The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears softball team posted a 2-4 record in the 2025 Blue & Gold Softball Tournament over the weekend at Anchorage’s Chuck Albrecht Softball Complex, getting a taste of what next month’s state tournament competition might bring to the fields.
The Crimson Bears opened with two difficult pool-play games against Cook Inlet Conference leader Bettye Davis East Anchorage and conference challenger Dimond for seeding in the tournament. All games were played to 65 minutes and then finishing that inning.
“During our first two games we struggled to catch up with the pitchers,” JDHS coach Lexi Razor said. “During our third game Friday we really started hitting well. And today (Saturday) we hit better and had some really strong defensive moments.”
On Friday the Dimond Lynx stopped the Rail Belt Conference Crimson Bears 12-0 in the Friday opener.
JDHS sophomore June Troxel had two hits (single 3rd inning, double 5th). Senior Bryanna Eakes (single 2nd) and juniors Alayna Echiverri (single 3rd) and Gwen Nizich (single 4th) had one hit each.
Sophomore Skylar Oliva and Nizich shared duties in the circle with Oliva throwing the first three innings and Nizich closing in the five-inning, run-shortened outing. Oliva struck out one batter and Nizich three.
Dimond senior Aubree Ogee struck out nine in the five-inning win for the Lynx.
Ogee also went 2-4 with four RBI and two runs scored and junior Kinsey MacDonald 2-2 with one RBI and three runs scored to lead the Lynx bats.
In Friday’s second game East Anchorage only allowed JDHS two hits in their 5-0 win over the Crimson Bears.
JDHS junior Alayna Echiverri and Billings recorded the lone shots in the top of the third inning with two-out singles into center field but were stranded on base.
Nizich earned a walk in the top of the first inning and Oliva reached on an error in the top of the fourth inning, both were stranded on base.
Nizich pitched the game, allowing just four hits and the five runs, walking two batters and striking out three.
East Anchorage junior Sela Rodriguez went 2-2 at the plate with four RBI and one run scored to lead the Thunderbirds. Rodriguez also took the win in the circle, going the four innings and allowing the two hits, walking one and striking out 10.
In tournament play late Friday JDHS opened with a 13-3 win over Service.
Nizich led with a 2-4 game and four RBI and two runs scored. Oliva had three hits, freshman Sadie Lockhart two, Echiverri and Billings one apiece. Senior Taiya Bentz had two RBI, Echiverri, Billings, Eakes and Lockhart one each. Echiverri, Billings, Oliva and Troxel scored two runs each, sophomore Brynn Wheeler, Eakes and Lockhart one each. Wheeler and Troxel earned one walk apiece.
Oliva pitched the three-inning contest, allowed five hits and three runs, walked four and struck out six.
In Saturday’s tournament semifinal JDHS toppled South Anchorage 6-4.
JDHS scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning as Oliva walked, Bentz walked, Troxel reached with a single, Oliva was forced out at home as Echiverri reached base, Billings reached base on a dropped third strike that scored Bentz, and Nizich reached on a fly ball error that resulted in Troxel, Echiverri and Billings crossing home plate.
South would tie the game in the top of the third. JDHS regained the lead in the bottom half as Eakes doubled and scored on a single by Oliva, Bentz reached on an error and Oliva scored on a wild pitch for the 6-4 score. Eakes, Oliva and Lockhart had one hit each. Nizich pitched three innings, allowed six hits and four runs, walked one and struck out one. Oliva relieved for one inning and walked one and was backed up by the Crimson Bears fielding defense.
JDHS then fell to East Anchorage in the first title game 6-1. Billings led with two hits and Wheeler with one RBI and Echiverri with one run scored. Oliva pitched the four innings and allowed four hits and walked four.
JDHS would then face South in a rematch. After losing to JDHS 6-4 South had gone through the losers bracket with wins over Dimond 5-3 and Colony 8-5.
In the rematch the Crimson Bears fell 4-0 to the Wolverines. Bentz had two hits for JDHS, sophomore Cassie Chenoweth, Nizich and Oliva one each. Nizich pitched the three innings, allowed two hits, walked two and struck out one.
South would then defeat East Anchorage 2-0 and force a second championship game which East won 9-0.
A Most Valuable Player was chosen from each team after games. Nizich and Billings received the honor twice, Bentz and Eakes once.
“We are leaving the tournament having won third place and giving us good information moving forward,” coach Razor said. “Opposing teams were surprised by us and when we are able to play clean games we can compete with those teams…We also need to work on our conditioning. After three games today (Saturday) we were tired and it showed. Overall we are happy with this weekend. We got to play in the sun and go in six games over the past two days.”
JDHS now has a 13-12-1 record overall and sit in second place in the Railbelt at 5-1. The Crimson Bears will play at Railbelt foe Wasilla next weekend. The Warriors are 10-14-1 overall and 1-4 in conference. Colony leads the conference at 6-1, West Valley is 2-4 and Lathrop 1-5.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@juneauempire.com.
