Sports

Thunder Mountain High School junior Nina Fenumiai slides head-first into home plate during the Falcons’ 8-0 win over Kodiak High School in the ASAA Division II state softball tournament on Thursday afternoon at South Davis Park in Fairbanks. The Falcons played North Pole later in the day and begin the double-elimination round on Friday. (Courtesy Photo | Sharla Hayes)

Thunder Mountain beats Kodiak to open state tournament

A no-hitter by junior Kyra Jenkins Hayes helped Thunder Mountain High School (18-4) to an 8-0 win over Kodiak High School (6-4) in the ASAA… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain High School junior Nina Fenumiai slides head-first into home plate during the Falcons’ 8-0 win over Kodiak High School in the ASAA Division II state softball tournament on Thursday afternoon at South Davis Park in Fairbanks. The Falcons played North Pole later in the day and begin the double-elimination round on Friday. (Courtesy Photo | Sharla Hayes)
Thunder Mountain’s Nina Fenumiai, right, and Rachel Macaulay receive high-fives from Coach Brittany Gladsjo after beating Juneau-Douglas at Melvin Park earlier this month. Thunder Mountain plays Kodiak and North Pole in the state tournament today in Fairbanks. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

JDHS baseball, TMHS softball hungry for state titles

Success can be fleeting at the ASAA baseball state championships. Hopes of winning it all are quickly dashed if you don’t come to play. Lose… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain’s Nina Fenumiai, right, and Rachel Macaulay receive high-fives from Coach Brittany Gladsjo after beating Juneau-Douglas at Melvin Park earlier this month. Thunder Mountain plays Kodiak and North Pole in the state tournament today in Fairbanks. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
The Gatorade Company named Juneau-Douglas High School’s Michael Cesar the 2017-18 Gatorade Alaska Baseball Player of the Year. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire File)

JDHS baseball catcher Cesar named Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year

Update: This story was updated on Wednesday morning to include quotes from Michael Cesar and Chad Bentz. Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled… Continue reading

  • May 29, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
The Gatorade Company named Juneau-Douglas High School’s Michael Cesar the 2017-18 Gatorade Alaska Baseball Player of the Year. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire File)

Falcons crowned Region V champs after title game called off

Correction: This article originally stated that Ketchikan would have faced JDHS in the title game if it wasn’t canceled. They would have face TMHS. Thunder… Continue reading

The Juneau-Douglas High School girls soccer team poses after winning the ASAA Division II state championship at Service High School in Anchorage on Saturday. Back Row (L to R): Coach Phil Subeldia, Jasmin Holst, Makenna Graham, Chloe Smith, Nikki Box, Nicole Mannix, Michaela Bentley, Jessie Mayer, Bailey Wery Tagaban, Coach Matt Dusenberry. Middle Row: Taylor Bentley, Katja Steimann, Brianna Jokerst, Shaylin Cesar, Malia Miller, Eva Goering, McKenzie Dimond. Front Row: Marlena Romanoff, Erica Hurtte. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

JDHS girls win inaugural Division II state championship

Not long after his team made history by winning the inaugural ASAA Division II girls soccer state championship, coach Matt Dusenberry asked just one favor… Continue reading

The Juneau-Douglas High School girls soccer team poses after winning the ASAA Division II state championship at Service High School in Anchorage on Saturday. Back Row (L to R): Coach Phil Subeldia, Jasmin Holst, Makenna Graham, Chloe Smith, Nikki Box, Nicole Mannix, Michaela Bentley, Jessie Mayer, Bailey Wery Tagaban, Coach Matt Dusenberry. Middle Row: Taylor Bentley, Katja Steimann, Brianna Jokerst, Shaylin Cesar, Malia Miller, Eva Goering, McKenzie Dimond. Front Row: Marlena Romanoff, Erica Hurtte. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School celebrates. (James Poulson | Sitka Sentinel)

Crimson Bears baseball breezes to Region V title

The Crimson Bears didn’t need a full game to put Ketchikan away in the Region V championship title game played in Sitka. They only needed… Continue reading

  • May 26, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
Juneau-Douglas High School celebrates. (James Poulson | Sitka Sentinel)
Juneau-Douglas High School senior Brysen Mitchell pressures North Pole’s Justin Howard in the ASAA Division II boys soccer state championships, Friday, May 25, 2018. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys in championship game after 3-0 win

