Knights face South High in state tourney

PALMER — The Colony Knights are looking to duplicate their performance at the Southcentral Conference tournament in Kenai last weekend. After posting an 8-4 record that was good enough to post No. 1 in the conference during the regular season, the Knights did the unthinkable —they got better.

“In regions, we stepped it up and played better than we did in the regular season. We were more focused,” said senior first basemen A.C. Schmer.

The Knights play the defending state champions, the South High Wolverines at 4 p.m., Thursday at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.

The Wolverines represent the No. 2 seed out of the Cook Inlet Conference. The Knights sport an 11-4 overall record heading into the state tournament.

First year head coach Jordan Chadwell's squad is full of championship traits. The Knights feature a deep and talented pitching staff, as well a strong defense. The Knights are fundamentally sound at the plate.

In the region championship game against Wasilla, Colony was able to score a run in the fifth inning without hitting the ball out of the infield; something junior shortstop Jon Boyer says will be key if the Knights hope to succeed at state.

“We're going to have to start playing small ball. We've got to get baserunners on however we can and get them around anyway possible,” Boyer said by cellphone after the team’s region championship win last Friday.

The Knights are a very young team. Only three of Colony’s starters have state tournament experience. The Knights also start two underclassmen on their infield in freshman second basemen Matt Palmer and sophomore third basemen Ben Ross. Youth did not stop the Knights from leading the conference all season. The Knights said they felt that recently they have become more focused, and they are playing their best baseball all year.

“They talk about staying focused at practice. As a coach, if you don't have to do that, then I know that they're going to be focused at game time,” said Chadwell.

Though the Knights will face stiff competition from South on their home turf, Colony is confident they will compete. Hammer and Boyer are no stranger to beating an Anchorage team at Mulcahy.

As part of the Wasilla-based American Legion team, Hammer and Boyer beat Service in the state tournament last summer. Hammer knocked a deep homerun over the center field fence to seal the victory for the Road Warriors.

“Damon has been our leader. His actions spark the team,” Chadwell said.

Hammer will need to lead the Knights with a strong pitching performance if they are to advance toward their goal of winning a state title.

“I've just got to try to live low and hit my spots,” Hammer said. “Hopefully I'll get lots of grounders for my infield.”

Chadwell said the team has improved its mental approach at the plate, but still needs to get tougher.

“If we do the little things well, the scoreboard will take care of itself,” he said.

Contact Tim Rockey at 352-2252 or tim.rockey@frontiersman.com. Follow @trockeynews on Twitter.