2015 Team

                                                                       16-5
                                             Third Place in State

2015 Crimson Bears in AZ and on green grass and under a sunny blue sky.
PHOTO by Gina Ragle

TOP ROW: Coach Chris Dillon, Coach Chad Bentz,Merick Haney,Jacob Thibodeau,Jasper McNaughton, Nathan Klein,Bryce Swofford, Eric Kelly, Quin Gist, Grant Ainsworth, Hunter Hickok, Coach Frank Barthel, and Coach Will Race.
BOTTOM ROW: Alex Muir, Michael Cesar, Jacob Dale, Michael Dale, Chase Barnum, Brady Mallinger, Curtis Sticker, and Donavan McCurley. NOT PICTURED: Coach Mark Pusich, Joe Greenough and Kasey Watts.
Also please note that the Crimson Bears have a new coach. The team is fortunate to have a former star Crimson Bears player, both as a pitcher and as a hitter, and a former major league pitcher Chad Bentz.

Seniors Nathan"Prime Time" Klein, Michael "Hurricane" Dale, "Mean Joe" Greenough, Grant "The General" Ainsworth, Jacob "CurveBall" Thibodeau and their teammates at the State Tournament at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.
Photo by Tom Ainsworth.

2 Ainsworth, Grant - 3B, SS P, (12)
13 Cesar, Michael - C                   (9)
8 Dale, Jacob - 2B.                       (9)
1 Dale, Michael - CF                     (12)
25 Greennough, Joseph OF        (12)
23 Klein, Nathan - SS, P, C
34 Kelly, Eric-P                            (9)
14 McCurley, Donavin - LF          (9)
24 Muir, Alex - C                          (11)
4 Swofford, Bryce - P,3B,SS        (10)
7 Thibodeau, Jacob - 1B,P,         (12)
12 Watts, Kasey - RF,1B,P           (9)
Head Coach:
       Will Race
Assistant Coaches:
Frank Barthel
       Chad Bentz
       Chris Dillon
       Mark Pusich

                              2015 Crimson Bears Baseball Results
4/22 JDHS 2   TMHS 1 (9inning game,Juneau was the home team)Non-Conference game
4/23 JDHS 4   TMHS 1 (3 runs scored in the top of the 7th inning)Non-Conference game
4/30 JDHS 3   Ketchikan 0
5/1    JDHS 6   TMHS 1
5/1    JDHS 0   Ketchikan 1
5/13 JDHS 4   Petersburg 0
5/13 JDHS 8   Petersburg 0
5/14 JDHS 10 Petersburg 3
5/15 JDHS 10 Ketchikan 15
5/16 JDHS 4   Sitka 0
5/19 JDHS 4   TMHS 1
5/23 JDHS 12 TMHS 0
5/23 JDHS  5 Sitka 3
5/23 JDHS  9  Sitka 0

Juneau Douglas High School Crimson Bears wins the regular season conference title with a record of 10 wins 2 losses (12-2 with 2 non-conference games).

                                        2015 Southeast Region V Tournament
                                                     Juneau

5/28 JDHS 5   TMHS 7
5/29 JDHS 10 Sitka 0
5/30 JDHS 8   TMHS 3
5/30 JDHS 5   Ketchikan 11

                   2015 Alaska State High School Baseball Tournament
                                              Anchorage
6/4 JDHS 15   Lathrop 0
6/5 JDHS    3    South 8
6/6 JDHS    2    West Valley 1
==============================================================

Another fine year for your Crimson Bears baseball team:From AZ to State Championship Tournament. Photo by Tami Wahto

                                Sixteen victories and five losses;
                  First place in the regular Southeast Conference;
                                Third place in the State of Alaska.
                      State of Alasks Baseball GPA Award at 3.51

The 2015 Crimson Bears also set some records. For the first time to our knowledge a team was scheduled to play 3 Southeast Conference games in one day as your Bears were this year. Twice during the time I have been working with the baseball teams JDHS Crimson Bears had to play 3 games in one day. These were in Region V Southeast Conference Tournament games when a team in the loser bracket had to win 3 games in order to win the Tournament. The 2011 JDHS team won 3 Tournament games in one day in comeback thrillers (see 2011 Team on this web site). The other three tournament games series was in 2014 when JDHS won the first 2 games but lost the third game to Sitka.
So in 2015 JDHS was faced with the task of winning 3 conference games in a day. Furthermore if JDHS was to win the regular season conference they had to win all three games. That the Crimson Bears did and in the process out scored their oppenents 29 to 3.