Brysen Mitchell and Jackson Norberg scored for the second consecutive day at the ASAA Division II boys soccer state championships, and now Juneau-Douglas High School’s… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School senior Brysen Mitchell pressures North Pole’s Justin Howard in the ASAA Division II boys soccer state championships, Friday, May 25, 2018. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Falcons softball blanks Sitka for trip to region final

Falcons softball blanks Sitka for trip to region final

An 8-0 win over Sitka High School on Friday means Thunder Mountain Falcons softball is on their way to the Region V final, to be… Continue reading

Falcons softball blanks Sitka for trip to region final

Juneau-Douglas advances to championship with victory over Sitka

In a game where both starting pitchers were rolling early, finding any breaks were key. Juneau-Douglas High School won 6-0 over Sitka in the winner’s… Continue reading

Ketchikan eliminates Thunder Mountain from regional baseball tournament

In a game of small ball, the Ketchikan Kings were able to do just enough in eliminating the Thunder Mountain Falcons, 2-1, from the Region… Continue reading

Despite six-run first inning, JDHS falls to Kayhi at softball regions

The Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears fell to Ketchikan High School, 26-13, on Friday at the Region V softball tournament. The loss, taken through a steady rain… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain bounces back, eliminates Petersburg from baseball tourney

Thunder Mountain High School’s struggles in the opening round loss to Juneau-Douglas High School in the Region V Southeast Baseball Tournament on Thursday certainly did… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School junior ChaeHun Yi defends Kodiak High School senior Daniel Carrillo in the ASAA Division II boys soccer state championships on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at Eagle River High School. JDHS won 5-2. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

JDHS boys nip Kodiak to open state tournament

Despite dominating the first half, Juneau-Douglas High School found itself in an uncomfortable spot early in the second half at Eagle River High School on… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School junior ChaeHun Yi defends Kodiak High School senior Daniel Carrillo in the ASAA Division II boys soccer state championships on Thursday, May 24, 2018 at Eagle River High School. JDHS won 5-2. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Region V softball tourney: Falcons advance, Crimson Bears drops game to Sitka

Spectators have grown to expect wide-margin wins from this year’s Thunder Mountain High School softball team. And that’s just what the Falcons delivered in the… Continue reading

NFL’s national anthem policy could mean a new playbook on protests this fall

PHILADELPHIA — Now that the NFL is drawing the line against players kneeling during the national anthem, athletes protesting police brutality and racial inequality may… Continue reading

  • May 24, 2018
  • By JESSE J. HOLLAND

McCormick’s slam, McCurley’s arm powers Juneau-Douglas over Thunder Mountain

Brock McCormick’s first-inning grand slam fueled a six-run first inning, and Juneau-Douglas Crimson Bears defeated the Thunder Mountain Falcons, 12-0, in the first round of… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas High School senior Kasey Watts.

Player of the Week: Kasey Watts

Juneau-Douglas High School senior Kasey Watts is the Juneau Empire player of the week. Over the weekend, Watts and the JDHS baseball team swept the… Continue reading

  • May 23, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
Juneau-Douglas High School senior Kasey Watts.
2018 Juneau-Douglas High School softball senior class (L to R): Abby Meiners, Leah Spargo, Elisa Fabrello, Caitlynn Rich, Morgan Balovich. (Courtesy Photo | Lexi Razor)

JDHS, TMHS senior softball players recognized

The Juneau-Douglas and Thunder Mountain High School softball teams played in their final home games over the weekend. The Crimson Bears honored five seniors prior… Continue reading

  • May 19, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
2018 Juneau-Douglas High School softball senior class (L to R): Abby Meiners, Leah Spargo, Elisa Fabrello, Caitlynn Rich, Morgan Balovich. (Courtesy Photo | Lexi Razor)
Thunder Mountain senior Peyton Harp. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Saturday softball: Two blowouts for Falcons batters; JDHS notches pair of wins

The Thunder Mountain High School softball team is already heading to state. But after two blowout wins this weekend, they’ll make the trip to the… Continue reading

  • May 19, 2018
  • By Juneau Empire
Thunder Mountain senior Peyton Harp. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain senior Peyton Harp tries to beat out a throw to first base on Friday night during the Falcons’ 13-0 win over Ketchikan. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Falcons softball dominates Lady Kings

The high-scoring Thunder Mountain High School softball team mercy-ruled an opponent for the sixth time of the season on Friday night at Dimond Park. Ketchikan… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain senior Peyton Harp tries to beat out a throw to first base on Friday night during the Falcons’ 13-0 win over Ketchikan. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)