The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé baseball team was surprised at the ASAA Division I State Baseball Championships on Thursday at Sitka’s Moller Field.
Surprised by their own play in a 9-1 loss to the Colony Knights.
“We didn’t show up today,” JDHS coach Chad Bentz said. “It was unfortunate. We made way too many mistakes. Physical mistakes, some mental mistakes, just too many. You can’t do that. Colony came out and put the bat on the ball, made some strikes, and made plays. And good for them. We wish them nothing but the best moving forward.”
The Crimson Bears lone run came in the top of the fifth inning while trailing 6-0.
Senior Kaleb Campbell reached first base on a catcher’s interference and reached second on a passed ball. Senior Bodhi Nelson grounded out, moving Campbell to third base and junior Landon Simonson singled to left field scoring Campbell to trail 6-1.
“You have to have your best for every game in the state tournament,” Bentz said. “You have to limit mistakes. We gave them an extra five outs in the first two innings. So we gave them almost two extra innings worth of outs in the first two innings. When you do that it makes it hard for any team to win in a tournament like this. It is just a bummer because I know they are trying. It is hard to watch. I feel bad for the guys, but we just weren’t good enough today.”
JDHS had just four hits in the game. Simonson led with a 1-3 day at the plate and the one RBI. Seniors Philip Crupi and Finn Kesey and Nelson had one hit each.
Campbell, Nelson and Simonson all struck the ball in the Crimson Bears final at bat, but each hit was fielded by Colony.
Crimson Bears senior Joe Aline started on the mound and went 1.1 innings, allowed four hits and six runs and walked two batters. Nelson relieved for 2.2 innings, allowed one hit and two runs, walked two and struck out two. Simonson relieved for two innings, allowed four hits and one run, walked two and struck out one.
Colony scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning as senior Deven Rhodes reached on an error that scored junior Brayden Parrent, and junior Nathanael Wilson singled to left field scoring senior Zephon Rhowmine and Rhodes for 3-0.
The Knights added three more runs in the second inning as Parrent hit a home run to right field with junior Jaren Venie and sophomore Boman Marks aboard for 6-0.
Colony added two runs in the fifth inning as senior Cauy Trangmoe hit a fly ball out to left field and Rhodes tagged up to score for 7-1 and Venie singled to right field scoring Wilson for 8-1.
The Knights final run came in the bottom of the sixth inning as freshman Kaesen Buzby singled to center field scoring Rhowmine for 9-1.
Parrent led Colony with three RBI. Marks, Parrent and Wilson led with two hits each. Parrent, Rhowmine and Rhodes led with two runs scored each.
Parrent also started on the mound and went six innings, allowed four hits and one run, walked five and struck out 10. Venie relieved for one inning.
“It has just been a tough year,” Bentz siad. “It is just a bummer, but we are playing a really good Eagle River team and it’s not going to get any easier for us. Both teams are playing for pride and to stay alive. It’s win or book a tee time. We are going to leave it all out on the field. Why wouldn’t we, there is nothing else we can do.”
JDHS falls into a consolation bracket game against Eagle River at 10 a.m. today. Eagle River lost to South Anchorage 4-3 on Thursday. South plays Colony in a semifinal at 4 p.m. today.
Sitka lost to Service 8-7 on Thursday and Chugiak defeated West Valley 4-3. Service plays Chugiak in a semifinal at 7 p.m. today. Sitka plays West Valley in the consolation bracket at 1 p.m. today.
Friday Games: 10 a.m. – consolation, JDHS vs. Eagle River; 1 p.m. – consolation, Sitka vs. West Valley. 4 p.m. – semifinal, Colony vs. South; 7 p.m. – semifinal, Service vs. Chugiak.
Saturday Games: 10 a.m. – 4th/6th place; 12:30 p.m. 3rd/5th place; 3:30 p.m. Championship.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@juneauempire.com.
JDHS senior Finn Kesey attempts a bunt during the Crimson Bears 9-1 loss to the Colony Knights on Thursday in the opening round of the ASAA Division I State Baseball Championships at Sitka’s Moller Field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS junior catcher Lamar Blatnick reaches for a foul ball as umpire Keith Perkins looks on during the Crimson Bears 9-1 loss to the Colony Knights on Thursday in the opening round of the ASAA Division I State Baseball Championships at Sitka’s Moller Field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
