Sports

Anchorage, Southeast schools cruise into softball semis

Two Cook Inlet Conference powers cruised into the semifinals of the state large schools high school softball tournament in Fairbanks, where a pair of Southeast squads did the same in the small schools tourney.

The T-birds and Wolverines -- the top two teams in the CIC this season -- took different routes Friday to set up their Saturday morning showdown. Three-time defending champion East won by a combined 18-1 in a pair of first-round wins, crushing West Valley 13-0 and downing West 5-1.

South had a tougher path to Saturday's 9:30 a.m. semifinal, defeating Chugiak 5-2 in the first round behind before sneaking past Railbelt Conference champion Wasilla 3-2. South trailed 2-1 heading into the seventh, but got a game-winning RBI double from Danni Desjarlais to pull in front. Desjarlais also struck out 11 batters to earn the win.

In the small schools division, Ketchikan advanced to the semis with a bye followed by a 24-5 thumping of Hutchison. Sitka had to work a bit harder, downing a pair of conference champions by beating Northern Lights champ Homer 9-1 before taking out top-seeded North Pole of the Mid Alaska Conference 10-2. The Wolves and Kings will play at 9 a.m. Saturday for the right to play in the tournament championship.

Four teams remain in contention in each of the two double-elimination tournaments, which wrap up Saturday. In the large schools division, West and Wasilla survived Friday by earning wins in the final games of the evening. The Eagles downed CIC rival Chugiak 4-1 and Wasilla eliminated the Wolfpack with an 8-4 win.

West had a wild day, getting a no-hitter from pitcher Lauren Syrup in its 13-0 win in the first round before getting sent to the loser's bracket by East and rebounding against the Mustangs.

West and Wasilla will play a loser-out game at 9:30 a.m.Saturday, with the winner advancing to play the loser of the South vs. East game for a berth in the state final.

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In small schools loser-out games, North Pole defeated Kodiak 21-6 and Homer topped Hutchison 14-9. The Patriots and Mariners will play a loser-out game at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

ASAA/First National Bank Alaska

SMALL SCHOOLS

Friday's results

Hutchison 7, Kodiak 2

Ketchikan 24, Hutchison 5

Sitka 9, Homer 1

Sitka 10, North Pole 2

North Pole 21, Kodiak 6

Homer 14, Hutchison 9

Saturday's games

Ketchikan vs. Sitka, 9 a.m.

North Pole vs. Homer, 9 a.m.

Ketchikan/Sitka loser vs. North Pole/Homer winner, 11:30 a.m.

Championship game, 2 p.m. (if necessary game to follow)

LARGE SCHOOLS

Friday's results

South 5, Chugiak 2

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West 13, West Valley 0

East 5, West 1

South 3, Wasilla 2

West 4, Chugiak 1

Wasilla 8, West Valley 4

Saturday's games

South vs. East, 9:30 a.m.

West vs. Wasilla, 9:30 a.m.

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South/East loser vs. West/Wasilla winner, Noon

Championship game, 2:30 p.m. (if necessary game to follow)

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