10:58 a.m.
FINAL: Medford Mustangs 4, Juneau 0.
Juneau drops to the loser’s bracket for the third year in a row at the Northwest Regional Tournament. The Post 25 Midnight Suns will play at 8:30 a.m. Thursday against the loser of today’s game between Casper (WY) Post 2 and Idaho Falls (ID) Post 56.
Midnight Suns pitcher Gabe Storie struck out six batters and threw four scoreless innings. His counterpart for Medford — starter Bennett Thompson — was just as good though. Thompson gave up one hit over 5 2/3 innings.
10:25 a.m.
Juneau’s Brock McCormick spoils Medford’s Bennett Thompson’s no-hitter bid. McCormick singled in the bottom of the sixth, but was caught stealing second before the Midnight Suns could do additional damage. Thompson was later relieved by Skyler Gaudern. Thompson struck out four and walked one over 5 2/3 innings.
10:16 a.m.
Oregon leads 3-0 midway through the sixth. After Morsh’s RBI bunt, Bennett Thompson scores Bennett Smith on his sacrifice fly.
10:15 a.m.
RBI bunt by Darin Morsh puts Medford up 2-0. Only one out in the top of the sixth.
9:50 a.m.
Juneau remains hitless through four innings, trailing 1-0 to the Medford Mustangs. The Oregon state champions scored their only run in the top of the third. Darin Morsh’s bunt turned into an error, scoring Chase Costanti from second base.
9:45 a.m.
Top of the fourth now. Oregon up 1-0. Medford pitcher Bennett Thompson perfect through three three innings — no hits, no runs, three strike outs and one walk.
9:35 a.m.
Despite allowing two hits and two errors, Juneau gives up only one run in the third. Gabe Storie struck out Zac Ankeny for the second out, Taven Passey popped out, stranding three runners.
9:30 a.m.
Medford’s Chase Costanti scores the first run of the game after leading off the third inning with a double. It’s now 1-0 Oregon.
9:21 a.m.
Gabe Storie is on the mound for Juneau. Through 1 1/2 innings, the state tournament MVP has two strikeouts.
9:05 a.m.
Here’s a nice article on the strengths of the Juneau team this year, written by the Alaska Legion Baseball’s Van Williams.
9 a.m.
The American Legion Baseball Northwest Regional Tournament has begun! Fresh off its third consecutive state championship, Juneau Post 25 is taking on the Medford Mustangs (33-23) of Oregon. Juneau (29-5) has become well acquainted with this tournament, the last stop before the American Legion World Series. Juneau dropped their opener against Meridian (ID) to the tune of 8-7. The Midnight Suns lost 13-2 to Missoula the year before that.
• Contact sports reporter Nolin Ainsworth at 523-2272 or nainsworth@juneauempire.com. Follow Empire Sports on Twitter at @akempiresports.
