By KLAS STOLPE
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Sitka High Wolves softball team open the season at home with a pair of games against the Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears on Friday and Saturday at Moller Field.
“Juneau always gives us a good game but I really expect to see a lot of good things out of our girls,” Sitka head coach Joel McCarty said. “We have been hitting the ball hard and we just need a live game to see what we have got.”
The Wolves are looking to earn their first Southeast Region V title and first trip back to the State Tournament since their 2015 Region and State championships. They also had a string of State titles from 2010-13, before Juneau’s Thunder Mountain and Juneau-Douglas dropped down to the Division II level, and in 2005 when they first split into the small school ranks.
For the past three seasons Southeast Conference rival TMHS has taken the DII State title and either JDHS and Ketchikan was the number two conference team along for the ride.
“Our goal is always to make it to State and to win State,” McCarty said. “That has never not been the goal. This year we really have a chance to start that trend again with the amount of work the girls have been putting in. We have been doing morning batting cage work and afternoon practices daily and the girls have been doing everything they can to improve. Their goal, as a whole team, is to win State. I think with the group we have this year we have a chance, and that is what we are working towards.”
McCarty is optimistic about a season that includes eight seniors returning to finish their careers as Wolves and the complementary infusion of two juniors, three sophomores, and a freshman in the lineup.
The Sitka High softball team are, front row kneeling, from left, Grace Harang, Natalie Schwantes, Ariel Miller, Yulvi Nuri, Keeley LaRose, JoJo Rock and Coach Jael McCarty. Middle row, from left, are Coach Megan Heathman, Nyla Duncan, Maxine Hutton, Tyla Gleason,
Baylee Pearson, Tamryn Suarez, Taylor Helem, Elsie Yocum and Coach Ashley Hessler. Back row, from left, are Coach Kris Pearson, Coach Dan Gray , Chloe Morrison, Kaia Lass, Sarah Sam, Jaelyn McCleod, McKenna Smith, Kyleigh McArthur, Abby Forrester, Miah Dumag
and Calista Gallant. Not Pictured are Rebecca Warren, Avery Voron. The team opens season play Friday on Moller Field against Juneau-Douglas. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
When the Wolves hit the Moller Field turf on Friday, senior Miah Dumag will be in the circle and is expected to do most of the pitching.
“She is one of, if not the, best pitcher in the conference,” McCarty said. “And with the lineup we have backing her up, she will be even more dominating.”
There is not one weakness in that lineup.
Senior Kyleigh McArthur will be the receiving end of the battery.
“She is tough behind the plate,” McCarty said. “She blocks everything, has a good solid arm, and her leadership on the field is key. The girls follow her tone and she sets that tone at the beginning of the game.”
At first base freshman Chloe Morrison will give the Wolves that position’s traditional proverbial baseball player: the tall, lanky, power-hitting lefty that is also a black-hole in the infield universe.
“She has stepped up and taken on that position,” McCarty said. “She is making scoops down low and she is pulling throws down high out of the air. We have been really impressed with her.”
Teammates can now be more aggressive with their own fielding plays knowing that any rushed throws off the mark still have a solid chance to be caught for an out.
“Nobody is afraid to throw to her and it shows in how aggressive they are becoming,” McCarty said.
Another lefty slapper, junior Baylee Pearson will control second base.
“She has really increased her range over the preseason, coming for extra practices and doing all the things to get the team to State,” McCarty said.
Senior shortstop, and leadoff hitter, Nyla Duncan is in her third year starting and that quality of play has resulted in a few college offers, something to consider after a Wolves Region and State title.
“She is just solid,” McCarty said. “She is 100 percent commitment, you want a hundred of her on the field because she will do anything you ask, anytime. She picks up the freshmen in practice. She doesn’t care if she’s working with varsity or JV girls, she is the all-around athlete, good kid, that you don’t have to worry about.”
At third base sophomore Tyla Gleason has morphed out of her catching background to earn a starting varsity spot.
“She is fearless and is attacking the ball,” McCarty said. “And we need her bat in the line up so she has had to adjust and become a third baseman, and she has done that with the team in mind.”
It will be the outfield that makes this year’s Wolves nearly unstoppable.
Seniors Calista Gallant in left field, Abby Forrester in center, and Avery Voron in right.
“There’s not going to be very many holes in our outfield,” McCarty said. “With just a few practices they are diving, making sliding catches, and they’re not afraid of the fence. They are going to be the most aggressive outfield we have seen in a long time in Sitka. I think they are one of our major strengths.”
McCarty described her outfield:
Gallant is a “firecracker,” who leads by her voice, has a cannon of an arm that is uncontrollable and unbelievable and can throw from the fence directly to the catcher. Aggressive, wants to win, and is the most competitive on the team. A clutch player who makes the extra play to make sure we win.
Voron has another big arm and is expected to throw batters out at first and take away singles, as well as pick off runners trying to reach third. Is very fast and “kind of reckless in a good way,” running into things to make the play. She is fun and knows how to bring the younger girls into the mix. She’s worked hard to make sure we’re a whole team, not just seniors and everybody else.
Forrester is fast and loves the game. She started playing in eighth grade, and now can cover every gap, is aggressive and willing to learn, and has increased her fielding range by a couple body lengths. Along with Voron, they are the fun, level-headed duo that keeps the team up when needed and calm when overly hyped.
“They all have good arms, great range, and I even told Rich Krupa (Sitka athletic director) to push the fence back a little bit because they can catch anything,” McCarty said. “They will take away a few home runs with their range, and you can just image what our batting lineup is going to look like. There are not any spots where I have to hide a batter. Up and down we have nine good batters. And we have several on the bench coming in who are just as good with the bat. We’re going to surprise some of our fans I think.”
Senior Erin Blankenship is currently injured. She is noted as a coachable, fundamentally solid player and will see time at second and third base.
Senior Taylor Helem put in lots of off-season work and will see time in right field. She has a good bat and is expected to see endless designated hitting (DH) time.
Backing up Dumag in the circle will be Morrison, junior Jaelyn McCleod, and sophomore McKenna Smith.
Smith is the number two pitcher and will also rotate in at first base depending on game situations.
McCleod has a good off-speed change-up and a huge bat when in the lineup, and has also been training at third base to help with the graduation of Emily Young, who was the stalwart at that spot last year.
Sophomore Tamryn Suarez will be a backup at second base and will split time between varsity and JV.
“This year we’re focused on being aggressive on the field and on the bases,” McCarty said. “Spectators should expect a high-paced game. It should be exciting to watch.”
The Sitka Wolves total roster includes seniors - Blankenship, Dumag, Duncan, Forrester, Gallant, Helem, McArthur, and Voron; juniors McCleod, Pearson, and Yulvi Nuri; sophomores Gleason, Smith, Suarez, Grace Harang, Maxine Hutton, Ariel Miller, JoJo Rock, Natalie Schwantez, Elsie Yocum, and Sarah Sam; and freshmen Morrison, Kaylee LaRose, Rebecca Warren, and Kia Lass.
The coaching staff aiding McCarty includes assistants Dan Gray, Kris Pearson, Kyle Young, Megan Heathman, and Ashley Nessler; pitching coach Mindy Barry; and head JV coach Cliff Chandler.
Wolves varsity play JDHS at Moller Field on Friday at 6 p.m. (JV 2 p.m., 4 p.m.) and Saturday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. (JV 2 p.m.)
