By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel sports Writer
The Sitka Lady Wolves did everything possible to win the 2023 ASAA Division II State Softball Championship game Saturday at Anchorage’s Cartee Fields yet fell one run short in a 6-5 loss to Southeast neighbor Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé.
“Bases loaded on offense and one out away on defense,” Sitka coach Jael McCarty said of the crucial seventh inning.
The Wolves trailed 5-4 heading into that inning and with two outs it appeared they would not get a chance to play defense but junior Dalila Callahan earned a walk, senior Harlee Nelson did the same and freshman Allyson Mayville took a pitch to the body to load the bases.
JDHS brought in their senior ace Kiah Yadao and Sitka junior Adriana Denkinger put enough force on a missed third strike that the ball got away from Crimson Bears senior catcher Anna Dale and Denkinger reached base with Callahan scoring for 5-5.
Sitka could not put another run across and JDHS took advantage in the bottom of the inning.
JDHS senior Zoey Billings led off with a single to center field but Sitka senior shortstop Kaleena Tucker handled a hard ground ball by JDHS freshman Gwen Nizich and threw Billings to Sitka senior second baseman Macee Steinson. JDHS junior Chloe Casperson bunted and was put out trying to reach second base on a throw from Sitka first baseman Callahan but Nizich reached third base.
With two outs Sitka freshman pitcher Alina Lebahn was in a chess match with JDHS’ Dale at the plate and the Crimson Bears senior put a 2-0 pitch into center field for the game winner.
“Our team just has a lot of grit and resilience,” said McCarty. “They never say die. I am really proud of how today went. Obviously I would have liked to win it, they would have liked to win it but they left nothing on the field. They gave everything they had today.”
Sitka went into the top of the sixth inning trailing 4-3. The Wolves Denkinger hit a one out double and Lebahn followed with a double scoring Denkinger to tie the game 4-4.
“It has been amazing,” Lebahn said of her teammates. “I have been playing with them a long time, through Little League, through club ball. They are just an amazing team to have. I love them. I learned how to bounce back for sure, that we all have each other’s backs, that it doesn’t matter who is in the game, we are all still playing for each other. And especially the seniors. I appreciate all their support. They really pushed me and they made me the player I am today, honestly, they made me a better player. I love them and they are amazing.”
The Sitka Wolves pose with their runner-up trophy after falling to Juneau 6-5, Saturday, in the ASAA Division II State Softball Championship game at Anchorage’s Cartee Fields. (Courtesy Photo Sitka Softball)
Again JDHS struck in the bottom half of the sixth inning with a lead off home run by junior Mila Hargrave for a 5-4 lead.
Sitka trailed 4-0 entering the top of the fifth inning. The Wolves Lebahn hit a one out home run over the left field fence to trail 4-1.
Steinson and junior Kai Nelson both earned walks and junior Kaiya Balovich doubled to right field scoring both to trail 4-3.
“I’m just so impressed by how hard everybody works,” Steinson said. “And how hard they work together and come together as a team. It has been awesome to play with them this whole year and finish it out. We never gave up. We pushed through so much this year, even making it here. I’m just so proud of them.”
Sitka’s Callahan would be hit by a pitch but the Wolves would strand two runners on base.
JDHS had scored the first four runs of the game in the bottom of the second inning with Hargrave hitting a lead off home run past the center field fence, and Nizich putting a shot over the left field fence with seniors Gloria Bixby and Amira Andrews on the bases for 4-0.
“We had a good loss, I mean, we fought our hearts out,” Sitka’s H. Nelson said. The third baseman received the Player of the Game Award. “It was a good game. I am most proud of my team being able to have that energy to play all those games today and still end the way we ended. My advice to younger players would be to just try your best and play every game like it is your last. Just never give up because it does come to an end eventually.”
Lebahn (HR) and Kai. Balovich led Sitka with two hits and two RBI apiece. Denkinger had one hit and one RBI. N. Nelson and H. Nelson had one hit apiece. Callahan, N. Nelson, Denkinger, Lebahn and Steinson scored one run each. N. Nelson and H. Nelson earned two walks apiece, Callahan and Steinson one apiece.
Sitka sophomore Kaelynn Balovich started in the circle, going one and two-thirds innings, allowing six hits and four runs, walking one batter. Lebahn went five innings, allowed four hits and two runs, and struck out three.
JDHS used Hargrave (2.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 1 SO), senior Mariah Schauwecker (2 IP, 2 H, 1 SO) and Yadao (2.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 4 SO) in the game.
Nizich led the Crimson Bears with three RBI, Hargrave two (2 HR) and Dale one. Dale had three hits, Hargrave two, Ch. Casperson, Nizich (HR), Yadao, Andrews and Billings one each. Nizich and Hargrave scored two runs apiece, Bixby and Andrews one apiece.
