By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Accurate pitching and a tight defense led the Sitka High Wolves baseball squad to a three-game sweep in a series against the Ketchikan Kings over the weekend.
Playing under nearly ideal weather in the series opener, Sitka eked out a 9-8 win Friday, and followed that up Saturday with 3-1 and 6-3 victories on the turf at Moller Field.
Much of the team’s game-winning performance stemmed from the pitcher’s mound.
“Our pitching did great, and we had maybe one error, it was a really good defensive weekend,” sophomore Chance Coleman told the Sentinel. “We just did great on both sides of the field. I think the only thing we could really fix is probably, maybe a few more hits would be nice, because there weren’t too many. We were hitting well, but just we didn’t put that many runs on the board, (but) because our defense was doing so good we didn’t need to.”
Several Wolves spent time on the mound during the series, from Dylan Marx and Ben Turner to Caleb Calhoun and Grady Smith. Turner pitched the entire second game, while in the final match-up, Calhoun pitched four innings and threw 10 strikeouts.
Coleman said the team’s defense, especially in the low-scoring second game, was almost airtight.
“We got both runs early, and they got their run early. The rest of the game was just a pitchers’ duel… They were hitting the ball, but our infield - Dylan Marx and Grady (Smith) - they were locked in over there. They didn’t make any errors. Caleb (Calhoun) at first was scooping all the bad throws. It was just a great game,” Coleman said.
At this point in the mid-season, the team looks solid, he said.
“I can’t really think of anything that we really need to fix. We’re just going to keep it going. Hopefully our pitching stays locked in for the rest of the season,” he said.
Calhoun also was happy with the pitching over the weekend.
“The pitchers pitched great, Dylan, Ben, me and Grady. Grady Smith threw a great couple of innings; Ben pitched a complete game - that was nice. I threw four innings and then started the fifth,” Calhoun said.
“What we’re good at is just clearing our minds after a bad inning getting right back into it,” the freshman said.
Sitka coach Ken Carley noted Calhoun’s important role on the pitcher’s mound in the third game as well.
“He pitched our last game, had 10 strikeouts,” the coach wrote in a text.
With Turner on the mound in the second game, Sitka shut down any comeback attempt by Kayhi.
“Our pitching this weekend was crazy,” Coleman said. “Ben Turner threw a complete game – a one-run complete game. Like, I just want to give all the props to the pitching this weekend,” Coleman said.
Along with well-tuned pitching, Sitka’s bats were also hot. Levi Hodges, a sophomore, scored a double in the first game on a ball hit deep into left field.
“I think we were able to hit well against the other team… and defense was good,” Hodges said.
“It’s a really good experience just spending time with upperclassmen,” he said, “because there’s a lot to learn from them.”
The Wolves face the Thunder Mountain Falcons at home this weekend.
Sitka High senior Sam Johnson touches home plate during the second inning of a game against Ketchikan, Saturday at Moller Field. Sitka swept the three-game series and plays at home again this weekend. (Sentinel photo)
