Two new head coaches, two enticing Falcons’ pitchers and one Crimson Bear hitting over .500.
Buckle up for two days of inspired softball at Melvin Park this weekend between Juneau-Douglas and Thunder Mountain High School.
JDHS (3-1) plays TMHS (3-1) Friday night at 6 p.m. at Melvin Park. On Saturday, the Falcons and Crimson Bears face off two more times at 11 and 1 p.m. The second game on Saturday is non conference and will not determine seeding for the region tournament. The junior varsity JDHS and TMHS teams play at 4 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. on Saturday.
[New JDHS softball coach named ‘teacher of excellence’]
The Crimson Bears are lead by pitcher Leah Spargo and shortstop Sami Good. Spargo rarely walks batters and Good rarely doesn’t connect for a hit. Good is hitting above-500 through four conference games this season.
Thunder Mountain is led in the circle by Nina Fenumiai and Kyra Jenkins Hayes. Infielders Alondra Echiverri, Maxi Suceda-Hurt and Haleigh DiCarlo are all strong hitters for the Falcons. Echiverri hit a grand slam during the Falcons’ first weekend of play in Ketchikan and could repeat the act this weekend.
Ireland-Haight says the key for the Crimson Bears will be to play with a lot of energy.
“We just have to keep up our intensity which is very easy to do with some of the girls on the team like Skylar Hickok, Abby Meiners and I and Leah Spargo.”
These two teams played each another last June in the small schools state championship in Fairbanks. TMHS defeated JDHS 14-6 in that game. Despite finishing 10-7, the Crimson Bears were winless against the Falcons all last season.
The Friday game will be a “pink out” for breast cancer awareness. A silent auction of two deluxe gift baskets will take place during Friday’s game to raise money for breast cancer. After the game, fans can wager on whether JDHS baseball players can hit off of TMHS head coach Brittany Gladsjo.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nolin.ainsworth@juneauempire.com.
