Moose ready to make noise

PALMER — Palmer head coach Dave Combs is confident his Moose are on the verge of becoming a competitive team in the Southcentral Conference.

Combs sees signs of what’s to come from a program that features 10 juniors and only three seniors. But he also sees the lessons the Moose still need to learn.

Combs saw both during a 9-3 loss to Kodiak Friday at Hermon Brothers Field.

“We’re knocking on the door, we’re right there,” Combs said.

Palmer (1-2) scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut Kodiak’s lead in half, but the Bears posted a trio of insurance runs to grab the Southcentral win.

Trailing 6-3 in the sixth, Palmer had the chance to further close the gap. Palmer’s top two hitters in the inning reached first base, but both were caught while trying to stretch to second.

“Just a little bit too anxious,” Combs said. “They just wanted to do it too hard.”

Isaac Courson led off the inning with a single, but was caught trying to stretch a single into a double. Greg Prickett, the next hitter in the lineup, reached on an error, but was also caught trying to get to second.

“There are certain times you can do that, but the guys got a little too overzealous,” Combs said.

The Moose used aggressive base running to score three runs in the fifth. David Media and Tommy Brown legged out infield singles and scored. Luke Huen walked and scored.

“If I can get base runners, I’m always aggressive,” Combs said. “I’m all about pushing them, making them get us out.”

Media put the Moose on the scoreboard in the fifth when the catcher scored on Brown’s infield single. AJ Corbin singled to left field to drive in Huen. Brown cut Kodiak’s lead to 6-3 when he stole third and crossed home on a throwing error by the Kodiak catcher.

Courson pitched seven innings for the Moose, striking out six.

“He pitched well,” Combs said. “He always battles for me.”

Raphael Matautia earned the win on the mound for the Bears. Matautia, who opened the season by throwing a no-hitter against Homer, pitched 4 1/3 innings. He fanned three and didn’t allow a hit until Kevin Montgomery singled in the fourth. But the Moose did tag Matautia for three runs in the fifth.

Eddie Arellano led off the game with a walk and scored to give the Bears the early 1-0 lead.

Kodiak put its first four hitters of the second inning on base. Mikel Garner led off with a single and Matautia followed with a double.

Garner scored on a passed ball and Connor Caldwell drove in two runs with a double.

Bears edge Houston

HOUSTON — Austin Cowley scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth to give Kodiak the 9-8 extra-innings win over Houston on Thursday at Houston High School.

Kodiak scored four times in the top of the second to take the 4-1 lead, but the Hawks answered with four runs of their own during the bottom of the inning.

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