.png)
Crimson Bears sweep Lady Kings on senior weekend
- Klas Stolpe
- 8 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Seven Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé graduates honored
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé softball team sent their senior players off in style Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from the visiting Ketchikan Lady Kings at the Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park field by scores of 5-3 and 6-2, with a public honoring between games for players, family and fans. JDHS defeated Kayhi 24-23 on Friday.
“This weekend brought a lot of emotions as it was senior night and our last home games,” JDHS senior Gwen Nizich said. “I am excited that we secured two conference wins and persevered through major weather challenges on Friday night. Our team is continuing to gain chemistry, and I am looking forward to carrying this momentum into regions.”
In the 5-3 opener, JDHS led from start to finish putting up their five runs before Kayhi scored two in the top of the sixth inning and one in the seventh.
In the Crimson Bears’ first at bat, senior Alayna Echiverri did what she has done her entire career, first at the now-defunct Thunder Mountain High School and now at JDHS. Echiverri doubled, tagged up and advanced to third on a fly ball out by sophomore Sadie Lockhart and scored on a passed ball, with Nizich at bat making the pitcher nervous. Nizich would single.
Echiverri went 2-3 at the plate with one run batted in and one run scored to lead JDHS.
Echiverri’s former Falcons teammates, juniors Lily Hayes and Taylor Williams, did their best to honor their upperclassmen. Williams went 1-3 with one run scored, and Hayes was solid at third base. Freshman Blythe Lockhart was 1-3 (1 R), junior Brynn Wheeler 1-2 (1 walk) and sophomore Ari Ma’ake scored two runs. Echiverri, Nizich and junior June Troxel had one stolen base each.
Wheeler started in the circle, pitching four innings with one hit allowed and one batter struck out. Nizich relieved (3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 SO).
Nizich recorded nine put outs, including six while at first base. Wheeler recorded seven (three at first base), Echiverri two and sophomore Kiki Galletes-Swafford two. S. Lockhart led with six ground balls fielded, and Hayes and B. Lockhart one apiece.
Saturday was emotional on and off the field as seniors Alayna Echiverri, Marlee Gines, Reegan Hansen, Sarah Jackson, Michelle Meeks, Gwen Nizich, and Miranda Ridgeway were brought to the center of the field with their families. After brief readings by teammates, the second game began.
In game two, Troxel led with a 2-3 day at the plate (2 R) and S. Lockhart 2-2 (2 R). Senior Reegan Hansen was 1-3 (2 RBI). Nizich scored one run and Wheeler had one RBI.
Wheeler pitched the complete game (7 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 SO) with junior catcher Cassie Chenoweth behind the plate.
Freshman Aurora Lee recorded six putouts, B. Lockhart four, Williams, Wheeler and Troxel three each, and Nizich and Echiverri one apiece. Troxel had four fielding plays resulting in outs, S. Lockhart and Nizich two apiece, and Wheeler, Hayes and Lee one each. Catcher Cassie Chenowith threw out a runner attempting to steal, with Nizich taking the throw.
The Region V tournament will be in Sitka beginning Thursday and ending Saturday. The Region V baseball tournament is at Juneau’s Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park field, also starting Thursday and running through Saturday.
The state softball (at Fairbanks) and baseball (at Anchorage) tournaments are June 4-6.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com
.png)
.jpg)