<\/a>JDHS senior first baseman Bodhi Miller tags out Eagle River junior base runner Gunner Mountcastle on a pick off move from pitcher Eli Crupi during the Crimson Bears 2-1 loss to the Wolves in an elimination game Friday at the ASAA Division I State Baseball Championships on Sitka’s Moller Field. (Klas Stolpe \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Even when it didn’t work, like walking a batter in the bottom of the first inning, Crupi made it work by picking off the runner at first base, then striking out the next two hitters.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Two more batters struck out in the second inning, another reached on a fielding error, but the third out was handled in center field by classmate Finn Kesey.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
A strike out in the bottom of the third inning was buoyed by a stellar fielding effort by junior Landon Simonson at third base and another by freshman Brandon Casperson at second. Again, a runner reached on a fielding error, but was left harmless.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
In the bottom of the fourth inning Crimson Bears senior shortstop Kaleb Campbell handled a ground ball out, but a fielding error in the outfield put an Eagle River batter on base. Crupi would then give up one of his two hits in the game as Wolves senior Joshua Thompson singled in senior Alexander Mullen for a 1-0 lead. Thompson was caught stealing by Casperson and Simonson fielded another ground ball out at the corner to end the inning.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/a>JDHS senior Joseph Aline eyes a pitch against Eagle River during the Crimson Bears 2-1 loss to the Wolves in an elimination game Friday at the ASAA Division I State Baseball Championships on Sitka’s Moller Field. (Klas Stolpe \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
The Crimson Bears got the run back in the top of the fifth inning as freshman Tyler Frisby reached on an error, advanced to second on a walk to Kesey and to third on a ground out by junior Lamar Blatnick. Crupi joined them on the bags and Frisby crossed on a fielder’s choice, tying the score 1-1.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Casperson fielded a ground ball out and Crupi struck out the next two batters.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
In the bottom of the sixth, Casperson fielded another ground ball out. Crupi gave up a double to Eagle River sophomore William Lierman and hit senior Connor Lanehart with a pitch before getting the Wolves Mullen to fly out to Crimson Bears center fielder Frisby for two outs. A defensive interference call was nullified when Crupi fielded a ground ball by Eagle River sophomore Dallin Roberts to end the threat.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Crupi was hit by a hard line drive, but recovered the ball and threw out the batter at first base, senior first baseman Bodhi Nelson caught a foul ball out and Crupi shook off the aftermath of the line drive to strike out his eighth batter.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/a>JDHS junior Lamar Blatnick slides safely into third base as Eagle River senior Alexander Mullen bobbles the ball during the Crimson Bears 2-1 loss to the Wolves in an elimination game Friday at the ASAA Division I State Baseball Championships on Sitka’s Moller Field. (Klas Stolpe \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
“That one hurt,” Crupi said. “I am going to have a pretty big bruise on my knee. Once it hit me I knew I wasn’t coming out, no matter how bad it hurt. I wanted to keep pitching.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Crimson Bears shortstop Campbell handled a hard ground ball out, senior Joe Aline chased down a fly ball out in left field, a Crupi curveball found an Eagle River batter on its way to the strike zone, but Crupi regrouped and recorded his ninth strikeout.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
The Crimson Bears went to the bullpen in the bottom of the ninth inning. Senior Marcus Underwood put some heat into the battery, but an error put Wolves batter Thompson on first base. He then stole second base and was advanced to third on a bunt back to the mound that Underwood threw to Nelson at first base for an out.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
JDHS intentionally walked Eagle River sophomore Dalton Smith and junior Kamden Kurtz to load the bases.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t