By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
The Sitka High Wolves baseball team marked the season’s first grand slam in a tournament against the Petersburg Vikings over the weekend in Petersburg. Sitka won the first two games, while Petersburg pulled ahead for a 1-point victory in the third.
In the second game, Wolves center fielder Emanuel Barragan went to bat in the top of the fifth, with his teammates Dylan Marx, Nik Calhoun, and Stephen Harmon already on bases.
“I was a little nervous, I think it was my second at-bat of the game, so I was a little more comfortable. But I was using the advantage of the short field,” Barragan recalled.
His bat made contact, marking Sitka’s first grand slam – and first home run – of the shortened season.
“It felt good… They were all happy, they met me at home plate, a big huddle at home plate,” he said.
Sitka Wolves Nik Calhoun catches the ball in time to pick off Petersburg Viking Jack Engell, Friday in Petersburg. Sitka went 2-1 in a three-game tournament over the weekend. (Photo provided by Petersburg Pilot/ Brian Varela)
The moment was special for coach Ken Carley.
“It was our first home run of the year for us… It was awesome. It’s been a couple seasons since we had a home run from our team,” Carley told the Sentinel at practice Monday.
Sitka won the game 16-8 after seven innings. The Wolves had already triumphed in the first game of the series, 14-4. But in the final matchup, the Vikings pulled ahead and notched a 10-9 win.
Barragan in part blamed the loss on a lack of focus and an assumption of victory.
“I don’t think we were as focused as we should have been… We were probably expecting one more easy win and it didn’t turn out that way. It was a mindset thing,” the center fielder said.
But he also noted a number of positives.
“Pitchers are doing their jobs, throwing strikes. During some games we’ve got a lot of good energy going, alive in the dugout, everyone stays focused… A lot of energy every game. Help out the pitchers with the defense, I think our hitting is looking good, and we get all the wins we can get,” Barragan noted.
For the Wolves, last weekend was the first time this season the team played on a dirt field.
“I did pretty well with the ground balls, didn’t let too many get by, which surprised me because it was our first time playing on dirt,” Nik Calhoun said. “It made you have to play the ball, instead of letting the ball play you.”
As a test of his players, Carley changed some of their positions between games. Normally a shortstop, Marx said his time in left field was an interesting change.
“It’s fun, just a different environment and different people you talk to. Usually when I’m playing short, I’m talking to the second baseman, which is usually Dylan (Marx), and just chatting,” Calhoun said. “I got into left field and I was talking to Eman, who is center field, and having a good time. Just different… It’s always fun to change it up once in a while.”
Shortstop and left field are radically different positions, but Carley didn’t doubt Calhoun could handle it.
“It’s a huge difference, but he’s an all-around athlete, he can play anywhere… He’s one of our utility guys who can play any position, really. I don’t have a place where I can’t put him on the field,” the coach said.
For sophomore Bridger Bird, last weekend was his first time playing with the varsity squad.
“Kind of my first weekend playing, so it was a lot of fun. But I definitely feel like I still need some work, especially fielding,” he said.
It was also his first time playing first base.
“I have never played first base before in my life. First base is definitely the hardest position on the field to be sure… I think I did relatively OK at it,” Bird said.
His coach was complimentary of Bird.
“He had one of the best weekends I’ve ever seen him in baseball. I think he was nine for eleven at the plate and the two times he got out he just hit the ball right at someone,” Carley said.
The Wolves have limited opportunities for additional learning before the Region V tournament, which is scheduled for May 27-29 in Ketchikan. But with Kayhi still in the grips of its most severe coronavirus outbreak yet, Carley said there’s a chance the regional tournament would move. If so, it would be to Sitka.
The Wolves travel to Juneau this weekend to play Thunder Mountain this weekend.
