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Juneau’s Junior League All-Stars return home
- Klas Stolpe
- Jul 28
- 4 min read
Gastineau Channel Little League Junior boys fall in two tough games at regions in Oregon
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
Juneau’s Gastineau Channel Little League Junior All-Stars returned home on Monday after two tough games at the Little League West Regions in Bend, Oregon.
After falling to Hawaii 28-1 on Friday in their opening game, the Juneau boys faced Oregon’s La Grande Little League All-Stars in an elimination game on Saturday.
"Playing on a field that was grass to dirt and back to grass was different and challenging,” Juneau’s Eli Hayes said. “I was impressed with how Hawaii threw and pitched.”
Juneau played a tough game against La Grande but fell 11-10 in seven innings.
Gavin Kohan started on the mound for Juneau and 4.2 innings, allowed four hits and four runs, walked six batters and struck out five. Bridger Lockhart relieved (1.1 IP, 1 H, 6 R, 3 BB) and Mast Mallot relieved (0.2 IP, 1 R, 2 BB).
Kohan also led at the plate, going 4-4 with three runs batted in and three runs scored. Max Hayes added two hits, Marquis Lim, Colin Daniels, Mallott and Logan Fanning one each. Daniels had two RBI, Lim, B. Lockhart, Wyatt Hickok and Fanning one each. Hayes scored three runs, Elias Lockhart two, Lim, Hickok,= and E. Hayes one each. E. Lockhart earned three walks, Lim and Rawley Cox two apiece, B. Lockhart, Daniels, Hickok, E. Hayes and Fanning one each. M. Hayes had three stolen bases and Kohan five total bases.
"This experience was awesome," Max Hayes said. "I learned not only so much about myself, but also my team and how resilient we can be. We faced adversity, not just on the field, but off it too. We did not let it shake us and despite our hard loss we bounced back and played one of what I think is our best games against Oregon."
The teams were tied 2-2 after one inning. Juneau led 5-2 after three innings and 5-4 after four innings. La Grande led 8-6 after five innings and 10-7 after six innings.
In the top of the seventh inning Juneau tied the score as M. Hayes singled, stole a base during a walk to E. Lockhart and scored on a single by Kohan to trail 10-8. Lim walked to load the bases and B. Lockhart walked to score E. Lockhart and trail 10-9. Kohan scored on a passed ball to tie the game.
"Being able to experience this trip not only once, but twice, has shown me the importance of leadership and good vibes," Elias Lockhart said. "I think a great quote that coach Zach (Kohan) used a lot was 'bend, don't break,' showing that we can take a few hits and battle through adversity in games and still continue to compete and play at a level that is inspiring to others. Our last game showed character and grit and the resilience it takes to push a game to the very last pitch of the last inning. It takes a lot of passion to bounce back from a bad loss but I think we battled and gave it our all."
La Grande won in the bottom of the seventh inning in dramatic fashion. La Grande’s Jake Dombek led off with a single, Patrick Fenley bunted and Ryker McKinley was intentionally walked to load the bases. Juneau pitcher Mallott got the next batter to hit back to the mound and he threw out a runner going home. Mallott got the next batter to hit to shortstop Kohan who threw to home for two outs. La Grande’s Caleb Mcilmoil fouled off three pitches while earning a walk to score McKinley for the game-winning run, 11-10.
La Grande’s A.J. Romer started on the mound (4 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 BB, 3 SO), Mastyn Allen (1.1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 SO), Yitso Bender (1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 1 SO) and McKinley (0.2 IP) relieved. Wyatt Sloan led with three total bases, Romer and Fenley two apiece, Jake Dombek and Allen one apiece. Romer, Dombek and Judd Mccrae stole two bases each, Allen and McKinley one apiece.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com
