In a game of small ball, the Ketchikan Kings were able to do just enough in eliminating the Thunder Mountain Falcons, 2-1, from the Region V Southeast Baseball Tournament at Moller Field Friday afternoon.
With the game tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Ketchikan was able to tack on the would-be winning run when a wild pitch thrown by TMHS starter Bobby Cox flew to the backstop allowing Michael Star to score from third. Star started the inning off with a walk, made his way to second on a Kody Malouf sacrifice bunt and went to third on a Liam Kiffer groundout.
Ketchikan scored the first run of the game in the second inning when Cody Kemble scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Brock King.
TMHS scored its lone run in the fourth inning when Jacob Tapia took advantage of passed ball and scooted home from third base.
The Falcons had a chance in the seventh when Taylor Funderburk got on base due to an error. However, when he tried to steal second on a wild throw to first, he was thrown out at second base from the outfield.
Ketchikan starter Wyatt Barajas was brilliant on the mound, holding the Falcons to only the one run on four hits and two walks with three strikeouts in a complete game. Barajas also went 2-for-2 at the plate. He was the only player for either team with multiple hits.
Cox was nearly as solid on the mound for TMHS. He gave up his two runs on four hits and three walks while adding in three punchouts.
Ketchikan will play Sitka at 6 p.m. Friday in a game where the winner will play for the region championship against Juneau-Douglas High School Saturday. The team that wins Friday’s nightcap will have the task of trying to beat JDHS twice on Saturday.
• Contact reporter Gregory Philson at gphilson@juneauempire.com or call at 523-2265. Follow him on Twitter at @GTPhilson.
