Daily Sitka Sentinel

Wolves Open Regions With Run Rule Win Over Crimson Bears

By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The top seeded Sitka High Wolves opened Region V Softball Tournament action on Thursday at Moller Field with a run-rule 13-5 win over fourth seeded Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé after the fifth inning.
    Sophomore Makenna Smith went all five innings for the win, throwing 126 pitches, 66 for strikes, allowing 6 hits, 5 runs (4 earned), striking out 6 batters and walking 8.
    “Makenna is preparing to take over the number one spot,” Sitka coach Jael McCarty said. “She is really coming into her own. She was amazing. She has been working on starting ahead in the count. She was hitting her spots and working through tough situations.”

Sitka sophomore Makenna Smith delivers
against Juneau-Douglas in the Wolves 13-5 opening Region V Tournament
win over the Crimson Bears. (Sentinel Photos by Klas Stolpe)

    The Wolves rested senior pitcher Miah Dumag’s arm, but not her bat. Dumag went 1-4 at the plate, with 3 runs batted in and 2 runs scored.
    Dumag hit a key double with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth inning after the Crimson Bears had clawed back into the contest to trail 6-5.
    Sitka senior Calista Gallant, freshman Chloe Morrison and Smith all singled to load the bases. Senior Kyleigh McArthur walked to score Gallant for a 7-5 score.
    Dumag then was greeted by a new pitcher as JDHS removed Sophia Schauwecker and brought in Kaia Smith.
    The duel began with a strike looking, a foul ball, and then three straight balls. Dumag waited on the next pitch and put a hard single through the infield to center field that scored Morrison and Smith and put a 9-5 lead on the Moller Field lighted board.
    The rally continued as sophomore Tyla Gleason singled to score McArthur and senior Abby Forrester sacrificed in Dumag for an 11-5 score through four innings.
    “We stayed pretty level headed,” McCarty said. “It’s easy to hold your composure when your team has consistently put points on the board behind you. Our bats are dangerous and both of our pitchers are pretty comfortable.”
    Sitka ended the game one inning later as Gallant, Morrison, and McArthur earned walks and Dumag hit a sacrifice fly to right field that Gallant scored on after tagging up for a 12-5 lead. Gleason singled to load the bases and Forrester was hit by a pitch to score Morrison for the 13-5 win.
    Sitka had answered JDHS’ first inning run by scoring 4 in the bottom of the inning. Dumag was hit by a pitch to lead off the rally, Forrester reached on an error at center field, senior Avery Voron walked, senior Nyla Duncan hit a fielder’s choice to score Dumag, Gallant was hit by a pitch to score Forrester, Duncan scored on a passed ball, Smith walked, and McArthur walked scoring Gallant.
    The Wolves added 2 runs in the bottom of the third inning with Gleason singling to score McArthur and Voron singling in Gleason.
    Sitka left 9 runners on base. Gleason went 3-3 at the plate, Forrester and M. Smith had 2 hits each, Gallant, Voron, and Morrison 1 apiece. Gleason, Forrester, and McArthur had 2 RBI each. Gallant scored 3 runs, Morrison and McArthur 2 apiece, Gleason, Forrester, Duncan, and M. Smith 1 each.
    JDHS starting pitcher Amanda VanSyke was pulled with two outs in the first inning and took the loss (34 P, 4 R, 1 ER, 3 BB). Schauwecker went 2.2 innings (63 P, 9 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 2 SO, 2 BB) and K. Smith 1.1 IP (33 P, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 SO, 3 BB).
    The Crimson Bears left 10 runners on base. Ariana Connally went 2-2 at the plate. Page Adams, Schauwecker, and VanSyke had 1 RBI apiece. Adams, Nikki Lahnum, Connally, VanSyke, and Jojo Griggs scored 1 run each.
    Sitka plays a semifinal against Ketchikan today at 6 p.m. Ketchikan defeated Thunder Mountain 5-2 on Thursday. TMHS will play JDHS in an elimination game today at 3 p.m.

Above, JDHS freshman Paige Adams avoids a tag by Sitka senior Nyla Duncan on a double play attempt. Below, JDHS junior batter Amanda VanSlyke (3) and Sitka senior catcher Kyleigh McArthur react after home plate umpire Woody Widmark makes an out call.