With nearly five inches of rain falling on Thursday in Ketchikan all softball games were postponed to Friday and a doubleheader between the visiting Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears and host Kayhi Kings at Dudley Field turned into a marathon of base running.
“The varsity struggled today,” JDHS coach Lexi Razor said. “Ketchikan played well and took advantage of some weaknesses we need to work on this week.”
JDHS did not get off to a good start in a 12-5 loss.
Although outhitting the hosts 12-6 the Crimson Bears also had 11 errors to the Kings three and that proved to be costly in the bottom of the fourth inning as Kayhi scored five runs on no hits to take a 9-4 lead.
Kayhi had scored two runs in the bottom of the first and second innings for a 4-0 advantage. JDHS responded with two runs in the top of the third as senior Alayna Echiverri singled, advanced on a bunt by senior Tatum Billings, stole third base and scored on a hard ground ball by junior Gwen Nizich. Senior Bryanna Eakes then reached base on an error scoring Billings.
JDHS added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning as senior Taiya Bentz singled and scored on a double by sophomore Skylar Oliva. Sophomore June Troxel singled and two outs later Billings walked to load the bases. Nizich earned another walk to score Oliva and tie the game at 4-4.
JDHS never recovered from the bottom half of that inning as five walks and two hit batters allowed Kayhi to work the bases in the weather and score five runs.
JDHS scored their final run in the top of the fifth inning as sophomore Brynn Wheeler led off with a double and and scored one out later on a single by Oliva.
The Crimson Bears left the bases loaded in their final at bat in the top of the seventh inning with sophomore Cassie Chenoweth, Echiverri and Billings starting a two-out rally with a single, another single and a walk, respectively, but a fly ball out spoiled the finish.
Nizich, Oliva and sophomore Taylor Williams went two innings in the pitching circle.
Nizich allowed three hits, four runs, walked two and struck out one. Oliva allowed five runs, walked six batters and struck out one. Williams allowed three hits and three runs, walked one and struck out two.
Nizich and Oliva had two RBI apiece. Oliva and Troxel had two hits apiece. Billings earned two walks.
In the nightcap 10-5 loss JDHS fell behind 7-2 after two innings. Echiverri led off the first with a triple and scored on a Billings sacrifice. In the second inning Bentz led off with a walk and scored two outs later on a single by Troxel.
JDHS added a run in the top of the fourth inning as sophomore Lily Hayes hit a one out single and scored on a Troxel single.
JDHS scored their final two runs in the top of the sixth inning as Nizich walked, Eakes reached on an error and one out later Hayes singled scoring Nizich. Oliva then sacrificed to score Eakes.
“We dropped a lot of catchable balls,” Razor said of an area the Crimson Bears need to improve on. She noted that the pitching staff performed well to throw in the rain.
Troxel led with two RBI, Billings, Hayes and Oliva one each. Hayes and Troxel had two hits each, Echiverri and sophomore Taylor Petrie one apiece.
Williams pitched two outs in the first inning, allowed one hit and three runs and walked two. Nizich pitched 2.1 innings, allowed three hits and four runs, walked three and struck out four. Oliva closed for three innings, allowed four hits and three runs and walked three.
JDHS had also split two games at Sitka on Thursday, winning 18-9 and falling 10-9.
“This was a long trip for us with some wet and cold weather,” Razor said. “We played great in our first game against Sitka on Thursday but then missed the mark in our other three varsity games…Our JV played two games in bad weather and did great in both games,” Razor said. “They are playing well together as a team and it is fun to watch them improve and play so well.”
JDHS plays at Anchorage next weekend. The Crimson Bears are 11-9-1 overall and 5-6 in the Division I Railbelt Conference. Ketchikan is 0-0 in the Division II Southeast Conference and 12-12-2 overall. Sitka is 0-0 SEC and 12-11-4 overall.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@juneauempire.com.
