American Legion: Road Warriors rally to victory in BP tourney

July 8, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE - A grand slam by the opposing team isn't typically the best way to start a rally - unless you're the Alaska Road Warriors.

The Wasilla-based American Legion team responded to Service center fielder Willie Paul's second inning dinger with 10 unanswered runs and a 10-4 win over the Cougars in the British Petroleum Invitational at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage Friday.

&#8220It fired us up,” Alaska catcher Robert Fitch said following the game. &#8220We were a little mad at that.”

Alaska pitcher Wesley Smith was responsible for all four runs, walking the bases loaded with two outs to pave the way for Paul's first career home run.

&#8220I didn't think it was going out,” Paul said.

The speedy outfielder is known as a good hitter, but not necessarily for power. He said after he hit the ball to deep left field, he put his head down and started looking for extra bases.

&#8220I was on second base before I realized it was gone,” he said.

Instead of hanging his head, Alaska's Smith got out of the inning without further damage, and didn't give up another run before being lifted in the fifth for reliever Ben Briceland.

&#8220Just being able to get out of that inning without any more runs was key,” Smith said.

Wasilla cut the Service lead to 4-3 thanks to a number of Service blunders in the top of the third. The Cougars committed two errors in the inning, while pitcher Ben Hand walked a batter, hit another and was charged with a run-scoring balk. Service committed seven errors on the game, while Alaska was charged with three.

The Road Warriors pulled even in the fourth with another gift run. With two outs, Alaska shortstop Josh Boring hit a high, lazy fly to right field that somehow bounced off the heel of Andy Davies' glove. Boring ran the whole way and wound up on second, paving the way for Tyler Eli to rip an RBI single into right and tie the game.

Alaska picked up three more runs in the fifth on singles by right fielder Corey Cowgill and designated hitter Kody Ziter, two service errors and a passed ball by catcher Josh Almeda.

Paul said it seemed as if his team's defensive miscues were contagious.

&#8220One just seemed to follow the other,” he said.

The Service center fielder had two of his team's four hits, but said it seemed as if his early home run did more to inspire Wasilla than spark the Cougars.

&#8220It kind of had the reverse effect,” he said.

Cowgill picked up a two-RBI double in the sixth for the Road Warriors, who also got an unearned run in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Cowgill and Fitch were the offensive stars for Alaska, which finished the game with 10 hits. Cowgill went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored, while Fitch had three hits, scored twice and knocked in a pair.

Eli and Casey Smith each scored twice.

Ben Briceland was solid in relief, pitching three scoreless innings while allowing just one Service hit.

Alaska coach Steve Mossburgh said the key to the game was his team's ability to forget about the early Service fireworks.

&#8220I was proud of those guys for not dropping their heads,” Mossburgh said.

The win helped Alaska improved to 11-7 overall on the season and 1-0 in the eight-team BP tournament.

Fitch said it was important for the team to set a positive tone for the tournament with a win Friday.

&#8220You always want to start out on a good note,” he said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@

frontiersman.com

Road Warriors 10, Service 4

Friday, Mulcahy Stadium

ALASKA

name ab r h bi

Boring ss 5 1 1 0

Eli rf 3 2 1 1

CaSmith 2b 2 2 1 0

Fitch c 5 2 3 2

Cowgill lf 5 1 2 2

Ziter dh 3 1 1 1

CoSmith 4 1 0 1

Dupuis cf 2 0 1 1

Bydlon 3b 4 0 0 0

Totals 33 10 10 8

SERVICE

Name ab r h bi

Davies rf/1b 2 1 1 0

Barnett c 0 0 0 0

Paul cf 3 1 2 4

Barrus ss 4 0 1 0

Carlton dh 1 0 0 0

Almeda c/rf 2 0 0 0

Nealley c 1 0 0 0

Toliver 3b 1 0 0 0

Beard lf/rf 3 0 0 0

Mauer 3b/p 3 0 0 0

Grenier 1b 1 1 0 0

Ferntheil 2b 2 1 0 0

Totals 23 4 4 4

Alaska 003 132 1- 10 10 3

Service 040 000 0- 4 5 7

E - Alaska 3, Service 4. LOB - Alaska 9, Service 9. 2B - Cowgill, Barrus. HR - Paul. SB - Casey Smith (2), Fitch, Barrus, Paul, Beard. CS - Carlton. Sac - Ziter, Almeda.

ALASKA IP H R ER BB SO

Wes Smith W 4 4 4 4 5 1

Briceland 3 1 0 0 2 1

SERVICE

Hand L 5 8 7 0 4 0

Mauer 2 2 3 2 2 2

HBP - Casey Smith by Hand, Paul by Wes Smith. PB - Almeda, Nealley. Balk - Hand (3rd), Mauer (7th).