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JDHS baseball team tops Sitka to earn region title game
- Klas Stolpe
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Crimson Bears outpitch Wolves ace to put Sitka into elimination game loss vs Kayhi
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears baseball team struck down Sitka in a 1-0 pitching duel that featured 12 strikeouts by Wolves’ senior ace Caleb Calhoun and just one “K” by JDHS senior Marcus Mendoza.
That one strikeout would be enough to send JDHS to the Region V Tournament Championship game on Saturday at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park field.
Mendoza faced 27 batters over six innings and walked nine, but allowed just one hit. His crucial strikeout came with the bases loaded in the top of the fourth inning with two outs and the one-run lead.
JDHS also got out of a bases-loaded issue in the top of the seventh. Sitka’s final at bat saw Nolan Calhoun walk and be replaced by pinch runner Cooper Wyman. Chase Haskins earned a walk, but both runners were held at first and second as JDHS sophomore right fielder Charlie Begenyi caught a line drive for the first out. Sitka’s Josh Partido popped out to Mendoza, who was now at third base after giving up the initial inning’s walks. JDHS sophomore relief pitcher Micah Nelson intentionally walked Sitka’s C. Calhoun to load the bases, and Sitka’s Olen Weathers hit a ground ball to Mendoza, who ended the game with a throw to junior second baseman Hunter Carte.
JDHS had another game-saving play when senior catcher Nate Fick threw out Sitka’s Brett Ross on a steal attempt in the top of the fifth inning to stop a potential rally for the first out. Another runner reached base, but senior left fielder Chris Anderson caught a fly ball out and threw to third baseman Carte, who threw to Fick at home to get a runner who had tagged up on third base for a double play.
The Crimson Bears' defense stood up to the challenge all day.
Senior first baseman Riley Fick had seven putouts, including a ground ball and one pop fly. N. Fick had two putouts and one runner thrown out. Marcus Mendoza had the one strikeout, but fielded a ground ball and threw out a runner. Carte fielded three ground balls and threw out a runner at home. Bengenyi had three put outs in right field, senior Madden Mendoza fielded a ground ball, Anderson had two put outs in left field, senior Tyler Kookesh two in centerfield and Nelson fielded a ground ball at second.
JDHS’ lone run came in the bottom of the third inning as Anderson earned a one-out walk, advanced to third on a Nelson ground ball out and scored on an error hit by Carte as the Sitka catcher misplayed the ball.
Marcus Mendoza had JDHS’ only hit, Kookesh earned two walks and Andersen one.
Sitka’s C. Calhoun (6 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 12 SO) took the loss. He also had the team’s lone hit. Ross, C. Calhoun and N. Calhoun earned two walks each, Partido, Brian Campbell, Josh McAlpin and Haskins one each.
The win puts JDHS in the championship game at noon Saturday against Ketchikan, who defeated Sitka later Friday night 8-4 in an elimination game. Sitka was the defending state champion.
Kayhi’s Brady Kline (6.1 IP, 13 H, 4 R, 3 SO) started and Wyatt Balluta (0.2 IP) closed. Sitka threw Jude Gluth (4.2 IP 3 H, 6 R, 8 BB, 5 SO), Weathers (1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB) and Fisher Steinson (0.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 1 SO).
Kayhi’s Julian Paule went 2-4 (2 RBI, 1 R), Owen Mendoza 1-3 (2 R) and Bryant Marquez 2-1 (1 RBI). Sitka’s Ross and McAlpin had three hits apiece to lead the Wolves.
Sitka defeated Ketchikan 6-4 in an extra inning game on Thursday to open the tournament. Brian Campbell (8 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 12 SO) earned the win. Kayhi’s Ace Asper (8 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 4 BB, 2 SO) took the loss.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com
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