Alaska Road Warriors win Todd Ryan

WASILLA - The Alaska Road Warriors American Legion baseball squad has played the Bartlett post three times this season.

In the first meeting early in the season, Bartlett had the upper hand. In the second contest - also the first game of the Todd Ryan Memorial baseball tourney on Friday - the Road Warriors earned a 5-2 victory.

When the teams met for a third time in the championship game of the Todd Ryan at McManus Field Wasilla on Sunday, the Warriors absolutely clobbered the Anchorage squad.

The host Road Warriors earned the title of their own tourney, with a 12-1 win over the Golden Bears.

A trio of Alaska pitchers combined to throw a one-hitter against Bartlett. Coddie Farrington, Tyler Eli and Mike Carlson pitched for the Road Warriors.

Bartlett took advantage of a few early Alaska mistakes and took a 1-0 lead. But it was a lead the Golden Bears would not hold for long.

Alaska capitalized off a flurry of walks and hits to leap out to an early 7-1 lead. The Road Warrior lineup was walked nine times, and collected eight hits.

&#8220Every time they'd walk us, we'd make them pay,” Alaska head coach Steve Mossburgh said.

Alaska (9-6) used wins over Bartlett, Service and Fairbanks to move into the title-game of the four-team tournament. The Road Warriors finished undefeated in the Todd Ryan.

Mossburgh said there were not an individual endeavors that vaulted the Road Warriors to the title.

&#8220It was a combined effort of all of them.” Mossburgh

said.

A key, Mossburgh said, was the fact players throughout the lineup were hitting the ball hard.

&#8220The guys that weren't hitting came through with big hits,” Mossburgh said.

After playing each of its first 15 games of the summer at home, the Road Warriors are preparing for their first road trip of the season. This weekend Alaska travels north to face Fairbanks in a three-game set.