The Thunder Mountain High School girls softball team opened a busy home stand at Dimond Park with an 11-3 win over the visiting Sitka Lady Wolves on Thursday.

The Lady Falcons only trailed once, in the top of the first inning Sitka’s Macee Steinson scored on a passed ball for the game’s first run.

After that the game was a textbook win from a young team.

Lady Falcons junior Ashlyn Gates tripled to score classmates Bryanna Eakes and Jenna Dobson for a 2-1 lead in the top of the first and junior Kara Strong brought Gates home for 3-1.

Gates would also start in the circle and go four innings, allowing just four hits and three runs, walking three batters and striking out three more.

“The highlight reel would include Ashlyn Gates starting pitching,” TMHS coach Barb Strong said. “She was hitting her spots and working well. And we remembered how to hit the ball today.”

Thunder Mountain junior Ashlyn Gates (5) is congratulated by Lady Falcons coach Barb Strong after a triple during their 11-3 win over the Sitka Lady Wolves, Thursday, at Dimond Park. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)

TMHS junior Jack Lovejoy led off the bottom of the second inning with a single, stole second base, advanced on a single by freshman Cambry Lockhart and scored on a double by junior Aliza Mesdag for 4-1. Freshman Alayna Echiverri ground out to score Lockhart for 5-1.

Gates scored in the bottom of the third inning on a sacrifice fly by Strong for 6-1.

Sitka’s final two runs came in the bottom of the fourth inning with Naia Nelson driving in Kaelynn Balovich and scoring on a single by Harlee Nelson.

TMHS’ Gates would double in the bottom of the fourth to score Echiverri for 7-3.

Lovejoy would earn a strong inning of relief pitching in the top of the fifth inning with two strikeouts.

Lovejoy, Lockhart, Echiverri and Eakes all crossed the plate in the bottom half of the fifth for the Lady Falcons final runs.

“We, all the coaches, can see the potential,” Strong said. “And this year it has taken us longer to fit all the pieces together. Tonight was a great night and the girls came away with a bit of confidence.”

Echiverri led TMHS with three runs batted in and Strong added two. Gates led with three hits and Eakes, Lovejoy and Lockhart had two each. Echiverri, Eakes, Gates, Lovejoy and Lockhart each scored two runs.

Softball action continues through the weekend.

Friday:

— 7:30 p.m. – TMHS hosts KTN at Dimond Park No.4 / JDHS host SIT at Melvin Park.

Saturday:

— 11 a.m. – TMHS hosts SIT at DP4 / JDHS host KTN at MP.

— 5 p.m. – TMHS host KTN at DP4 (senior night 4:45) / JDHS host SIT at MP.