Kings stun Warriors in first round of state baseball tourney

ANCHORAGE — The Wasilla Warriors pitching staff combined to throw 14 strikeouts Thursday afternoon.

Pitching like that usually leads to good things.

The Warriors were able to make the Ketchikan hitters swing and miss. But when the Kings were able to make contact, they made it count.

Fueled by a dozen hits and sparked by a four-run first, Ketchikan posted an 11-1 win over Wasilla during the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank State Baseball Championships at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.

“You’ve got to give it to them, they came out swinging,” Wasilla head coach Ken Ottinger said of the Kings. “They popped us in the mouth right off the bat.”

Wasilla starter Hank Boyer fanned the first two Ketchikan hitters of the game. But with two outs in the top of the first, the Kings belted four hits and scored four runs. Nolan Monaghan followed with six innings of relief for the Warriors.

“They beat our two best pitchers. There’s nothing I can say,” Ottinger said. “I tip my cap to Ketchikan. They came out and played a hell of a game.”

Despite trailing throughout, the Warriors, led by Monaghan on the mound, battled. In six innings, Monaghan, who shared Southcentral Conference Co-Player of the Year honors with teammate Jeffrey Forster, finished with 12 strikeouts in the game.

“He gave us everything. I think he threw a great game,” Ottinger said of the Wasilla lefty.

Ottinger said Monaghan should be recognized as one of the best in the state.

“He’s right up there with Bonk,” Ottinger said, referring to Ketchikan’s touted lefthander Nathan Bonk. “I think Monaghan’s a (Division I) player.”

Bonk made the start for the Kings against Wasilla, scattering four hits over seven innings, while striking out 11.

Overall, Ottinger said he was pleased with his team’s effort, and is excited for the future.

“We have a bright future. We have the second-youngest team in this championship (tournament). I think Monroe Catholic is the only one younger than us,” Ottinger said. “I’m very excited for the future. We’ve got some good young kids coming up.”

Wasilla will only lose three seniors following the season.

Wasilla was held to only four hits in the loss. Monaghan, Forster, Ben Werner and Cyrus Lovell finished with one hit each. Kyle Graham scored the lone run for the Warriors.

Mo Bullock and Jackson Pool drove in four runs each to lead the Kings.

With the loss, Wasilla moves back into the consolation semifinals where the Warriors will face either Chugiak or Monroe Friday at 1 p.m. at Mulcahy. Results of the Chugiak-Monroe match were not available before the Frontiersman’s print deadline.

With two straight wins Wasilla can still equal its fourth-place finish from last year’s state tournament. Ottinger said the Warriors need to focus on their next opponent, but Thursday’s game is the type of loss that may linger.

“We’re going to have to let this one go for today. But for the offseason, this one’s going to burn,” Ottinger said.

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