Sports

Baker looks for big bounce back year with Cleveland organization

Baker looks for big bounce back year with Cleveland organization

He hasn’t pitched in a baseball game in two years, yet Dylan Baker of Juneau has remained on the 40-man roster for the Cleveland Indians… Continue reading

  • Feb 23, 2017
  • By VAN WILLIAMS
Baker looks for big bounce back year with Cleveland organization
Steve Thompson, of Alaska Goaltending Academy, leads a drill for goaltenders at Treadwell Arena on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Home ice advantage: Bringing goalie expertise across Alaska

Two former University of Alaska Fairbanks goalies are tapping into the minds of the state’s next generation of netminders. Steve Thompson, a Nanook between 2009-2014,… Continue reading

Steve Thompson, of Alaska Goaltending Academy, leads a drill for goaltenders at Treadwell Arena on Wednesday. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Bohulano, Swofford dazzle on senior night

The Juneau-Douglas boys basketball team saw an early 17 point lead evaporate by the fourth quarter, but summoned just enough strength to win over Ketchikan… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’s Bryce Swofford, left, and Ulyx Bohulano try to trap Ketchkan’s Chris Lee at JDHS on Friday. Ketchikan won 66-47. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Ketchikan flattens JDHS behind Smith’s 32 points

The Ketchikan JV and C team players have watched senior Jake Smith practice enough times to know when he’s hot. After making his fifth 3-pointer… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’s Bryce Swofford, left, and Ulyx Bohulano try to trap Ketchkan’s Chris Lee at JDHS on Friday. Ketchikan won 66-47. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
An Auke Bay Elementary School student competes in the 1-foot high kick as part of the Native Youth Olympics Friday at Riverbend Elementary. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Photos: Native Youth Olympics at Riverbend Elementary

Riverbend Elementary School hosted three other elementary schools as several dozen grade schoolers competed in Native Youth Olympics on Friday.… Continue reading

An Auke Bay Elementary School student competes in the 1-foot high kick as part of the Native Youth Olympics Friday at Riverbend Elementary. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain pitcher Philip Wall smiles after signing a national letter of intent to play baseball at University of Northwestern-St. Paul on Wednesday in the Thunder Mountain High School auditorium. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Playing ball in St. Paul: 17-year-old TMHS pitcher signs letter of intent

Seventeen-year-old Thunder Mountain High School pitcher Philip Wall won’t have a long offseason this year. Wall signed a letter of intent to play baseball at… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain pitcher Philip Wall smiles after signing a national letter of intent to play baseball at University of Northwestern-St. Paul on Wednesday in the Thunder Mountain High School auditorium. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas boys basketball seniors pose before practice Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the JDHS gym. Left to Right: Ulyx Bohulano, Hunter Beelitz, Bryce Swofford, Jordan Milligan, Marshall Shapland-Murray, Luis Lozada. Not pictured Alison Ford, David Timothy, John Williams. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Weekend preview: Kayhi and JDHS face off in big series

The prep basketball season is quickly winding down with just four regular season games remaining for each of Juneau’s four high school squads. The boys… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas boys basketball seniors pose before practice Wednesday, Feb. 15 at the JDHS gym. Left to Right: Ulyx Bohulano, Hunter Beelitz, Bryce Swofford, Jordan Milligan, Marshall Shapland-Murray, Luis Lozada. Not pictured Alison Ford, David Timothy, John Williams. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas sports star Swofford to play college baseball at Central Arizona

Juneau-Douglas senior Bryce Swofford has the size and skill to play basketball in college. But he’s also got potential to play professional baseball. No wonder… Continue reading

  • Feb 17, 2017
  • By VAN WILLIAMS

Mariners’ Iwakuma ready to shoulder load again if needed

PEORIA, Ariz. — Pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma was a major reason the Seattle Mariners stayed in the race for an American League wild-card playoff spot until… Continue reading

  • Feb 16, 2017
  • By JOSE M. ROMERO

Juneau Ski Club teens takes to Girdwood, earn four podium finishes

Fifteen of Juneau’s fastest teenage ski racers returned Monday after racing in the the Alyeska Cup State Championships Feb. 8-12 in Girdwood. Approximatley 100 racers… Continue reading

