The motivation was there; the execution wasn’t.
For the third time in four years, South Anchorage High School prevented Juneau-Douglas High School from reaching the state championship game at the Alaska School Activities Association/First National Bank Alaska State Baseball Tournament.
The Wolverines (14-0) piled on nine runs in the fourth and fifth innings that brought the first round matchup with the Crimson Bears to an early 12-2 ending. The Thursday night game was called in the bottom of the fifth inning as soon as South pushed their lead to 10 runs.
“The score of that game does not reflect what that team represents by any means,” JDHS coach Chad Bentz said Friday morning of his squad.
The Crimson Bears (13-4) drew several hits and walks in the first and third innings, but lost control in the fourth. After a clean start to the game, JDHS made costly fielding errors in the final two innings that allowed South to blow the game open.
“We made some errors, some physical and mental errors, and it cost us. We were right there, down one (run),” Bentz said.
In the fourth inning Luke Mallinger hit a triple to the gap in right-center that scored Bryce Swofford. Three batters later, Niko Hebert hit an RBI single to score Mallinger, making the score 3-2 going into the bottom of the fourth.
“Bryce did a really good job on getting on first (base) so I just kind of wanted to start us off, start a rally,” Mallinger said of his triple.
The Wolverines quickly added to their one-run lead in the bottom of the fourth. A combination of errors and quality bunts brought in five runs. The Crimson Bears didn’t record their first out until seven straight batters reached base.
“These guys try their hardest and you feel horrible when they make an error,” Bentz said. “No one wants to make a mistake. I tell these guys, ‘You’re going to make mistakes. After you make one, you want the ball hit back to you the next time so you can move past it.’”
The Wolverines scored four more runs in the fifth inning with aggressive base running and additional hits.
Derek McGinnis led South with three hits and four RBIs.
Donavin McCurley threw 63 strikes in four innings of work on the mound.
South’s Parker Johnson allowed just three hits while striking out six to get the win.
The Crimson Bears defeated Colony on Friday at Mulcahy Stadium to advance JDHS to the fourth place game on Saturday morning against Service High School. The Service Cougars defeated West Valley in their Friday morning consolation game.
“Not being able to win the championship because of that is a bummer but we are going to move past it and do everything we can to win (against Colony),” Bentz said.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com.
Shortstop Jacob Dale bobbles the ball as second baseman Luis Mojico backs him up. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)
Catcher Michael Cesar misses a tag at home plate. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)