“Juneau is a great team,” said McCarty. “We like to get up here and support each other through state and then we like having the Southeast showdown right here in Anchorage. They put together a great tournament, nothing against them, they are a great team.”
Sitka finished the season with 25 wins and 18 losses. Wolves Tucker and H. Nelson were All-State selections as were JDHS’ Dale, Schauwecker and Hargrave. The Crimson Bears finished with a season record of 23-2.
“Yeah we battled all we could,” Sitka’s Tucker said. “It was just a phenomenal state season. We started from the very bottom of the losers bracket and fought our way all the way back to the top for second place. I’m just really happy we didn’t stop until the very end and we were really good at bringing each other up and just calming down and being level and having fun.”
Sitka faced a marathon of games on Saturday to reach the championship. The Wolves defeated Kodiak 9-1 in a morning elimination game and nipped North Pole 14-13 in another at noon, leaving little time for the late afternoon final.
Tucker went 3-4 with two RBI and two runs scored against Kodiak and Callahan was 2-4 with four RBI and one run. N. Nelson, Kai. Balovich and Denkinger had one hit each.
Sophomore Madison Campbell (2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB) and Lebahn (4 IP, 1 H, 1 SO) shared the circle.
Against North Pole in the elimination final, Sitka scored the first three runs of the game, another eight in the third inning and held off a late Patriots rally to earn one final game in the state tournament.
H. Nelson led Sitka with three RBI, Callahan and Kae. Balovich two apiece, Kai. Balovich, Mayville, Lebahn and Denkinger one each. Kai. Balovich led with three hits, Tucker, H. Nelson, Steinson and Mayville two each, N. Nelson, Callahan, Denkinger and Kae. Balovich one each. Tucker scored three runs, Callahan, H. Nelson and Mayville two each, N. Nelson, Denkinger, Steinson and Lebahn one each.
Winning pitcher Kae. Balovich (4 IP, 6 H, 7 R, 2 BB, 2 SO), Campbell (2 H, 1 BB) and Lebahn (3 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 1 BB, 3 SO) shared the circle.
Players did not have to be on the field to recognize the importance of the season for a Sitka community that features Little League and Sitka Fast Pitch Softball to keep youth engaged.
Sitka senior substitute first baseman and outfielder Michele Winger, a pinch runner, said: “I tried to enjoy the whole experience. I think it went by too fast for me. I just want to thank the Sitka fans for all they have done for us throughout the years and I hope the team carries it on. I hope the best for seasons to come.”
The state tournament started Thursday with pool play. JDHS beat Kodiak 9-1 and lost to North Pole 5-3 while Sitka lost to Delta 9-1 and beat Kenai 20-8. JDHS and Sitka were placed second in their respective brackets for the Friday tournament.
In the start of double elimination play on Friday, North Pole and Delta received first round byes.
Sitka fell to Kodiak 8-6 and Juneau defeated Kenai 9-0. Kodiak advanced and lost to North Pole 8-7 while Juneau advanced and defeated Delta 11-3.
Sitka then eliminated Delta 9-1 and Kodiak eliminated Kenai 13-5.
Sitka 7, Kodiak 8
Tucker and Mayville led with one RBI apiece. Tucker had two hits, Kai. Balovich, H. Nelson and Lebahn one each. Tucker scored two runs, H. Nelson and Lebahn one apiece.
Kae. Balovich went two and a third innings, allowed four hits and five runs, walked one and struck out three. Campbell went two and a third, allowed one hit and three runs and struck out two. Lebahn went two innings, allowed one hit and struck out one.
Sitka 9, Delta 1
Kai. Balovich and N. Nelson both put a home run past the fence. Kai. Balovich and Mayville led with two RBI, N. Nelson, H. Nelson and Denkinger one each. Mayville had three hits, Kai. Balovich two, Callahan, H. Nelson and Denkinger one each. Callahan and H. Nelson scored two runs apiece, Kai. Balovich and Tucker one apiece. N. Nelson had two stolen bases, Daly, Denkinger and Mayville one each. Kai. Balovich pitched a complete five innings, allowed three hits and one run and struck out six.
In the ASAA Division I Softball Championships, the Chugiak Mustangs had to win four games on Saturday for the title. South Anchorage defeated East Anchorage 6-0 in the winners semifinal while Chugiak defeated Colony 16-1 in an elimination semifinal. Chugiak then eliminated East 11-7 to earn the championship clash. Chugiak defeated South 9-8, giving both teams one loss and forcing the if-necessary title game which Chugiak won 8-3.
