Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale second baseman Gaby Soto forces out Ketchikan’s C.J. Paule during the Region V title game against Ketchikan on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale second baseman Gaby Soto forces out Ketchikan’s C.J. Paule during the Region V title game against Ketchikan on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Crimson Bears fall in region final

Ketchikan offense explodes for two mercy-rule victories Saturday

At the start of the day Saturday, the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé baseball team was undefeated in the Region V tournament.

Two mercy-rule losses later, the Crimson Bears had to settle for runner-up trophies.

Ketchikan beat JDHS 14-2 and then 15-2 to capture the tournament title. Both teams are heading to the state tournament. Coach Luke Adams said the feeling after the game was bittersweet.

“I’m proud that we got a berth in the state tournament, but our effort and execution today is not where it needs to be to compete next week at the state tournament,” Adams said postgame. “Be ready to practice on Monday, go back to the basics.”

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale player Christian Ludeman gets a fist bump from coach Chris Dillon after advancing to third on a single and an error during the Region V title game against Ketchikan on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale player Christian Ludeman gets a fist bump from coach Chris Dillon after advancing to third on a single and an error during the Region V title game against Ketchikan on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Ketchikan hit a grand slam in each game, sparking explosive offensive performances.

In the first inning of Saturday’s first meeting between the Kings and Crimson Bears, Ketchikan’s Wyatt Barajas flew out on a long fly ball to right field.

One inning later, Barajas hit a ball in the same direction, but this time he got all of it. The ball sailed far over the fence for a grand slam, sparking an offensive explosion for the Kings. That highlighted Ketchikan’s 14-2 win, forcing the winner-take-all final game Saturday evening.

Ketchikan’s Wyatt Barajas watches a grand slam home run off his bat in the Region V title game on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Ketchikan’s Wyatt Barajas watches a grand slam home run off his bat in the Region V title game on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

The next game, it was Liam Kiffer’s turn to clear the bases. In the eight-run fourth inning, he launched a grand slam over the fence in left-center.

Ketchikan had the best record in Region V this season, meaning that the Kings automatically qualify for the state tournament. The runner-up in the Region V tournament also goes to the state tournament (if they lose to Ketchikan in the title game), so the Crimson Bears are heading to the state tournament, win or lose against Ketchikan.

Prior to the loss to Ketchikan on Saturday afternoon, the Crimson Bears were undefeated in the tournament. The team that comes out of the losers’ bracket — Ketchikan, in this case — had to beat the team from the winners’ bracket twice to capture the regional crown, which is why the two teams played one more game Saturday.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale center fielder Garrett Bryant catches a fly ball during the Region V title game against Ketchikan on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale center fielder Garrett Bryant catches a fly ball during the Region V title game against Ketchikan on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

The Kings beat JDHS all three times they played in the regular season, but the Crimson Bears got their revenge in the Region V semifinals, winning a wild 7-5 game that required the Bears to come from behind in the final inning.

JDHS coach Luke Adams said Ketchikan is tough to go up against, and it’s always a competitive game when JDHS and Ketchikan face off against each other.

“It’s a great rivalry and any time you can steal a game from Ketchikan it’s a good accomplishment,” Adams said after Friday’s game, “because they’re one a heck of a team, they’re well coached, they have fearless players and they’ve got a lot of seniors on that team that toe the line.”

After falling to JDHS on Friday, Ketchikan beat Sitka on Saturday morning to stay alive and go to the title game. The Kings scored first in the rematch with the Crimson Bears, but JDHS answered in the bottom of the first inning with two runs to take the lead.

A Ketchikan runner dives back to first base on a pick-off attempt in the Region V title game on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

A Ketchikan runner dives back to first base on a pick-off attempt in the Region V title game on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Ketchikan responded in a big way in the top of the second, scoring five runs, including four on Barajas’ grand slam. Barajas had also launched a towering home run against the Bears the previous day.

The floodgates really opened in the sixth inning, when the Kings scored seven runs. Kiffer, the starting pitcher in that game, hit a home run to lead off the frame, and the momentum continued as his team batted around.

JDHS didn’t score in the bottom of the inning, and the game ended as a result of the mercy rule.


• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at amccarthy@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @akmccarthy.


Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale infielder Austin McCurley hits a ground ball in the Region V title game against Ketchikan on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kale infielder Austin McCurley hits a ground ball in the Region V title game against Ketchikan on Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Alex McCarthy | Juneau Empire)

More in Sports

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Riley Fick delivers a pitch against Sitka during the Crimson Bears 4-1 loss to the Wolves on Saturday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS in two battles Saturday with Sitka

Crimson Bears fall to Wolves in pair of pitching duels.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé junior Gwen Nizich is celebrated at home plate after hitting a home run against visiting Lathrop during the Crimson Bears’ 16-1 win over the Malemutes on Saturday at Melvin Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS’ sweeps Lathrop Saturday at Melvin Park

Crimson Bears securing conference standings over Malemutes

In this file photo JDHS junior keeper Alba Muir defends the goal against West Valley. Muir earned the Crimson Bears Hard Hat award for her play in Friday’s road game against Colony. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire file photo)
JDHS soccer girls find Colony road series bumpy

Crimson Bears fall in two hard-fought matches against Knights

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé boys soccer team play to a 2-2 tie in their white travel jerseys against Colony on Friday in Palmer. (Photo courtesy Troy Bennetsen)
JDHS soccer boys play strong on the road at Colony

Crimson Bears battle Knights for conference lead

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Cailyn Baxter won the girls long jump with a 16’1” effort during Saturday’s Capital City Invitational Track and Field meet at Juneau’s Thunder Mountain Middle School field. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Capital City Invitational ends with Saturday flourish

Athletes got funky as times shortened and distances lengthened

Gastineau Channel Little League players listen as Juneau Police Chief Derek Bos speaks during Saturday’s GCLL Opening Day, and field grand reopening and rededication at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
73rd opening day of Little League in Juneau honors namesakes at new Adair Kennedy Memorial Park

More than 430 players on 37 GCLL teams revisit tragic day in history with a field of dreams.

Golden-crowned sparrows come through town on their way to alpine nesting areas. (Photo by Bob Armstrong)
On The Trails: Spring arrives

Spring is happening, very slowly but surely. Purple mountain saxifrage has been… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé batter Cassie Chenoweth eyes a pitch against Lathrop during the Crimson Bears’ 6-3 win over the Malemutes on Friday at Melvin Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS’ softball team splits with Lathrop

Crimson Bears top Malemutes 6-3, fall 11-1 at Miller Park.

Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé shortstop Brandon Casperson tags out Sitka runner Tyson Bartolaba on a throw from catcher JJ McCormick during the Crimson Bears’ 5-1 loss to the Wolves on Friday at Adair Kennedy Memorial Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
JDHS nine hold their own against Sitka

Crimson Bears fall to Wolves in opening home game 5-1.

Most Read