The Juneau All-Stars’ first win of the Alaska District 2 Major Baseball Tournament came against Sitka. Now, in order to capture the district championship, they’ll need to end the tournament with two more of those same results.
Juneau scored nine runs in the sixth inning to down Ketchikan 11-1 in a loser’s bracket on Saturday evening at Moller Field in Sitka, setting up a championship duel with Sitka on Sunday. Juneau fell to the loser’s bracket on Friday night after a 9-3 loss to Sitka, who can capture the championship with another win Sunday or Monday. Ketchikan’s loss eliminates them from the tournament.
Juneau relief pitcher Owen Woodruff threw six strikeouts over 3 1/3 scoreless innings, dueling with Ketchikan’s Cash Larson who fanned four batters.
Juneau blew the game open in the fifth after racing out to a 2-1 lead through two innings.
Eight batters furnished RBIs from walks, errors and sacrifice flies and grounders in the fifth.The biggest hit of the inning came from Woodruff, who doubled down the right field line to score Riley Fick and Reed Maier. Madden Mendoza, Hunter Carte and Brandon Casperson opened the inning with a walk, single and walk, respectively.
Alaska District 2 Major Baseball Tournament
Monday — Sitka 17, Ketchikan 2
Tuesday — Ketchikan 10, Juneau 9
Wednesday — Juneau 9, Sitka 8
Thursday — Juneau 12, Ketchikan 2
Friday — Sitka 9, Juneau 3
Saturday — Juneau 11, Ketchikan 1
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.