Freshman tosses shutout in win over Houston

PALMER — The Palmer Moose have had some games slip away from them during the early stretch of the 2017 season. But Saturday, things came together for the Moose. And it all started with the work of freshman Keagen Norman on the mound.

Norman tossed a complete-game two-hit shutout to lead Palmer to a 7-0 win over Houston at Redington Jr./Sr. High School.

“He threw a gem,” Palmer head coach Dave Combs earlier this week.

Norman took a perfect game into the fifth inning. The freshman walked Houston’s Jaydon Elson in the fifth. Ethan Giddings broke up Norman’s no-hit bid with a single in the sixth. Houston had three baserunners in the seventh, including a Morgan Buntin single, but Norman was able to work his way out of it, and went the distance.

“He was locating his strikes. Great rhythm. He kept them off balance,” Combs said.

Norman also quieted a Houston lineup that finished with 13 hits and 15 runs during a 17-15 loss to Soldotna the day before.

“That’s what makes it even that much better,” Combs said comparing Norman’s work against the Hawks to Houston’s success at the plate the day before.

Luke Guggenmos drove in a pair of runs from his lead-off spot for the Moose. Cade Holland and Aaron Christiansen scored two runs each. James Nelson had a team-high three hits. Skyler Hale and Brady Shults also drove in runs.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.