Gastineau Channel Junior All-stars open regions with win
- Klas Stolpe
- Jul 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 26
GCLL nips Arizona’s Sunny Side 3-2 in extra innings
Juneau’s Gastineau Channel Little League Junior Baseball All-Stars opened the Juneau League West Region Tournament at Bend, Oregon, on Thursday with a 3-2 win over Arizona’s Sunny Side All-Stars.
“It was a great team effort,” Juneau co-coach Jason Hart said. “All 12 players contributed to the team win.”
Added manager Jaysen Katasse, “The boys were able to battle a tough Arizona team in the first bracket game and prevail in extra innings.”
Juneau’s Issac Kirsch and Darwin Decena combined on the mound for the win. Kirsch started and went five innings, allowed two hits and two runs, walked one batter, and struck out four. Decena relieved for three innings, allowed three hits and one walk, and struck out two. Kirsch threw 82 pitches, 49 for strikes, and faced 21 batters.
“Never underestimate a team based on where they come from,” Kirsch said. “They might just surprise you. In baseball, anything can happen.”
Decena threw 39 pitches, 23 for strikes, and faced 11.
“It was the best feeling of my life,” Decena said.
Arizona scored the first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning as Jacob Galvez was hit by a pitch with one out and stole second base. Ozzie Guadarrama hit a two-out ground ball and reached on a fielding error that scored Galvez for a 1-0 lead.
Juneau got that run back and more in the bottom half of the fourth inning, as Elias Lockhart earned a two-out walk, Vinny Nizich singled to left field — sending Lockhart to third — and Nizich then reached second. Parker Katasse singled to center field, scoring Lockhart and Nizich for a 2-1 lead.
Arizona tied the game in the top of the fifth inning as David Blasi hit a one-out single to left field, advanced to second on a balk, and advanced to third on a ground ball out by Jaden Flores, who hit to Juneau pitcher Kirsch. Blasi would score on a pick-off error to tie the game 2-2.
Juneau’s Bode Winkelman led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a double, but was stranded on base. Bridger Lockhart led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single, but was stranded on base, and Mason Catrett led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single, but was stranded on base.
In the top of the eighth, the game went to international tiebreaker rules. Teams would start their at-bat with a runner on second base.
Arizona placed Andres Valenzuela on second to start the eighth inning. Guadarrama then placed a bunt down, but Juneau catcher Winkelman fielded the ball for the out and Valenzuela advanced to third. Arizona’s Marcial Lara then grounded into a fielder’s choice to Juneau third baseman Myles Pasion, who dove for the hard hit ball and threw out Valenzuela at home plate catcher Winkelman for two outs. Arizona’s Emilio Medina hit a single to center field and moved Lara to second base. Arizona’s David Blasi then blasted a hard shot to left field that was handled on a bounce by Juneau’s Levine, who threw home to Winkelman. Winkelman cut down Arizona’s Lara trying to reach third base to end their at-bat.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Juneau placed speedster Nizich on second base to start their at-bat. Nizich drew numerous pick-off attempts, disrupting Arizona pitcher Hector Degollado. With one out, Juneau’s Kirsch hit a hard ball to Arizona’s shortstop, who mishandled the fielding play and threw the ball into the dugout, allowing Nizich to score and end the game 3-2.
Parker Katasse led Juneau with two RBI.
“Throughout the whole game I kept telling everyone we have to go all out, every play,” Katasse said. “It was such a close game, so that extra effort would decide it.”
Nizich, Katasse, Kirsch, Winkelman, B. Lockhart, Catrett, and Gavin Kohan had one hit each. Nizich scored two runs and E. Lockhart one. Katasse and E. Lockhart earned one walk apiece.
“I came into it knowing it was gonna be a close game, but I didn’t know it would be that close.” Juneau’s Henry Maier said.
In other opening action, Arizona defeated Oregon 6-3 on Wednesday and Hawaii defeated Colorado 20-0.
On Thursday, Southern California defeated Nevada 12-2, Northern California defeated Montana 14-2, and Utah defeated Oregon’s host team 17-2.
Juneau on Sunday plays the winner of Friday’s game between Idaho and Hawaii (Friday game scores were not available). Other Friday games included S. California vs. N. California, Utah vs. Washington, Nevada vs. Montana.
The tournament is double-elimination and runs through Thursday. The winner advances to the World Series in Taylor, Michigan, August 3-10.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at kslolpe@juneauindependent.com.
