Colony riding 6-game win streak going into state

PALMER — The last year of Mike Stewart’s impressive 15-year career as coach of Colony Knights softball may have been his most challenging.

Stewart’s Colony squads have advanced to the state tournament 12 times and have not missed the tournament for the last six years, and this year is no different.

The Knights kick off opening round play of the ASAA/First National Bank State Softball Championships against East Anchorage at 1 p.m., today at Cartee Fields in Anchorage. Despite a string of injuries, the Knights roll into the state tournament on a six-game win streak, and Stewart aims to keep his team on its hot streak.

“I just want them to be consistent,” the coach said. “I want to make sure they’re swinging the bat with confidence in the cage and keep fielding the ball the way they have been.”

The Knights come into the tourney 12-8 overall, 6-6 in Railbelt Conference play. The Knights have dominated the Railbelt conference as the class of the Valley under Stewart. The Knights returned All-Railbelt Conference performers Devan Clark, Olivia Martin and Sam Everett from last season. First baseman Saige Stefanski leads the team in hitting.

Injuries have left the Knights without their regular center fielder and second baseman, but have also provided an opportunity for underclassmen to step up.

“I’ve never had so many people go down (with injuries),” Stewart said. “Regardless of who we’ve put in, they have stepped up.”

Freshman Mack Everett has been a strong pitcher for the Knights, as well as playing out of position at third base. Martin splits pitching duties with Mack Everett and has taken over in center. Sophomore Chelsea Friesen plays beside Martin in right field and has been solid at the plate for the Knights.

“It’s remarkable what they’ve been able to do,” Stewart said. “I knew at the beginning of the year that they could do it. This group is very talented.”

The old championship adage of pitching and defense rings true for the Knights.

“Our pitching is strong and our defense is strong,” said shortstop Devan Clark. “So all winter we worked on hitting.”

Contact Tim Rockey at 352-2252 or tim.rockey@frontiersman.com. Follow @trockeynews on Twitter.

STATE SOFTBALL

Cartee Fields, Anchorage

Friday

Game 1 — West Anchorage vs. Lathrop, 11 a.m.

Game 2 — West Valley vs. Chugiak, 11 a.m.

Game 3 — Juneau-Douglas vs. Service, 1 p.m.

Game 4 — Colony vs. East Anchorage, 1 p.m.

Game 5 — Loser West Anchorage/Lathrop vs. Loser Juneau/Service, 3 p.m.

Game 6 — Loser Colony/ East vs. Loser West Valley/Chugiak, 3 p.m.

Game 7 — Winner West Anchorage/Lathrop vs. Winner Juneau/Service, 5 p.m.

Game 8 — Winner Colony/East vs. Winner West Valley/Chugiak, 5 p.m.

Game 9 — Winner Game 5 vs. Loser Game 8, 7 p.m.

Game 10 — Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 7, 7 p.m.

Saturday

Game 11 — Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 9:30 a.m.

Game 12 — Winner Game 9 vs. Winner Game 10, 9:30 a.m.

Game 13 — Winner Game 12 vs. Loser Game 11, 11:30 a.m.

Championship Game 14 — Winner Game 11 vs. Winner Game 13, 1:30 p.m.

Game 15 (if necessary) — Winner game 14 vs. Loser game 14, 3:30 p.m.