Matt Hall drives his team down the finish chute as he wins the 2017 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race on Tuesday in Fairbanks. The 1,000 race began in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada just over 10 days ago. (Eric Engman | Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)

Alaska man wins Yukon Quest

FAIRBANKS — A 25-year-old Alaska man on Monday won the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported Matt Hall of Two… Continue reading

  • Feb 14, 2017
  • By The Associated Press
Matt Hall drives his team down the finish chute as he wins the 2017 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race on Tuesday in Fairbanks. The 1,000 race began in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada just over 10 days ago. (Eric Engman | Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
Thunder Mountain High School guard Chase Saviers slips between Ketchikan’s Brent Taylor and Robert Seludo during the Falcons’ win over the Kings on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Lance Nesbitt | For the Juneau Empire)

Falcons continue to roll with statement win over Kayhi

Thunder Mountain head coach John Blasco knew his team had to limit its turnovers in a rematch with the Ketchikan Kings on Saturday. They had… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School guard Chase Saviers slips between Ketchikan’s Brent Taylor and Robert Seludo during the Falcons’ win over the Kings on Saturday, Feb. 11 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Lance Nesbitt | For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Moutain upsets Ketchikan in raucous affair

Twenty-four hours removed from a triple overtime win, the Thunder Mountain high school boys basketball team finished off the Ketchikan Kings in regulation Friday night.… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas’ Kolby Hoover, right, wrestles with Lathrop’s Jake Carlson for the ball at JDHS on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. JDHS won 50-43. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas’ Kolby Hoover, right, wrestles with Lathrop’s Jake Carlson for the ball at JDHS on Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. JDHS won 50-43. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan answers questions during an NFL football press conference Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez | The Associated Press)

49ers hope hiring of Shanahan ends revolving door at coach

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — For the third straight offseason, San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York hired a new head coach and introduced him with a… Continue reading

  • Feb 9, 2017
  • By JOSH DUBOW
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan answers questions during an NFL football press conference Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, in Santa Clara, Calif. (Marcio Jose Sanchez | The Associated Press)
Thunder Mountain high school basketball coach John Blasco lofts a pass to his players during a drill at practice Wednesday, Feb. 8 at TMHS. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Full slate of boys basketball this weekend

The Thunder Moutain Falcons (11-5, 2-0) and Kayhi Kings (12-2, 2-0) boys basketball teams have a lot in common. They are both on six game… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain high school basketball coach John Blasco lofts a pass to his players during a drill at practice Wednesday, Feb. 8 at TMHS. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School hockey coach Luke Adams, left, speaks to players during a team practice at Treadwell Arena on Feb. 1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

JDHS hockey heads to state tournament in Wasilla

The final stanza of eight high school hockey teams’ seasons will be written over the next three days. The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears (8-10) and seven… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School hockey coach Luke Adams, left, speaks to players during a team practice at Treadwell Arena on Feb. 1. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Left to right: Juneau-Douglas High School hockey’s Cameron Smith, Quin Gist and Billy Bosse pose together after being named to the all-conference tournament team Saturday in Fairbanks’ Patty Center Ice Arena. (Courtesy photo)

Crimson Bears put scare in Wolfpack, fall 1-2 in conference finale

Rarely does a coach gush so emphatically about their team after a loss as Juneau-Douglas high school hockey coach Luke Adams did Saturday. The Crimson… Continue reading

Left to right: Juneau-Douglas High School hockey’s Cameron Smith, Quin Gist and Billy Bosse pose together after being named to the all-conference tournament team Saturday in Fairbanks’ Patty Center Ice Arena. (Courtesy photo)

Juneau-Douglas girls earn 6th straight win over Soldotna

The Juneau-Douglas girls basketball team used a strong first and four quarter to beat visiting Soldotna 51-36 Saturday night. Kendyl Carson finished with 19 points,… Continue reading

Saviers drops 40 on Crimson Bears, Thunder Mountain sweeps Juneau-Douglas

On paper, Thunder Mountain point guard Chase Saviers’ stands 5 foot, 8 inches. But the dynamic senior played taller than everyone else Saturday when the… Continue reading