The Rewind: Alaska Baseball League and American Legion seasons in full swing and Run for Women draws a big field

In summer baseball action, both the American Legion and Alaska Baseball League got underway. In college sports news, the University of Alaska Anchorage volleyball program announced its 2023 schedule. On the national and international scene, several local products produced standout performances around the country while an Alaska-born hoopster shined abroad.

Headlines and highlights

High school baseball players from across Alaska who took part in their respective state tournaments didn’t get much of a reprieve, as the 2023 American Legion season got underway just days after the state championship games last week. Through the first week of action, Service and Eagle River are off to strong starts as they both remain unbeaten with overall records of 4-0 and 5-0, respectively.

Last week marked the first full week of action in the 2023 Alaska Baseball League as well, with games happening every night from Monday through Sunday. The two Anchorage clubs got things started and saw the two-time defending champion Glacier Pilots top the Bucs 7-2 for a season-opening win.

[Outfielder Kan Taguchi helps Anchorage Glacier Pilots start strong in season-opening win over Bucs]

In college sports, the UAA volleyball team released its schedule for the upcoming season, and the defending Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion is slated to play 33 regular season matches this year. The Seawolves take the court for the first time under new head coach Stacie Meisner against Seawolves alumni Aug. 19, and after a tough nonconference road slate, they will open the regular-season portion of their schedule when they host the annual Seawolf Invitational from Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The 27th annual Alaska Midnight Sun 7s rugby tournament took place last weekend, and men’s and women’s teams from across the country had a blast and made several splashes during the two-day event. A pair of Hawaii teams claimed first place with Marist Hawaii winning the men’s division and the Lady Raiders winning the women’s division.

[At the Alaska Midnight Sun 7s rugby tournament: Local flair, national allure and a Field of Dreams]

The 31st annual Alaska Run for Women featured survivors and those currently battling cancer as well as family and friends who participated in the race, which is aimed at raising breast cancer awareness and raising funds for research. There were approximately 3,800 participants, including 336 survivors. The run raised more than $119,000, according to organizers.

[‘Still a lot of work to be done’ as hundreds gather for 31st Alaska Run for Women]

Alaska stars shining Outside

Anchorage’s Adam Hendrix and Juneau’s Jacob Thibodeau are turning in strong performances so far in the 2023 World Series of Poker. Hendrix cashed in two events and earned $56,274. He kicked things off by finishing 328th (out of 18,188) in the $1,000 Mystery Millions No-Limit event, and earned $6,274. Then out of 264 players in the $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold ‘Em 8-Handed event, he finished 30th, pocketing a whopping $50,000.

[Anchorage’s Adam Hendrix went all in on his passion for poker, and parlayed it into a career]

Thibodeau had two cashes for $12,468 in winnings after he finished 112th in the $1,000 Mystery Millions with earnings of $7,380, and then in the $1,500 6-Handed No-Limit event placed 77th out of 2,454 players to score $5,088.

Ketchikan’s Isaac Updike continued to prepare himself to qualify for the 2023 USA Track & Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, this past Saturday when he set a new personal-best record in the 1,500-meter race at the Flanders Cup Putbos Memorial meet in Lede, Belgium. His time of 3 minutes, 39.84 seconds, was good enough for sixth place and shaved 1.63 seconds off his previous personal best for that distance.

Anchorage’s Travante Williams finished as the third-leading scorer for Sporting CP in the 2023 Portuguese Basketball League Finals that wrapped up Sunday, with Benfica repeating as Liga Betclic champion in a 101-85 clinching victory.

The former Mt. Edgecumbe standout recorded a combined 53 points in the best-of-5 series. Williams’ best game came in Sporting CP’s only win in the series last Tuesday, when he tied for the team lead with 21 points. He was also their leading scorer in Sunday’s game with 17 points.

