Juneau Post 25’s debut in the American Legion Alaska State Tournament on Friday didn’t go as planned. But thanks to a 6-3 win over South Post 4 at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage on Saturday, there is still baseball to be played for Juneau.
Facing the No. 8 seed Kodiak in the first round, the Midnight Suns mustered just six hits in a 3-1 loss. Owen Mendoza led the team with two hits and Zeb Storie, Michael Cesar, Bryson Echiverri and Brock McCormick each had one.
The team came in too overconfident, Juneau Post 25 coach Joe Tompkins said, and Kodiak got on the board with three runs in the sixth inning.
“I think we were swinging for big hits instead of our singles that we usually swing for,” Tompkins said by cellphone on Saturday. “I mean, this is the biggest park we play in and we got guys trying to hit it out.”
The squad returned to form against South, outscoring its opponent 6-0 in the first two innings. Kasey Watts hit two singles and drove in three runs while Cesar and Donavin McCurley each scored twice in the win.
Philip Wall went five innings on the mound while allowing just one run on two hits. Bobby Cox gave up two hits in two innings of relief.
“The leaders started to lead today and the guys that weren’t in the starting lineup picked up everybody and they played their part as a team member,” Tompkins said. “It was pretty awesome to see them come together.”
Juneau now plays Chugiak Post 33 on Sunday at 3:15 p.m. in an elimination game.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com.
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