Another 2015 record setter was the pitching performance of Nathan Klein. As we all know baseball is a team sport, especially at the high school level and especially here in Alaska. You will win more ballgames with team work. Occasionally however an individual achievement should be mention and recognize. Nathan "Prime Time" Klein established the best won lost record and the lowest ERA of any JDHS pitcher in any year. Nathan's record was 7 wins no defeats. His ERA was 0.15. Nathan started 8 games but in his first start he went 7 full innings then left the game with the score tied. In that first game Nathan gave up 1 earned run. In the next 7 games Nathan allowed no runs, all his victoreis were shutout victories.

There have been 4 JDHS pitchers with a record of 6 wins no defeats (Joe Kohan, Critter Millay,Dylan Baker, and Tanner Petrie). There have been 3 JDHS pitchers who had ERAs lower than 1.00 ( Sean Bavard 0.35, Zack Kohan 0.78, and Tanner Petrie 0.88). As we can see Nathan had more wins and a lower ERA than the outstanding pitchers listed directly above.

Another record the 2015 team established was that five freshmen made the varsity team. Two were starters for nearly all the games , 2 were starters for the majority of the games and one was a pitcher who started one game pitched in two other games and won 1 lost 1. Last year these 5 freshmen helped their team win a Alaska Little League title. This year they helped their team win 16 games. Currently three of these former freshmen are on the 2015 Juneau Post 25 American Legion Team.

Your JDHS Crimson Bears nearly broke another outstanding JDHS baseball record, the Crimson Bears state baseball Grade Point Average (GPA) award. That record is currently held by the 2010 baseball team at 3.55 out of a possible 4.00. The 2015 team nearly exceeded that total with a 3.51 GPA.

                                                                Play Ball!

The JDHS baseball season started in late April with 2 wins over our in town rival,TMHS, by scores of 2-1 (9 innings) and 4-1.
In Game 3 we defeated Ketchikan by a score of 3 to 0 only to lose to them (our first loss) in Game 5 by the score of 1 to 0. That game was lost in the bottom of the 7th inning without the benefit of a hit. Two errors, a wild pitch, a pass ball on a strikeout. Instead of 2 outs at that point a runner was on first. The next batter, which should have been the third out reached first on an error. So it went, walks and errors the the way to allow unearned runs to cross home plate. The Bears then won the next 3 games (6-8) and loss again to Ketchikan in Game 9. From there the Bears go undefeated winning their last 5 games (10 to 14). Had the Bears not won the 3 games in a day JDHS and Ketchikan would have had identical won lost records but Ketchikan would have been the number 1 seed in the regional tournament because they had beaten JDHS twice and lost one game.

Home for the Region V Tournament however home to a disappointing loss in the first game to TMHS by a score of 7-5.The Crimson Bears committed 7 errors, TMHS 5 errors; The Crimson Bears had 7 hits, TMHS 12. The Bears won their next 2 games, 10 to 0 against Sitka and a 8 to 3 victory against TMHS. Here were the Bears once again in a 3 games in a day. After the victory over TMHS in the first game the Crimson Bears were assured of going to the State Tournament.
In the second game of the day Ketchikan won to gain the number 1 seed out of southeast. Would we meet Ketchikan once again this time in the State Tournament?

Nathan Klein, Bryce Swofford, Jacob Thibodeau, and Michael Cesar were selected to the all Region V team by the head coaches.

On an early morning Wednesday flight to Anchorage to the Alaska State Baseball Championship Tournament. Breakfast--check-in--practice--dinner--early curfew. Game tomorrow at 10:pm.

