LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

State's Transportation Plan Gets Federal OK
28 Mar 2024 15:06

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Federal officials on Wednesday approved most of Alaska’s four-y [ ... ]

New Funding Plan Ahead for Visit Sitka?
28 Mar 2024 15:02

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]

Sitka 'Frankenstein' Puts Classic Tale in New Ligh...
28 Mar 2024 15:01

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]

State May Los Millions Over Ed Dept. Missteps
28 Mar 2024 14:59

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    The state government risks losing millions of dollars in feder [ ... ]

Gov Signs Bill On Internet In State Schools
28 Mar 2024 14:57

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]

Capitol Christmas Tree to Come from Tongass
28 Mar 2024 14:56

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, known for its steep mountains [ ... ]

City League Games Thursday
28 Mar 2024 14:52

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Police Blotter
28 Mar 2024 14:50

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead  [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Community Happenings
28 Mar 2024 14:48

This Week in Girls on the Run By Sitkans Against Family Violence
and The Pathways Coalition
During th [ ... ]

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]

Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]

Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
    A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]

House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]

Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]

Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

Wolves Host Bears in Season Softball Opener

By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The Sitka High Wolves softball team open the season at home with a pair of games against the Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears on Friday and Saturday at Moller Field.
    “Juneau always gives us a good game but I really expect to see a lot of good things out of our girls,” Sitka head coach Joel McCarty said. “We have been hitting the ball hard and we just need a live game to see what we have got.”
    The Wolves are looking to earn their first Southeast Region V title and first trip back to the State Tournament since their 2015 Region and State championships. They also had a string of State titles from 2010-13, before Juneau’s Thunder Mountain and Juneau-Douglas dropped down to the Division II level, and in 2005 when they first split into the small school ranks.
    For the past three seasons Southeast Conference rival TMHS has taken the DII State title and either JDHS and Ketchikan was the number two conference team along for the ride.
    “Our goal is always to make it to State and to win State,” McCarty said. “That has never not been the goal. This year we really have a chance to start that trend again with the amount of work the girls have been putting in. We have been doing morning batting cage work and afternoon practices daily and the girls have been doing everything they can to improve. Their goal, as a whole team, is to win State. I think with the group we have this year we have a chance, and that is what we are working towards.”
    McCarty is optimistic about a season that includes eight seniors returning to finish their careers as Wolves and the complementary infusion of two juniors, three sophomores, and a freshman in the lineup.

The Sitka High softball team are, front row kneeling, from left, Grace Harang, Natalie Schwantes, Ariel Miller, Yulvi Nuri, Keeley LaRose, JoJo Rock and Coach Jael McCarty. Middle row, from left, are Coach Megan Heathman, Nyla Duncan, Maxine Hutton, Tyla Gleason,
Baylee Pearson, Tamryn Suarez, Taylor Helem, Elsie Yocum and Coach Ashley Hessler. Back row, from left, are Coach Kris Pearson, Coach Dan Gray , Chloe Morrison, Kaia Lass, Sarah Sam, Jaelyn McCleod, McKenna Smith, Kyleigh McArthur, Abby Forrester, Miah Dumag
and Calista Gallant. Not Pictured are Rebecca Warren, Avery Voron. The team opens season play Friday on Moller Field against Juneau-Douglas. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

