Now sports fans know what the curfew is on the Melvin Park softball fields, as the stadium lights went dark at 10 p.m. with the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears and the Ketchikan Lady Kings in a Southeast Conference deadlock.
“The lights turned off and I couldn’t get them to turn back on,” JDHS coach Alexandra Razor said. “There is a timer for 10 p.m., and I couldn’t override it.”
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Mariah Schauwecker (11) hits a pitch off Ketchikan junior Marley Lewis (3) as senior catcher Faith Easterly looks on during the Crimson Bears and Lady Kings tie on Thursday at Melvin Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
And the JDHS coach had every reason to let the light shine again as the Crimson Bears had senior leadoff hitter Carlynn Casperson on first base in the bottom of the seventh with the score tied 7-7 and junior Chloe Casperson approaching the plate.
Unable to reach the Juneau Parks and Recreation Department, the game was halted and will resume on Saturday at 11 a.m. followed by the already scheduled game against the Lady Kings.
JDHS led 7-2 entering the top of the seventh inning, but a string of errors allowed Kayhi to rally for the tie as juniors Rylie Welk and Marley Lewis, and seniors Mackenzie Pahang and Faith Easterly all crossed the plate before an out was earned. Kayhi sophomore Rylea Armstrong crossed on a fielders choice by freshman Kari Klinger to knot the game.
“We had some ups and downs,” Razor said. “We started hitting well later in the game and we had some nice plays in the field.”
Ketchikan sophomore Mylee Gray is tagged out by Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé sophomore third baseman Milina Mazon during the Lady Kings and Crimson Bears tie on Thursday at Melvin Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Crimson Bears senior right fielder Zoey Billings had a highlight throw to get an advancing runner at second base in the top of the fifth inning.
“It was a hard catch and she barely missed it and she chased it down and threw her out at second which was pretty awesome,” Razor said. “It got us started and that was when we went up a little bit.”
JDHS built on a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth as junior Kiah Yadao earned a walk and her senior courtesy runner Bailey Hansen scored on a hit by freshman Gwen Nizich. Senior Carlynn Casperson bunted and Billings scored on a passed ball for a 5-2 advantage.
The JDHS defense then had a one, two, three top of the sixth as senior shortstop Mariah Schauwecker got dirty for an out, as did second baseman Bixby and junior Mila Hargrave handled a line drive at first base to end the inning.
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Zoey Billings (1) and Ketchikan senior catcher Faith Easterly watch a single begin during the Crimson Bears and Lady Kings tie on Thursday at Melvin Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Schauwecker and senior Anna Dale both would score in the bottom of the sixth inning on a Kayhi error at home for what seemed to be a comfortable 7-2 lead.
“We had too many errors and they came back,” Razor said. “But we have a runner on first, no outs, and we are batting ninth in the lineup so we are in a good spot so we just have to score one. It is a big cliffhanger to leave for a full day. I don’t think I have ever had to do this before.”
Hargrave started in the circle for three innings, allowed three hits, two runs, walked four and struck out four. Schauwecker went one inning with two hits, one walk and two strike outs and Yadao brought the game into the night with three innings of work, allowing one hit, five runs and striking out two.
Dale led the Crimson Bears’ bats with two hits. Sophomore Milina Mason, Yadao and Ch. Casperson led with one run batted in each.
Welk led Kayhi with two hits and Pahang led with two runs scored. Pahang also earned five strikeouts in the circle over two innings.
JDHS will play Sitka at 7:30 p.m. Friday and then the ‘double’ header against Ketchikan on Saturday at 11 a.m. and a final game against Sitka at 5 p.m. All games are at Melvin Park.