The first game was against Lathrop of Fairbanks. The Crimson Bears scored early and often (scoring in 3 of the 4 innings they went to the plate), 3 runs in the second inning, 7 runs in the third, and 5 more runs in fourth. More than enough runs to win and win the Bears did by a score of 15 to 0. Nathan on the mound for 4 innings and faced 15 batters, struck 6 issued 1 walk,allowed 2 hits and no runs. Jacob "Curveball"Thibodeau pitched the fifth inning, the first batter singled and then Thibodeau retired the side.
Game 2 and an old foe, South High of Anchorage. Not one of the Bears' better game, a 8-3 lost.
The Bears did not score runs until the 6th inning when they scored 3 runs. Prior to the 6th the Bears had managed 3 hits in five innings.
Now playing for a third place in Alaska against West Valley of Fairbanks, who earlier had beaten Ketchikan. Nathan is on the mound.The rule is that a pitcher can pitch for 10 innings total in 3 days. Nathan had only pitched 4 innings in the Lathrop game and hence had 6 nore innings he could pitch in this tournament. JDHS was the home team and in the bottom of the first inning Grant "The General" Ainsworth led off the inning with a triple and he would score on Michael "The Worker" Cesar ground ball out to second base. The Bears would next score in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Donavin "Flipper" McCurley singled, stole second, reached third on a pass ball by the catcher and scored on Ainsworth ground ball out. Score 2 to 0. Nathan pitched for 6 innings faced 20 batters and as a result, no runs, 1 hit, 8 strikeouts, and one walk. Thibodeau in to pitch the 7th inning and Klein to 1st.. West Valley did not give up.
In the top of the 7th inning the lead off batter walked, the next batter doubled driving in a run. Score now 2 to1 with a runner on second and no outs.
The next batter hits a line shot to Cesar at short. Cesar believing that he had caught the ball throws the ball to Jacob Dale at 2nd, for the runner on second had for some reason decided to try to reach third on a hard ground ball to the left side of the infield.Cesar believe that the Bears had a double play. However Coach race yelled for Dale to throw the ball to first to get the batter out. Coach Race and some others knew the ball had been trapped, that is the ball hit the ground before the glove. Dale's throw got the runner at first for the first out of the inning. Meanwhile the runner on second, the batter who doubled in this inning, and who broke for third on the hard hit ball to the shortstop now decides he can get to score a run on this infield out. Nathan Klein, now playing 1st, has a strong arm and he fires home to Alex Muir who puts the tag on the sliding runner and shows the umpire the ball confirming that he Alex had possession and and that the runner was out.Out he was for the second out of the inning. A 6-4-3-2 double play. Thibodeau then struck out the last batter.

Final score 2 to 1 and a third place state finish for your Crimson Bears.

Nathan Klein and Grant Ainsworth were selected to the all state team.

For the season the Bears scored 129 runs ( on average 6 runs per game) while allowing 56 runs (on average nearly 3 runs per game) in 21 games. Of all the runs scored in the 2015 Crimson Bear's games 70% were score by the Bears. The Bears as a team had a batting average of .241. Their oppenents batting average was .220. The leading hitters were Kasey Watts and Michael Cesar. Cesar led the team in hits (20) and RBIs (16). Watts led the team in stolen bases (7).

The Bears defense, pitching and fielding, kept scores low and was an improvement over recent years. Half of the Bears errors were committed in 3 games. In nearly 40% of their games no errors or one error was committed.

The team's ERA was a very low 1.97. Strong pitching was the major factor in the Bears fine season.

==============================================================

Nathan Klein on the way to his 7 wins no loss season ( a JDHS pitching record) with an ERA of 0.15 (also a JDHS record). Photo by Klas Stople Juneau Empire

The Iceman, Bryce Swofford, delivers again. photo Klas Stople Juneau Empire

If not at first base then Thibodeau is on the mound to help his teammates. Photo by Klas Stople Juneau Empire

Good throw, nice catch but late, safe at 2nd. Photo Klas Stople Juneau Empire.

