Back Row (Left to Right): Coach Mark Hickey, Head Coach Jim Ayers, Casey Walker, Will Nicholas, Brian Kostenko, Mike Rader, Dylan Hickey, Grady Treston, Evan Tromble, Kent Mearing, Brian Heimbigner, Coach Bruce Scandling, ? , Coach Bob Blasco, Front Row: Jake Dutton, Kelly Pajinag, Joe Ayers, Brian Thatcher, Brett Fairchild, Robb Travis, Evan Scandling, Jesse Blackwell, John Blasco, and Garret Schoenberger.
In the first ever ASAA sanctioned state baseball tournament, the Bears defeated North Pole to reach the title game but fell just short of a state championship, falling to East Anchorage, by a 3-1 score. Garrett Schoenberger and Dylan Hickey were both named to the All-State Tournament Team in Jim Ayers’ first year as head coach.
The Bears were again based around pitching and defense, limiting opponents to just 37 runs all season (2.3 runs per game). They batted .315 as a team with 8 home runs and 68 runs scored (4.3 runs per game).
Schoenberger, a senior catcher, led the team offensively, hitting .349 with 4 home runs, 13 RBI, and 7 stolen bases. Grady Treston hit .333 with 2 home runs and 11 RBI and Casey Walker batted .353 with 10 runs batted in.
Kent Mearig topped the Bears pitching staff with a 3-0 record to go with a 2.37 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings pitched. Walker went 2-2 with a 2.43 ERA and 18 strikeouts, and Will Nicholas posted a 2-0 record to go with a 3.57 ERA and 14 strikeouts.
Roster: Joe Ayers Jesse Blackwell John Blasco Jake Dutton Brett Fairchild Brian Heimbigner Dylan Hickey Brian Kostenko Kent Mearig Will Nicholas Kelly Pajinag Mike Rader Evan Scandling Garett Schoenberger Brian Thatcher Robb Travis Grady Treston Evan Tromble Casey Walker
Kent Mearig fires a pitch in practice
Catcher Garret Schoenberger
2000 State Runner-Up
Will Nicholas fires a pitch against East Anchorage.
Dylan Hickey holds a base runner on
2000 Juneau American Legion team Back Row (Left to Right): Coach Bruce Scandling, Joe Ayers, Coach Jim Ayers, Mike Rader, CJ Corso, Bryson Buck, Bruno del Olmo, David Coogan, Kalen Meek, Steve Hartwick. Front Row: Coach Frank Barthel, Nick Wolf, Zach Kohan, Will Nicholas, Bud Baun, Lopaka Pavitt, and Evan Scandling.