Juneau-Douglas' Mia Loree runs down Thunder Mountain's Megan Dallas for an out during their game at Dimond Park on Tuesday.

Juneau-Douglas' Mia Loree runs down Thunder Mountain's Megan Dallas for an out during their game at Dimond Park on Tuesday.

Falcons softball captures historic victory

Juneau’s prep softball community witnessed history Tuesday night.

For the first time ever, the Thunder Mountain High School softball team beat Juneau-Douglas High School in a conference game, taking the Crimson Bears down 7-1 at Dimond Park.

Needless to say the girls were ecstatic with the win; waves of excitement practically radiated from TMHS’ three seniors, Makayla Harp, Tracy Bourassa and Taylor Beardslee.

“It’s amazing, we made history. It’s a first and it’s awesome,” Bourassa said. “We definitely went out strong and played with the same mindset from the first inning.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Said Harp: “It feels good, like practice paid off and it was worth the grueling hours. It just is one of those wins that you work so hard for.”

“I was feeling so good tonight,” Beardslee said. “It honestly just feels awesome.”

Harp, an outfielder, made the game’s highlight play with a spectacular catch in left field in the top of the sixth. Harp took off into the corner of the outfield at a dead sprint, barely catching a deep shot past the foul line. TMHS supporters screamed in disbelief that Harp had actually tracked the ball down; she ranked the play near the top in her career.

TMHS’ defense was on Tuesday night, with sophomore Maximina Saceda-Hurt and junior Alondra Echiverri each having web gems of their own.

The Falcons pitching was solid as well. Beardslee played all seven innings, throwing 94 pitches for 53 strikes. Beardslee said her changeup and rise were particularly strong.

Head coach Jorge Cordero, who’s been with the program since its start, was very proud of his team, and was hard pressed to pick out a favorite part of their game.

“It’s unbelievable. They’re a tough team, Juneau,” Cordero said. “For the first time we feel like we have a good team. … Everything was working for us tonight: good defense, good hitting, good pitching. It all came together and that’s how you win games.”

TMHS did their damage in the third inning, going for six runs that set the Crimson Bears too far back against such a tough defense. Tied 1-1, Maximina Saceda-Hurt doubled to center field to earn the Falcons their first lead, bringing Haleigh Dicarlo in on the play.

Alondra Echiverri brought Saceda-Hurt in on a double for the Falcons 3-1 lead.

After a 1-RBI grounder by Bourassa, sophomore Megan Dallas had the big play from the plate, hitting a three-RBI line drive before being tagged out at third.

JDHS coach Dave Massey said his team lacked focus.

“We forgot to show up mentally, but that happens sometimes,” Massey said. “I think we need to just focus on what we’re supposed to do. They didn’t do what they had agreed to do before the game as far as their approach.”

Senior Crimson Bear pitcher Quincy Bates said her team didn’t start out well. Though Bates was disappointed with the loss, she realized what a big moment it was for some of her friends on Thunder Mountain.

“Thunder Mountain is pretty good, it just wasn’t the day for us,” Bates said. “We’re all friends, so it’s nice to see them win.”

• Kevin Gullufsen can be reached at 523-2228 or at kevin.gullufsen@juneauempire.com.

More in Sports

(Getty Images)
Kake’s Deontay Jackson (33) is fouled by Shishmaref’s Frederick Olana (11) during the Thunderbirds 68-67 loss to the Northern Lights in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A State Basketball Championships Thursday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Kake state championship hopes fall by a point

Klawock girls, Skagway boys stay alive; Hoonah, Haines girls lose first games.

Tolovana Roadhouse, built in 1924, is the only remaining rest stop mushers used in the 1925 Serum Run. Iditarod mushers also used it in 2025. (Photo by Ned Rozell)
Alaska Science Forum: Traveling through time in the Alaska bush

TOLOVANA ROADHOUSE — On the dark, frozen white plain of the Tanana… Continue reading

A troller fishes near Ketchikan last summer. (Photo by Jeff Lund)
I Went to the Woods: Fish farm fiasco

I’ve spent almost all of my life searching for and evaluating fish.… Continue reading

Metlakatla’s Brody Booth scores over Chevak’s Anthony Martins (21) in the Chiefs 63-33 win over the Comets in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A State Basketball Championships on Thursday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Metlakatla boys win, girls lose, in state opening 2A games

Chiefs cruise past Comets, MisChiefs falter to the Comets’ girls.

Wrangell coach Cody Angerman talks in a huddle during the Wolves 57-30 loss to the Seahawks during the opening day of the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 2A State Basketball Championships on Thursday in Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center. The Wolves wore warmup shirts in honor of coach Angerman’s father Fred Angerman Jr. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Wrangell boys fall in emotional first game at state tournament

Wolves honor coach’s father and Southeast legend “Fast Freddy” following his recent death.

Kake’s Keontay Jackson (33) attempts a dunk during the Thunderbirds 61-41 win over the King Cove T-Jacks in the 2025 ASAA March Madness Alaska 1A/2A State Basketball Championships on Wednesday at Anchorage’s Alaska Airlines Center (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Southeast teams open 1A state tournament play

Kake boys, Hoonah girls win; Skagway boys, Klawock girls fall.

Lebanon Valley College sophomore forward Anna Dale (7) slaps a shot past a Stevenson University defender during Middle Atlantic Conference hockey action this year. (Photo courtesy Lebanon Valley College)
JDHS grad Anna Dale nets Offensive Player of the Year as sophomore at Lebanon Valley College

2023 graduate helps NCAA DIII Dutchmen reach Middle Atlantic Conference semifinals.

A museum visitor mimics pterosaurs flight in the age of the dinosaurs. (Tim Evanson / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)
On the Trails: Wings aloft!

When vertebrates moved onto land, long ago, some of them eventually became… Continue reading

Most Read