The Juneau-Douglas High School softball team celebrated senior night Friday before its 14-10 win over Thunder Mountain. JDHS has six seniors on its varsity and junior varsity teams: Sami Good, Maddie Johnson, Ally Ireland-Haight, Rena Nauer, Alison Ford and Devyn Isaak.
Juneau Empire: What’s you first softball memory?
Devyn Isaak: My first softball memory is playing on the Cubs. What made it so special is that it was my first year of playing softball instead of T-ball.
Alison Ford: Doing cheers because they aren’t once in a lifetime. It’s every game.
Maddie Johnson: Playing Midnight Suns on Chuck and John’s team. It was my first softball tournament.
Sami Good: Playing in Washington in 10U
Ally Ireland-Haight: Always traveling down south and wearing the ugly burnt orange jerseys.
Rena Nauer: My first game because not only was it my first game but it was also my first time hitting and I got a double.
JE: What advice would you give to younger players on playing in the rain?
Ireland-Haight Have a lighter grip on the ball and keep your hands warm. Just get the three outs so you can go warm up in the dugout.
Ford: Move around. Bring blankets and always, always, always bring extra clothes to change into after games.
JE: Whose the toughest pitcher you’ve had to go against?
Ireland-Haight: I have no clue, many people seem fast at first but then I take a breath and it’s like batting practice.
Johnson: Lauren Syrup (West High School)
Isaak: I think the toughest pitcher I’ve had to hit against is Nina.
JE: What will you miss about playing for the Crimson Bears?
Nauer: I will miss being a part of a team surrounded with the best teammates out there and coached by great coaches.
Ireland-Haight: How big of a family we all are. I have grown up playing with these girls and have been through some of the hardest times in my life. I woudn’t ever change my team for anything.
Ford: What I’ll miss about being a Crimson Bear is traveling with the team. I feel that’s when we bond the most because we’re constantly together.
Isaak: The part I’ll miss the most about being a Crimson Bear is how close every one is, like a family.
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The Thunder Mountain Falcons celebrated their senior night Saturday before playing JDHS at Dimond Park. The TMHS seniors are Alondra Echiverri, Alicia Jean Duncan and Haleigh DiCarlo.
JE: What’s you first softball memory?
Alondra Echiverri: I can’t think of my first softball memory but a memory that will always be special to me is winning the 2016 state championships. Going from winning no games my freshman year to winning a state title my junior year was such an accomplishment.
Alicia Jean Duncan: I played tee-ball in Sitka, as well as always watched my mom play mudball in Sitka. My first memory is watching my mom’s games in Sitka.
Haleigh DiCarlo: Playing tee-ball on the A’S teams and sitting on the third base playing in the dirt. Just having fun with no pressure at that age.
JE: What advice would you give to younger players on playing in the rain?
Echiverri: Always bring hand warmers!!
Duncan: I would say my biggest advice for playing in the rain is always have extra socks and extra sweatshirts, just in case you soak the first pair. Also always let your cleats dry overnight, the worst feeling is putting on wet cleats the next day!
DiCarlo: Sliding into home plate. Once you start sliding, you just keep on sliding.
JE: Whose the toughest pitcher you’ve had to go against?
Echiverri: Quincy Bates. I had the hardest time hitting off of her sometimes.
Duncan: I don’t have a specific one, but a slow pitcher is harder for me, because we are so used to practicing off Brittany, having to get used to a slow pitcher is tough.
DiCarlo: Quincy Bates, I don’t know why she just scared me when I would go up to bat in Major League. I liked playing with her more than playing against her for sure.
JE: What will you miss about playing for the Falcons?
Echiverri: Making fun of my coach John.
Duncan: I will miss the people I play with the most, and miss the memories we make together.
DiCarlo: Everything! Playing for the Falcons is so much fun. Everyone on the team is like family and I will miss playing with them all.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com.
At left, JDHS seniors Rena Nauer, Alison Ford, Devyn Isaak, Sami Good, Maddie Johnson and Ally Ireland-Haight. Below, TMHS seniors Alice Duncan, Haleigh DiCarlo and Alondra Echiverri. Photos courtesy of Scott Balovich; Sharla Hayes