Great attempt by Kasey Watts to score one for the team. Photo by Tami Wahto

Nice save by Swofford. Photo Klas Stople Juneau Empire

From the Crimson Bears fan support to the Team. Photo by Tami Wahto

Team and Individual Statistics

The 2015 Crimson Bears' Baseball season records are:

Batting Average = H / AB (H=Hits) / (divided by) (AB= At Bats)

TEAM Batting Average = 129 / 535= .241

Leaders:
Kasey Watts .325
    Michael Cesar .323
--------------------------------------------------------------------
On Base % = (H+BB+HP) / (AB+BB+HP+SF) (BB=Base on Balls) (HP=Hit by a pitch) (SF= Sacrifice Fly Out). /(129)+(60+20) / (535)+(60)+(20)+(4) =

TEAM On Base % = .338

Leaders:
Jacob Thibodeau .429
Michael Dale .425
Bryce Swofford .423

(The ML career highest OB% belongs to Ted Williams of the Boston Red Sox at .482).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Slugging % =(1B+2x2B+3x3B+4xHR) / AB (1B=singles) (2B=doubles) (3B=triples) (HR=Home Runs).            (96+2x28=56+3x4=12+4x1=4)=

TEAM Slugging % =.314

Leaders:
Kasy Watts .600
Michael Cesar .403

(At the major league level the slugging % is in the .500 to .700 range. The career highest Slugging % is held by Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees at .690).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contact Rate = (AB minus K) / AB (K=Strike Outs)
                         (535-73) / (535)=

TEAM Contact Rate = .864

Leaders:
Bryce Swofford .962
Jacob Dale .957
Grant Ainsworth .921
Nathan Klein .914
Jacob Thibodeau .900

(The major league contact rate level is at 80%. However batters who are hitting .300 or better are in the 90% range) (source: Ron Shandler USA Today 4/17/2008).

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pitching Statistics:
                           (Won-Lost) (ERA) (WHIP) (Ratio K/BB) (Opp. BA) ( pitches per inn.)

TEAM:            ( 16-5 )       ( 1.97) (1.117)      (2.9)           (.220)           (14)

Pitching Leaders:
Nathan Klein       (7-0)         (0.15)   (0.604)     (14 to 1)      (.145)              (13)
Bryce Swofford    (4-3)         (2.11)   (1.181)     (4 to 1)        (.246)            (14)
Jacob Thibodeau (2-0)        (1.81) (1.192)     (4 to 1)        (.284)             (14)

=====================================================
NOTE: all the individual pitching stats listed above are based on pitchers who pitched at least 19 innings.

ERA= (ER x 7) / IP (Earned Runs x 7innings (in high school baseball) divided (/) by Innings Pitched).
A good ERA is under 4.00

WHIP= (BB+H) / IP
NOTE:WHIP is another way to measure the effectiveness of a pitcher. Two pitchers could have identical ERAs but one pitcher could have a lower WHIP incating that he is a more effective pitcher. For example Pitcher A could give up no runs 1 hit and issue 2 walks.His ERA is 0.00 and his WHIP is ( 2 BB + 1 H / 6 innings pitch) = .600. Pitcher B could give up no runs 7 hits and issue 3 walks. His ERA is 0.00 and his WHIP is (3 + 7 / 6) = 1.66.
A good WHIP is around 1.00 below that is excellant. A poor WHIP is 1.75 or higher.
In our example Pitcher B is allowing nearly 2 runners per inning. If a pitcher continues on that path, trouble ahead. Here Pitcher B most likely had solid defense behind him or he struck out batters thereby pitching a shtutout.

K / BB = Strikeouts / Base on Balls

Opp. BA = Opponent's Batting Average

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fielding: = (PO + A) / (PO + A + E) = Fielding % (PO=Put Outs; A=Assists; E=Errors)
                      (384+156) / (384+156+31)=

TEAM Fielding %= .946

====================================================

2015 Crimson Bears at State. Thank you Sandi. Take care and keep in touch. Photo by Tom Ainsworth.

The General is ready, play ball. Photo by Tom Ainsworth

Seniors Nathan"Prime Time" Klein, Michael "Hurricane" Dale, "Mean Joe" Greenough, Grant "The General" Ainsworth, Jacob "CurveBall" Thibodeau and their teammates at the State Tournament at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.Photo by Tom Ainsworth.

Seniors Nathan"Prime Time" Klein, Michael "Hurricane" Dale, "Mean Joe" Greenough, Grant "The General" Ainsworth, Jacob "CurveBall" Thibodeau and their teammates at the State Tournament at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.
Photo by Tom Ainsworth.