Last week’s results

American Legion

Tuesday

Eagle River 15, East 0

Kenai 16, Dimond 3

Palmer 7, Chugiak 6

Wednesday

Chugiak 8, West 3

Service 10, Kenai 0

Thursday

Service 7, South 0

Dimond 5, Bartlett 2

Service 7, South 0

Friday

West 4, Bartlett 1

Dimond 17, AK Wild 8

Eagle River 11, Juneau 0

Wasilla 14, Ketchikan 8

West 4, Bartlett 1

Saturday

Dimond 3, AK Wild 2

Kenai 6, South 5

Service 15, Palmer 5

Eagle River 10, Juneau 1

Dimond 9, AK Wild 4

Eagle River 9, Juneau 4

Wasilla 12, Ketchikan 5

Ketchikan 23, Wasilla 16

Sunday

Dimond 20, AK Wild 8

Wasilla 14, Ketchikan 7

Eagle River 15, Juneau 5

Kenai 9, West 8

Kenai 16, West 6

Palmer 8, South 2

Bartlett 13, East 3

Alaska Baseball League

Monday

Glacier Pilots 7, Bucs 2

Minors 4, Chinooks 2

Tuesday

Glacier Pilots 8, Chinooks 4

Minors 10, Bucs 3

Wednesday

Bucs 10, Chinooks 6

Oilers 10, Glacier Pilots 8

Thursday

Glacier Pilots 6, Minors 4

Bucs 6, Oilers 2

Friday

Minors 5, Oilers 2

Chinooks 3, Bucs 2

Saturday

Oilers 5, Chinooks 1

Sunday

Kingsmen 5, Minors 3

Bucs 5, Oilers 3

Chinooks 9, Glacier Pilots 8

Alaska Run For Women

5 Mile (Timed) - Top 10

1. Rosie Brennan, Anchorage 27:40; 2. Taylor Deal, Anchorage 28:57; 3. Ashlee Weller, Anchorage 30:27; 4. Samantha Longacre, Anchorage 31:03; 5. Melissa Templin, Anchorage 31:19; 6. Mercy Sells, Las Vegas, NV 31:47; 7. Kaelan Dickinson, Anchorage 31:49; 8. Kayle Blackmore, Anchorage 31:50; 9. Megan Murphy, Anchorage 31:52; 10. Lia Slemons, Anchorage 32:14

5 Mile (Timed) Survivors - Top 10

1. Lisa Morris, Anchorage 38:14; 2. Jennifer Barnard, Anchorage 38:52; 3. Cynthia Decker, Anchorage 40:49; 4. Diane Trammell, Yakima, WA 41:25; 5. Lisa Domenico, Anchorage 41:48; 6. Elizabeth Bella, Anchorage 43:28; 7. Kristi Adams, Wasilla 43:39; 8. Sharyl Toscano, Anchorage 44:27; 9. Lesley Yamauchi, Anchorage 46:19; 10. Amy Breen, Bird Creek 46:27

Kal’s Knoya Ridge Run

Men - Top 10

1. Lars Arenson 38:39; 2. Ari Endestad 39:01; 3. Chad Trammell 40:37; 4. Ben Marvin 41:17; 5. Galen Hecht 41:25; 6. David Ryland 41:42; 7. Taylor Turney 42:00; 8. Vebjorn Flagstad 42:37; 9. Thomas O’Harra 43:15; 10. Tristan Amaral 43:25.

Women - Top 10

1. Christy Marvin 45:37; 2. Jessica Vetsch 50:05; 3. Sophie Wright 51:08; 4. Sarah Hanchett 51:13; 5. Viviana Mina 51:51; 6. Leigh Moffett 52:46; 7. Shauna Severson 53:14; 8. Jennifer Sandvik 54:09; 9. Rachel Burchill 54:21; 10. Holly Brooks 55:03.