    When the Wolves hit the Moller Field turf on Friday, senior Miah Dumag will be in the circle and is expected to do most of the pitching.
    “She is one of, if not the, best pitcher in the conference,” McCarty said. “And with the lineup we have backing her up, she will be even more dominating.”
    There is not one weakness in that lineup.
    Senior Kyleigh McArthur will be the receiving end of the battery.
    “She is tough behind the plate,” McCarty said. “She blocks everything, has a good solid arm, and her leadership on the field is key. The girls follow her tone and she sets that tone at the beginning of the game.”
    At first base freshman Chloe Morrison will give the Wolves that position’s traditional proverbial baseball player: the tall, lanky, power-hitting lefty that is also a black-hole in the infield universe.
    “She has stepped up and taken on that position,” McCarty said. “She is making scoops down low and she is pulling throws down high out of the air. We have been really impressed with her.”
    Teammates can now be more aggressive with their own fielding plays knowing that any rushed throws off the mark still have a solid chance to be caught for an out.
    “Nobody is afraid to throw to her and it shows in how aggressive they are becoming,” McCarty said.
    Another lefty slapper, junior Baylee Pearson will control second base.
    “She has really increased her range over the preseason, coming for extra practices and doing all the things to get the team to State,” McCarty said.
    Senior shortstop, and leadoff hitter, Nyla Duncan is in her third year starting and that quality of play has resulted in a few college offers, something to consider after a Wolves Region and State title.
    “She is just solid,” McCarty said. “She is 100 percent commitment, you want a hundred of her on the field because she will do anything you ask, anytime. She picks up the freshmen in practice. She doesn’t care if she’s working with varsity or JV girls, she is the all-around athlete, good kid, that you don’t have to worry about.”
    At third base sophomore Tyla Gleason has morphed out of her catching background to earn a starting varsity spot.
    “She is fearless and is attacking the ball,” McCarty said. “And we need her bat in the line up so she has had to adjust and become a third baseman, and she has done that with the team in mind.”
    It will be the outfield that makes this year’s Wolves nearly unstoppable.
    Seniors Calista Gallant in left field, Abby Forrester in center, and Avery Voron in right.
    “There’s not going to be very many holes in our outfield,” McCarty said. “With just a few practices they are diving, making sliding catches, and they’re not afraid of the fence. They are going to be the most aggressive outfield we have seen in a long time in Sitka. I think they are one of our major strengths.”
    McCarty described her outfield:
    Gallant is a “firecracker,” who leads by her voice, has a cannon of an arm that is uncontrollable and unbelievable and can throw from the fence directly to the catcher. Aggressive, wants to win, and is the most competitive on the team. A clutch player who makes the extra play to make sure we win.
    Voron has another big arm and is expected to throw batters out at first and take away singles, as well as pick off runners trying to reach third. Is very fast and “kind of reckless in a good way,” running into things to make the play. She is fun and knows how to bring the younger girls into the mix. She’s worked hard to make sure we’re a whole team, not just seniors and everybody else.
    Forrester is fast and loves the game. She started playing in eighth grade, and now can cover every gap, is aggressive and willing to learn, and has increased her fielding range by a couple body lengths. Along with Voron, they are the fun, level-headed duo that keeps the team up when needed and calm when overly hyped.
    “They all have good arms, great range, and I even told Rich Krupa (Sitka athletic director) to push the fence back a little bit because they can catch anything,” McCarty said. “They will take away a few home runs with their range, and you can just image what our batting lineup is going to look like. There are not any spots where I have to hide a batter. Up and down we have nine good batters. And we have several on the bench coming in who are just as good with the bat. We’re going to surprise some of our fans I think.”
    Senior Erin Blankenship is currently injured. She is noted as a coachable, fundamentally solid player and will see time at second and third base.
    Senior Taylor Helem put in lots of off-season work and will see time in right field. She has a good bat and is expected to see endless designated hitting (DH) time.
    Backing up Dumag in the circle will be Morrison, junior Jaelyn McCleod, and sophomore McKenna Smith.
    Smith is the number two pitcher and will also rotate in at first base depending on game situations.
    McCleod has a good off-speed change-up and a huge bat when in the lineup, and has also been training at third base to help with the graduation of Emily Young, who was the stalwart at that spot last year.
    Sophomore Tamryn Suarez will be a backup at second base and will split time between varsity and JV.
    “This year we’re focused on being aggressive on the field and on the bases,” McCarty said. “Spectators should expect a high-paced game. It should be exciting to watch.”
    The Sitka Wolves total roster includes seniors - Blankenship, Dumag, Duncan, Forrester, Gallant, Helem, McArthur, and Voron; juniors  McCleod, Pearson, and Yulvi Nuri; sophomores Gleason, Smith, Suarez, Grace Harang, Maxine Hutton, Ariel Miller, JoJo Rock, Natalie Schwantez, Elsie Yocum, and Sarah Sam; and freshmen Morrison, Kaylee LaRose, Rebecca Warren, and Kia Lass.
    The coaching staff aiding McCarty includes assistants Dan Gray, Kris Pearson, Kyle Young, Megan Heathman, and Ashley Nessler; pitching coach Mindy Barry; and head JV coach Cliff Chandler.
    Wolves varsity play JDHS at Moller Field on Friday at 6 p.m. (JV 2 p.m., 4 p.m.) and Saturday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. (JV 2 p.m.)

You have no rights to post comments

Login Form

 

20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

Calendar

Local Events

Instagram

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Instagram!

Facebook

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Facebook!