By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka’s District 2 Little League Major Softball All-Stars broke open a tie game in the top of the sixth inning with some fast base-running and a home run to defeat Anchorage’s District 1 Nunaka City View All-Stars 5-4 in Game 1 of their best 3-out-of-5 series for the state championship Thursday at the Nunaka Fields in Anchorage.
“It was a great game played by both teams,” Sitka manager Mike Callahan said. “We started a little slow, but got things rolling. It was a fun game to be a part of. Everyone was getting the sticks on the ball and we were moving when we could. We put one together.”
The late-game heroics for the 10-12 year old Major players came with the score tied 2-2.
Kaiya Balovich led off the top of the sixth with a fly ball double to right field that was mishandled.
Lei’a Daly pinch ran for Balovich on base and when Alina Lebahn reached on a third strike passed ball Daly scampered home on the play for a 3-2 lead.
Adriana Denkinger then lofted a fly ball over the left field fence for a 5-2 lead.
“After some struggles at the plate it felt good to come in clutch and hit that ball over,” Denkinger said.
Sitka Major Softball All-Star Adriana Denkinger prepares to bat against Juneau in the District 2 tournament last week on Moller Field. Denkinger homered during Sitka’s win on Thursday against the District 1 champion Nunaka City View in the Little League Major Softball State Tournament at Anchorage. (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)
The Sitka defense then had to close down the infield as Balovich came to the mound for her sixth inning of work and Nunaka batter Noelani Vanilau singled into center field and hustled to second on the throw, and scored on a mishandled ground ball hit by Penina Tali.
Balovich struck out a batter before Tali scored on a sacrifice that narrowed the score to 5-4.
Balovich got the last batter to ground to first baseman Dalila Callahan, who scooped up the fast-moving orb and touched first base for the win.
“Early runs by Nunaka didn’t get to me because I knew we would bounce back,” Balovich said. “My change ups were working and the mound felt good.”
Nunaka City View showed in the first inning that they can pack on runs in a hurry with a 2-0 lead that held until the top of the fourth inning when Sitka’s Callahan led off with a single, advanced to second on a walk to Daly, and scored on a single by Balovich.
Sitka tied the game in the top of the fifth inning when Tessa Anderson led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice by Kaelynn Balovich, stole third with two outs on the board, and scored on a Callahan single.
Nunaka City View scored the first 2 runs of the game in the bottom of the first inning as Jackson earned a lead off walk, stole second and third base and scored as Vanilau was thrown out at first on a dropped third strike. Tasiaeafe Matautia then doubled and scored on a Diana “Ori” Samuelu single to center field.
“The girls were nervous,” Sitka coach Nikki Balovich said. “New team, new field… but they got rolling later in the game. I love watching the girls come alive, I know they got it when they start rallying like that. Our bats were hot, our pitching was good, and our fielding was great.”
The Sitka Major Softball All-Stars put a finger on the pitchers softball before an inning in the District 2 championship game last week. Sitka won their opening game at the Little League Major Softball State Tournament on Thursday against District 1 champion Nunaka City View in Anchorage. (Sentinel Photo by Klas Stolpe)
Kaiya Balovich threw 82 pitches in the six inning win, allowing just 4 hits and 4 runs, and striking out 7 batters and walking 1.
Denkinger had 2 RBI for Sitka, Daly and Kaiya Balovich 1 apiece; Anderson, Callahan, Daly, Lebahn, and Denkinger scored 1 run each; Anderson had 2 hits, Kaelynn Balovich, Callahan, Denkinger, and Mecca Goldsberry 1 apiece. Daly earned 1 walk. Nai’a Nelson, Lebahn, Datum Markegard, Madison Dill, and Goldsberry had 1 strike out each.
Sitka left 6 runners on base, Nunaka City 2.
Samuelu led Nunaka City with 2 RBI and Vanilau 1. McKinley Jackson, Vanilau, Tali, and Matautia scored 1 run each; Vanilau, Tali, Matautia, and Samuelu had 1 hit each. Jackson walked once.
Nunaka City View’s Samuelu took the loss in six innings (95 P, 6 H, 5 R, 5 SO, 1 BB, 1 HR).
Game 2 is tonight at 6:30 p.m., Game 3 is Saturday at 2 p.m., and (if necessary) Game 4 is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m. and Game 5 for Monday at 6:30 p.m. All games are on the Nunaka Valley Little League fields near Nunaka Valley Elementary School off Boniface Parkway.
The winner of the state series goes to the Regional Tournament in San Bernardino, California, July 20-26. The World Series is in Portland, Oregon, August 7-14.
