By KLAS STOLPE
Sitka Sentinel Writer
Juneau’s Gastineau Channel Little League defeated Ketchikan 12-2 in the opening game of the double elimination portion of the Alaska District 2 Majors (10-12 years old) Baseball All-Stars Tournament at Moller Field Thursday night.
Juneau, the tournament’s second seed after three days of round robin play, ended the game over Ketchikan, the third seed, in four innings due to the 10-run rule.
The Capitol City lads will now play top seed Sitka in a semifinal 6 p.m. tonight at Moller Field. Ketchikan plays in an elimination game on Saturday at 4 p.m. against the loser of tonight’s game.
Christian Nelson earned the win on the mound Thursday night over 3.1 innings of work, throwing 51 pitches, allowing 6 hits and 2 runs, and striking out 4 batters.
Ketchikan went through three pitchers with Hayden Trudeau starting (1 IP, 36 P, 4 H, 4 R, 1 SO, 2 BB), Marcus Stockhausen doing middle work (1.1 IP, 45 P, 2 H, 6 R, 2 SO, 5 BB), and Kain Dalton appearing in the third inning (0.2 IP, 21 P, 1 H, 2 R, 1 SO, 1 BB).
Juneau scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first inning as Nelson helped his own cause with a single, scoring Nate Fick. Marcus Mendoza followed with a sacrifice fly scoring Ezra Vidal, and Riley Fick laid down a bunt that brought in Nelson.
Juneau Gastineau Channel Little League left fielder Nate Fick, center fielder Brandon Casperson (11), and right fielder Owen Woodruff (2) await the start of their game against Ketchikan in the double elination format Little League Alaska District 2 Majors Baseball Tournament at Sitka’s Moller Field Thursday. (Sentinel Photos by Klas Stolpe)
They added another in the second inning as N. Fick led off with a single, advanced on a Vidal single, moved to third on a walk earned by Nelson, and crossed on a passed ball.
Ketchikan started a rally in the top of the third inning as Joseph Larson hit a one-out single, Jason Lorig singled, and Jessed Albecker hit a two-out single to center field scoring J. Larson. Lorig then scored on a double steal as Albecker took second base. Juneau shortstop Vidal fielded a hard-hit ground ball to end the threat and strand 2 Ketchikan runners on base.
Juneau put 8 runs across in the bottom half with Owen Weathers scoring on a passed ball, Marcus Mendoza singling in N. Fick and Vidal, R. Fick singling in Nelson and Brandon Casperson, Hudson Hawk walking to score Madden Mendoza, R. Fick crossing on a passed ball, and N. Fick reaching on an error scoring Reed Maier for the 12-2 lead.
Juneau’s Gastineau Channel Little League catcher Tyler Frisby, home plate umpire Dave Rigby, and Ketchikan batter Bryce Smith wait for a pitch.
Ketchikan shortstop Jonathan Scoblic attempts a tag on Juneau base runner Christian Nelson (3) during Thursday Little League District 2 Tournament action at Moller Field.
Marcus Mendoza then used just 7 pitches to close the game for Juneau on the mound, striking out the first batter in the top of the fourth inning, followed up by ground balls handled by second baseman Vidal and first baseman R. Fick.
Vidal led GCLL with 3 hits and 2 runs scored and N. Fick scored 3 runs, Nelson 2, and Casperson, Madden Mendoza, R. Fick, Maier, and Weathers 1 each. Marcus Mendoza and R. Fick each had 3 runs batted in, Nelson and Hunt 1 each. Nelson, N. Fick, Marcus Mendoza, and R. Fick had 1 hit each. Juneau left 8 runners on base.
Ketchikan’s Jonathan Scoblic had 2 hits, J. Lorig, Dalton, Albecker, and J. Larson 1 each. Albecker had 1 RBI. Lorig and J. Larson 1 run apiece. The First City boys left 3 runners on base.
Above: Juneau first baseman Riley Fick (44) attempts a tag as Ketchikan base runner Joseph Larson (20) dives back to first base. Below: Ketchikan pitcher Kain Dalton (2) delivers with Juneau runners Owen Woodruff and Reed Maier (14) on the corners. KTN’s Marcus Stockhausen (30) and Cash Larson look on.
In tonight’s action Sitka will have fresh arms, legs, and bats as they look to advance to Sunday’s championship. The local lads are expected to start Bryce Calhoun on the mound. Juneau will look to earn a day of rest and avoid a loss that would result in elimination play Saturday. The winner of Sunday’s championship will advance to the state tournament July 26-31, also on Moller Field.
