JDHS’ Gloria Bixby slides safe into second base and under the tag of TMHS’ Jenna Dobson during the first inning of a drizzly Friday night game against Thunder Mountain High School. JDHS leaped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning and wound up winning 15-0. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

JDHS’ Gloria Bixby slides safe into second base and under the tag of TMHS’ Jenna Dobson during the first inning of a drizzly Friday night game against Thunder Mountain High School. JDHS leaped out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning and wound up winning 15-0. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Stealing bases, giving to a cause

Softball game raises money for mental health awareness.

About $100 was raised for mental health awareness for the 15 runs scored in Friday’s softball game between Juneau’s two high schools.

Thunder Mountain High School and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé faced off Friday night at Melvin Park to play softball and raise funds for the National Alliance on Mental Illness —Juneau.

JDHS won the game played in drizzly, sloppy conditions 15-0. Crimson Bears coach Lexie Razor said while donations were still being counted Monday, the goal of $1,500 was surpassed and the total raised by the game is likely close to $1,600.

Razor praised sophomore Mariah Schauwecker’s performance at the plate and on the mound. In addition to striking out three while keeping the TMHS bats mostly quiet, Schawecker went 2-2 with a walk, three runs batted in and two runs scored.

[Softball season now in full swing]

Throughout the game, JDHS pounced on nearly any chance to take an extra base and stole a nine in total. Two runners were thrown out —one at second base and one at the plate —but Razor said the reward of aggressive running tends to outweigh the risk and it’s paid off so far in the young season.

“We’re trying to be aggressive on the base paths,” Razor said in a Saturday interview ahead of two more games against TMHS. “It’s making a huge difference this year.”

JDHS won both of the Saturday games. The first game by a score of 9-1, and the second game — a non-conference tilt — 13-6

JDHS’ record is now 5-1 overall and 4-0 in conference. TMHS’ overall record is 0-6 and the conference record is 0-4.

TMHS coach Julie Herman said there are positive signs every game and noted TMHS led for a portion of Saturday’s non-conference game.

Overall, we continue to improve,” Herman said. “Every conference game, every game, we’ve seen the improvement we want to see,” Herman said.

Razor said the JDHS team is hopeful COVID-19 conditions will allow them to travel to Ketchikan. Next up for TMHS is a trip to Sitka.

“We think we can match some of these teams as we go forward,” Herman said.

• Contact Ben Hohenstatt at (907)308-4895 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt.

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