendoza had one hit each.

JDHS would need to defeat Sitka twice Saturday for the Region V title, but will advance to state win or lose.

• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com