Chugiak slips by top-seeded Road Warriors

ANCHORAGE — Not even a rare triple play could send a little momentum the Road Warriors’ way.

Aided by 11 walks and three Wasilla errors, Chugiak upset the top-seeded Road Warriors 3-1 during the championship quarterfinal round of the Alaska American Legion State Tournament Saturday evening in Anchorage.

Although disappointed by the loss, Road Warriors skipper Myrl Thompson said Chugiak simply came away on the winning side of what he called a “very good game.”

“Actually, (our players) have nothing to hang their head about,” Thompson said. “It was a very good game.”

Zach Brueggmen scattered three hits and allowed only one earned run during 6 2/3 innings to earn the win on the mound and lead the Mustangs into the semifinal round to face Chugiak. Wasilla was bounced into the loser’s bracket with the loss, and will face either Fairbanks or Eagle River Monday at 1 p.m. at Mulcahy.

“They played a wonderful game,” Thompson said of the Mustangs. “Brueggmen, he was hard to figure out. His curve ball was catching corners and he was getting the calls. You’ve got to give him credit.”

The good news for Wasilla is the Road Warriors still have a shot at the championship game. But it will take some work. The Road Warriors need wins on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to force their way into a title match of the double-elimination bracket.

“We have to just dredge through it, battle our way back through it, back to the winner’s bracket,” Thompson said.

Fresh off their 8-1 drubbing of Bartlett on Friday, Wasilla found itself behind early. Devin Ferriss walked, stole a base and scored in the top of the first inning to give the Mustangs the early 1-0 lead.

Wasilla was able to tie the score in the bottom of the second. Russ Ruta led off the inning with a double for the Warriors and later scored on a Ben Ross ground out.

The score stayed tied at 1 until the fifth inning.

Alex Hess doubled to lead off the fifth for the Mustangs and scored on a Ferriss single to break the tie. Ferriss scored another run late in the inning to give Chugiak the 3-1 lead.

Wasilla, armed with a handful of playing batting over .300, finished with only four hits in the game.

Jonathan Boyer led Wasilla, going 2 for 3 at the plate with a single and a double. Ruta and Ross both doubled for the Road Warriors.

The Warriors managed only four hits, but did have a number of opportunities to tie, or even take the lead. But each time the Warriors threatened, Chugiak came through with a monster play.

In the bottom of the eighth, Huss, Chugiak’s second baseman, robbed Wasilla’s Cooper Hanson of what could have been a game-tying hit.

With two outs, two strikes and two runners on, Hanson lined a shot through the middle infield, but Hess dove to make the play and end the inning.

“That was probably one of the better catches I’ve seen in a long time. Everybody thought it was going to sneak through,” Thompson said. “It didn’t even look like it could possibly be caught.”

Chugiak first baseman Vander Lekites prevented what could have been another big hit for the Warriors in the bottom of the ninth. With bases loaded and two outs, Jacob Butcher lined a ball toward right field, but Lekites reached up to make the grab.

“At the top of his jump, he just caught the ball in the web,” Thompson said.

Chugiak finished with eight hits in the win, drew 11 walks and also benefited from a trio of Wasilla errors.

The highlight of the game, at least for the Warriors, undoubtedly came in the third.

With the game still tied at 1, Chugiak threatened to take the lead, putting two runners on with no outs. With runners on first and third, Chugiak’s Jon Ives flied out to center field. Chugiak’s Conner Cimmiyotti tagged up at third place and sprinted for home. After making the catch, Wasilla center fielder Tyler Hansen made the quick relay throw to pitcher Dalton McHugill. McHugill fired the ball to catcher Morgan McJimsey, and McJimsey made the second out at home.

As Cimmiyotti was caught at home, Chase Wilson tried to move from first to third. But the Warriors tagged Wilson before he reached third base to get the third out and record the rare triple play.

“That was sweet,” Thompson said. “It definitely saved some runs there.”

Wasilla, which earned a first-day bye with its top seed, started state tournament play with an 8-1 win over Bartlett on Friday night. Boyer, Hansen, Mitchell Chauvin and Jacob Butcher each finished with a pair of hits during the win over the Golden Bears. Ruta scored three times and Ross drove in a pair of runs.

Shane Andrews pitched eight strong innings to earn the win. Andrews scattered eight hits, but walked only one hitter and allowed just one earned run. He also fanned three batters.

Wasilla jumped to a big early lead against the Golden Bears Friday. The Road Warriors scored five times in the first inning. Ruta walked and scored on a Boyer double. Chauvin singled and scored on a Ross ground out.

Butcher and Morgan McJimsey also had run-scoring singles in the inning.

Contact Jeremiah Bartz at 352-2273 or sports@frontiersman.com.