2023 Why Not Tri

Solo Adult

Women - Top 10

1. Sarah Plant, Gilbert, AZ 58:14; 2. Jody Barton, Anchorage 58:39; 3. Nylene Warner, Wasilla 59:48; 4. Morgan Aldridge, Sterling 59:52; 5. Bri Lowen, Anchorage 1:00:58; 6. Jeanine Madden, Eagle River 1:01:32; 7. Kristen Buckwalter, Homer 1:01:35; 8. Holly Boston, Anchorage 1:04:48; 9. Sarah Conkey, Anchorage 1:04:53; 10. April Cooley, Anchorage 1:05:30

Men - Top 10

1. Brett Zimmerman, Anchorage 52:43; 2. Asher Lauderdale, Allen, TX 53:58; 3. Riley Fugere, Eagle River 54:50; 4. Travis Porter, Wasilla 55:00; 5. Brendan Kennedy, Palmer 56:46; 6. Brian Evans, JBER 56:52; 7. Marshall Carlyle, Palmer 56:56; 8. Thomas Jurancich Jr., Palmer 57:06; 9. Jassen Michael, Wasilla 58:39; 10. Rob Morgan, Eagle River 59:32

Kids Race

Girls - Top 10

1. Julie Rego, Wasilla 26:07; 2. Adara Nelson, Anchorage 26:14; 3. Rosemary Maixner, Big Lake 28:36; 4. Reese Michael, Wasilla 28:59; 5. Logan Wedeking, Girdwood 29:13; 6. Eden Michael, Wasilla 29:24; 7. Kensington Trice, Wasilla 31:01; 8. Lydia Craig, Palmer 32:13; 9. Noelle Foreman, Eagle River 32:32; 10. Adelaene Tallman, Wasilla 33:15

Boys - Top 10

1. Rory Warner, Wasilla 26:47; 2. Caleb Lowell, Eagle River 26:53; 3. Christopher Reinhart, Chugiak 26:54; 4. Oliver McDonough, Wasilla 27:49; 5. Mason Baker, Eagle River 27:57; 6. Paul Rego, Wasilla 28:52; 7. Noah Murphy, Palmer 29:43; 8. Cedar Jenkins, Palmer 30:34; 9. Keller Hegg, Wasilla 30:49; 10. Charles Dunlap, Wasilla 31:18

Team Relay - Top 10

1. Bros on their Toes, 1:01:18; 2. Sparkling Mama Warriors on a Mission, 1:14:04; 3. Captain and Skipper, 1:16:54; 4. Rylan and the Cringies, 1:17:42; 5. Finger Lickin’ Gud, 1:20:10; 6. Team Franklin, 1:20:13; 7. Hold My Wine, 1:21:19; 8. Icebergs, 1:25:39; 9. Radiant Ladies, 1:28:00; 10. Sequin Unicorn Blood, 1:30:30

Fast Forward

American Legion baseball

Camp All Stars vs. Anchorage Bucs at Mulcahy Stadium, Thursday 6 p.m.

There won’t be any American Legion live action in town until Thursday because for the first three days of the week, the players will be honing their craft and getting a taste of next-level coaching during a College Coaches Camp. Several collegiate coaches will be coming up to scout local talent and help develop their skills, and then on Thursday night, the best of the bunch will get to apply what they learned and test their mettle against college players from around the country in an exhibition.

Alaska Baseball League

Adult League All-Stars vs. Anchorage Glacier Pilots at Mulcahy Stadium, Saturday 9 p.m.

The All-Stars from the Anchorage Adult Baseball League will face off with the two-time defending Top of the World series of champions of the ABL in a late-night exhibition contest on the eve of Father’s Day.

Mayor’s Marathon

Runners from all over the world will converge on Anchorage this Saturday for an annual summer solstice weekend tradition. It will feature several races that will be run simultaneously ,including the Midnight Sun Marathon (26.2 miles), Alaska Half Marathon (13.1 miles), a marathon relay (4 x 6.5 mile legs) and Coastal 5K, among others.