.png)
Crimson Bears win in extra inning over Wolves
- Klas Stolpe
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
JDHS takes first of three games in Sitka series at Adair-Kennedy
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears baseball team played catch-up against the visiting Sitka Wolves in their Friday evening game at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park.
JDHS never led in the contest until sophomore Charlie Begenyi hit a two-out ground ball that scored freshman Bode Winkleman to give the Crimson Bears a 5-4 walk-off win over Sitka.
“We know that we can and need to be better,” JDHS coach Luke Adams said. “We had an outstanding performance and outing from Hunter (Carte) on the mound that kept us in the game the whole night. In the end we were able to pull through, but hats off in credit to Sitka. That is a good team and we know we have our work cut out for us, not only this weekend, but moving forward. We are going to need to play better to keep competing with them as they get stronger each time we see them.”
Sitka scored the first run of the game in the top of the third inning as senior Josh McAlpine singled to score junior Josh Partido. The Wolves added two more runs in the top of the fifth inning as senior Brett Ross hit a double to score Partido and junior Jude Gluth hit a sacrifice fly to score Ross for a 3-0 lead.
JDHS got on the board in the bottom of the fifth as junior Hunter Carte and senior Riley Fick earned leadoff walks. Begenyi earned a two-out walk to load the bases and freshman courtesy runner Parker Katasse replaced Fick on second base. A passed ball by Sitka allowed Carte to score and senior Madden Mendoza earned a walk to reload the bases. Another passed ball allowed Katasse to score to trail 3-2. A long fly ball by senior Nate Fick to Sitka senior centerfielder Caleb Calhoun ended the inning.
Sitka added a run at the top of the seventh inning as freshman Chase Haskins reached first base on a dropped third strike, advanced on singles by Partido and Ross, and scored on a sacrifice fly by McAlpin for a 4-2 lead.
JDHS tied the game in the bottom of the seventh inning as R. Fick led off with a single and was replaced by sophomore courtesy runner Keaton Belcourt. Senior Chris Anderson earned a walk and was replaced by junior courtesy runner Kordell Lim. Sophomore Micah Nelson reached on an error off a bunt to load the bases. A sacrifice fly scored Belcourt. Senior Nate Fick was intentionally walked and a passed ball scored Lim to tie the game 4-4.
Sitka lead off batter Fisher Steinson was hit by a pitch to start the extra eighth inning, but JDHS senior shortstop Madden Mendoza had three fielding plays to end the Wolves' lineup.
In the bottom of the eighth inning junior Drew Cadigan-McAdoo earned a one-out walk and was replaced by courtesy runner Winkleman, who stole second during a teammate’s strikeout and advanced to third on a passed ball. Senior Chris Andersen and Nelson were hit by pitches to load the bases, and Begenyi’s ground ball was bobbled by a Wolves fielder to allow Winkleman to cross the plate for the win.
“A lot of our guys came up clutch tonight at the right time, but we need to get our bats going much earlier in games to keep getting the results we need.”
JDHS’ Carte pitched seven innings, allowed seven hits and four runs, walked one batter and struck out four. Cadigan-McAdoo relieved (1 IP).
Madden Mendoza, N. Fick and R. Fick had two walks apiece, Begenyi, Carte, Cadigan-McAdoo and Andersen one each. R. Fick had one hit and Begenyi one RBI. Carte, Katasse, Belcourt, Lim and Winkleman scored one run each. Winkleman, Andersen, Carte and Madden Mendoza had one stole base each.
McAlpine led Sitka with two RBI, Ross and Partido led with two hits apiece, Partido scored two runs, Ross and Haskins one apiece. Ross and Steinson had one stolen base apiece.
Junior Brian Campbell started on the Wolves mound (7 IP, 1 H, 4 R, 9 BB, 8 SO) and Steinson relieved (0.2 (1 R, 1 BB, 1 SO).
JDHS and Sitka play a doubleheader on Saturday with games at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. The JDHS senior celebration is at 2:30 p.m.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com
