Legion catcher named all-state

WASILLA — During the opening round of the Alaska American Legion State Championships late last month, Alaska Road Warriors catcher Wesley Smith tagged up from third base and scored on a short fly ball twice during an 8-7 come-from-behind win over the Chugiak Mustangs.

Those runs helped the Road Warriors grab the win and start a run that continued right into the state championships game.

“Wesley is what makes it all go around,” Road Warriors head coach Steve Mossburgh said of Smith during the state tournament. “He’s the one that drives the team.”

Smith, who helped lead the Road Warriors to a runner-up finish in the tourney, has been rewarded for his efforts. The catcher was named first-team American Legion All-State.

Smith posted a .450 batting average during his summer with the Road Warriors. He also scored 33 runs, stole 24 bases and finished the season with 14 RBI.

Smith was the lone player from the Wasilla American Legion post to earn first-team honors, but four others were named all-state honorable mentions. Infielders Chris Bydlon and Jonathon Boyer and outfielder Taylor Palmer all received an honorable mention. Damon Hammer was also an honorable mention as a utility player.

Bydlon, who capped his four-year career with the Wasilla High baseball program in the spring, hit .380 and scored 25 runs. Boyer, an incoming sophomore at Colony, hit .360. Colony incoming juniors Palmer and Hammer hit .330 and .380 respectively.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.

2010 American Legion

All-State

Coach of the year:

Chris Williams, South; John Butler, Kenai; Bob Hermes, Fairbanks.

First team:

Catcher — Wesley Smith, Wasilla; Garett Balen, Chugiak; Shelden Rouzan, Dimond; Infield — Stephen Ferntheil, Service; Dylan Wisthoff, West; Derek Henry, Chugiak; Cameron Fitz, Chugiak; Alex Whittaker, Fairbanks; Cory Clevanger, Dimond; Colton Lauwers, Dimond; Cal McKim, South; Outfield — Aaron Miller, Service; Braden Price, Kenai; Willie Clark, Fairbanks; Curtis Wolfe, Fairbanks; Dylan Lauwers, Dimond; Hayden Karnos, South; Utility — Garret Brown, Service; Matt Sullivan, Chugiak; Eric Berglund, South.

Honorable mention:

Catcher — Matthew Wixon, Fairbanks; Infield — Mike McLain, Bartlett; Chase Van Allen, Service; Jake Darrow, Kenai; Mitchell Thompson, Kenai; Josiah Covey, Kenai; Austin Cassaday, East; Alex Clemens, East; Austin Anderson, East; Steve Hammill, West; Chris Bydlon, Wasilla; Jonathon Boyer, Wasilla; Tyler Bolles, Fairbanks; Dalton Brock, Fairbanks; Vince Patusch, Dimond; Tyler Thompson, Dimond; Outfield — Cade Scott, Bartlett; Bryan Beard, Service; Alberto Valerio, West; Taylor Palmer, Wasilla; Justin Schneider, Chugiak; Jack Ryan, South; Steven Steger, Kenai; Utility — Damon Hammer, Wasilla; Nick Crutcher, Fairbanks; Sagan Osbourne, Dimond.