By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
Little League Major Division baseball, the 10- 12-year-olds foundation on what the Williamsport, Pennsylvania, World Series was built on, will be on display today through next Monday at Moller Field as the Sitka All-Stars host the District 2 Tournament.
Opening ceremonies begin at 4 p.m. today and are followed by Sitka playing Ketchikan at 6 p.m. in the first of three round robin games. Ketchikan plays Juneau 6 p.m. Tuesday and Sitka plays Juneau 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The round robin format determines the double elimination tournament seeding.
The second- and third-seeded teams play at 6 p.m. Thursday with the winner playing the number one seed at 6 p.m. Friday.
The losers of both games play an elimination game on Saturday at 4 p.m. and the winner of that game plays against the Friday winner for the title on Sunday at 4 p.m. An “if necessary” title game will be played on Monday if both teams have one loss.
The Sitka Little League Major All-Stars select their roster from three season teams.
Top players to watch include captains, and returning all stars, Chance Coleman (#4), Bryce Calhoun (#12), and Emmit Johnson (#10).
Coleman pitches and plays shortstop, Calhoun pitches and plays center field, and Johnson catches.
Sitka Little League Major All-Stars. Front from left: Samson Smith, Brett Ross, Josh McAlpin, Evan Grant, Caleb Calhoun, and Bryce Calhoun. Back: Kai Hirai, Mason McLeod, Trey Johnson, Chance Coleman, Emmit Johnson, Rawl Weathers, and Josh Gluth. Not pictured are Manager Rich McAlpin, Coach Ryne Calhoun, and Coach Bob Calhoun. Sitka plays tonight at 6 p.m. against Ketchikan.
Sitka will be exciting to watch with a solid defense, good hitting, and good pitchers across a deep lineup.
Sitka also features Samson Smith #13, Brett Ross #5, Josh McAlpin #7, Evan Grant #8, Caleb Calhoun #1, Kai Hirai #11, Mason McLeod #15, Trey Johnson #16, Rawl Weathers #18, and Josh Gluth #14. Manager is Rich McAlpin, and coaches are Ryne Calhoun and Bob Calhoun.
The Ketchikan Little League Major Baseball All-Star team draws from five league teams; most of the all-star selections come from two of the squads and have been playing together for a long time.
Ketchikan’s centerfielder Jason Lorig (#9) is the complete skills package – he’s fast and has a strong arm. Top hitters Kain Dalton (#2) and Marcus Stockhausen (#30) are returning Major All-Stars.
The team is athletic and will be a force on the base paths. They are balanced, but also young with a number of players coming up from last year’s Minor all-star roster.
Ketchikan L.L. All-Stars. Front from left: Owen Mendoza, Hayden Trudeau, Conor Pearson #21, Joseph Larson, Bryce Smith, and Jesse Albecker. Middle: Kain Dalton, Jonathan Scoblic, Jackson Hanis, Marcus Stockhausen, Jason Lorig, Jayden Greenfield, and Cash Larson. Back: Coach Gunnar
Farsted, Manager Ryan Hanis, and Coach Kevin Larson. Not pictured is Clarence Benton.
Ketchikan also features Owen Mendoza #22, Hayden Trudeau #26, Conor Pearson #21, Joseph Larson #20, Bryce Smith #17, Jesse Albecker #27, Jonathan Scoblic #24, Jackson Hanis #29, Jayden Greenfield #25, Cash Larson #28, and Clarence Benton #16. Manager is Ryan Hanis, and coaches are Gunnar Farsted and Kevin Larson.
The Juneau Gastineau Channel Little League Major All-Stars are the defending Southeast and State champions. Last year they defeated the Oregon All-Stars at the West Regionals but did not advance beyond that.
Returning players Ezra Vidal (#4) and Christian Nelson (#3) were on that roster. Both of them pitch and play middle infield. The team as a whole is young, with half age 12 and half age 11, and one age 10, but all are pretty sharp on the baseball IQ.
Juneau G.C.L.L. All-Stars. Front row from left: Nate Fick, Hunter Carte, Ezra Vidal, Brandon Casperson, Riley Fick, and Coach Richard Lewis. Back: Manager Jake Carte, Marcus Mendoza, Tyler Frisby, Ethan Lewis, Reed Maier, Christian Nelson, Madden Mendoza, Hudson Hunt, and Coach Erik Scholl. Not pictured Owen Woodruff.
Juneau draws its all-star pool from four season teams. The players feature Nate Fick #0, Hunter Carte #7, Brandon Casperson #11, Riley Fick #44, Marcus Mendoza #22, Tyler Frisby #12, Ethan Lewis #23, Reed Maier #14, Madden Mendoza #20, Hudson Hunt #13, and Owen Woodruff #2. Manager is Jake Carte, and coaches are Erik Scholl and Richard Lewis.
