If you’re a high school softball fan, you’re going to bouncing between Melvin and Dimond Park a lot this weekend. Here’s what’s going on in the world of prep sports.
Softball
In somewhat of a dress rehearsal for the newly introduced Region V softball tournament in two weeks, Sitka and Ketchikan are both in Juneau today through Saturday. The Wolves and Kings will each get two stabs against the Juneau-Douglas (3-3) and Thunder Mountain High School (5-1) respectively.
JDHS plays Ketchikan tonight and Sitka on Friday at 6 p.m. at Melvin Park. The Crimson Bears then play Sitka at 2 p.m. and Ketchikan at 6 p.m. on Saturday at the same field.
Thunder Mountain takes on Sitka Thursday and Ketchikan on Friday at 6 p.m. at Dimond Park. On Saturday, TMHS plays a doubleheader against Ketchikan (noon) and Sitka (2 p.m.) on their home field.
Countdown to state tournament: 21 days.
Baseball
The Crimson Bears return to Adair-Kennedy tomorrow and Saturday for conference games against Sitka. Even without their pitching ace Bryce Swofford — out for the season with a hurt throwing arm — the Crimson Bears have won their last six games. JDHS followed up their sweep of Thunder Mountain (2-1, 4-2, 10-0) three weeks ago with three more wins against Petersburg. JDHS had a bye last weekend.
Thunder Mountain takes a jaunt to Petersburg this weekend after a successful weekend at home against Ketchikan. The Falcons took Friday’s game 3-2 and split Saturday’s games against the Kings. All three of the games were determined by two or less runs as both teams struggled to hit off the opposing pitchers. With a weaker team in the Vikings, this weekend presents a golden opportunity in getting Falcons hitters going.
Countdown to state tournament: 21 days.
Track and Field
The JDHS and TMHS track teams are in Haines Friday and Saturday for the Haines Invitational. With the Region V championships just one week out, expect both schools to run, throw and jump conservatively this weekend. The Crimson Bears will travel with 35 athletes, and Falcons’ with only about 20 due to injuries and some runners electing to stay home for prom.
“Haines is always about having fun and bonding,” JDHS coach Janette Gagnon said in an email. “It’s a time to relax before regionals.”
As a tradition, Haines invites both teams to its own prom after the meet ends on Saturday.
Countdown to state tournament: 14 days.
Soccer
The JDHS girls make their first visit of the season to Ketchikan. The Crimson Bears defeated the Kings twice at home earlier this season: 7-0 and 5-1.
Coach Gary Lehnhart’s boys soccer team is coming off two wins against Ketchikan on the road last weekend. The Crimson Bears won 5-1 on Thursday night and 4-0 the following night. The team has four games remaining on the schdule until the state tournament — all against conference opponents Ketchikan and TMHS. The JDHS boys host Ketchikan Friday and Saturday night at Adair-Kennedy. On Monday, they’ll attempt to spoil TMHS’ senior night with a win on the Falcons’ home turf. They rematch TMHS two nights later at Adair-Kennedy on their own senior night.
Countdown to state tournament: 14 days.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com.
Thunder Mountain’s Bobby Cox dives safely into second base on a double as Ketchikan’s Spencer Erickson goes for the tag in the third inning at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Friday, May 5, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
