Moose start season with lopsided victories

PALMER — The Palmer Moose were itching to get on the field. Once they got the green light to hit the diamond, the Moose erupted with a pair of lopsided victories to start the 2018 season.

Two days after clobbering South Anchorage 16-3, the Moose beat up Houston 14-2 at the Palmer Senior Field.

“They’re antsy,” Palmer head coach Dave Combs said of the win over South. “They want to play.”

Palmer collected a combined 30 runs and 17 hits during its first two games, while allowing only five runs and four hits. The Moose returned just about everyone from their 2017 squad, losing only graduated senior Aaron Christiansen.

“I think they’re ready,” Combs said of Palmer taking the next step in the Southcentral Conference.

Combs said the Palmer coaching staff caught a positive glimpse of the team’s growth early during the win over South. Palmer’s top two hitters in the lineup struck out during the second inning, but regardless, the Moose broke away with eight runs in the inning.

“My best batters struck out and the mood didn’t change,” Combs said. “That’s really good. It’s different from what we’ve had in a while.”

Combs said that gives him confidences about this club.

Every player in Palmer’s lineup scored at least a run against the South squad, an open team and one of five squads South Anchorage is fielding this year at the high school level. Cade Holland led the Moose with three runs scored. Five different Palmer players added two runs each.

Skyler Hale drove in two runs for the Moose, and also scored twice. Holland, Luke Guggenmos and James Nelson had two hits each.

“We hit the ball hard,” Combs said.

Palmer built a 14-0 lead during the first three innings of the 14-2 win over the Hawks. Guggenmos finished 3 for 3 with 3 RBI and two runs scored. Brady Shults also had three runs and three RBI. Four different Moose scored two runs each.

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