Opening Day: Lynx rally past Warriors

WASILLA — A Dimond rally spoiled Wasilla’s opening day, but Warriors head coach Ken Ottinger walked off the WHS turf with a sense of optimism after his team’s 7-4 extra-inning loss to the Lynx Monday night at Wasilla High School.

“I think we’ll be alright once we get some questions answered,” Ottinger said.

Ottinger and his assistants have been tasked this spring with figuring out how to fill a massive void left by its 2018 senior class, which included a handful of athletes who are now playing at the college level.

“It’s a whole new team,” Ottinger said. “We’re young. We’re still trying to answer some questions.”

Wasilla lost its catcher and most of its infield to graduation after last season. Ottinger pointed to those areas specifically among the positives he saw Monday.

“I thought my little catcher did a great job of blocking the plate,” Ottinger said of junior Maxx Wanser. “My infield makes me feel better.”

Ottinger noted senior first baseman and catcher Clancey O’Donnell’s play at the right corner.

O’Donnell also helped Wasilla grab an early lead, legging out a ground ball that allowed AJ Camacho to score. That gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead. Wasilla scored a run in each of the first four innings of the game. Jacob Hansen singled to center in the bottom of the second and later scored on a Carson Boyett single to push Wasilla’s lead to 2-0. In the third, Hansen was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Jacob Gilbert scored to give Wasilla the 3-1 advantage. Clayton Boyett reached on an error and scored on a Gilbert double in the fourth, and Wasilla stretched its lead to 4-1.

Dimond was able to cut into Wasilla’s advantage with a pair of runs in the fifth, and tied the score at 4 in the top of the sixth.

Dimond’s Luke Smith drove in two of his team’s three runs during the extra inning to help give the Lynx the nonconference win.

“I think we gave them the game,” Ottinger said.

Dimond had only one extra-base hit, but drew nine walks.

“They didn’t tear us up. Our pitchers didn’t command the plate tonight which is odd for us,” Ottinger said.

Ottinger said he does feel nerves played a role.

“Early season, a lot of jitters,” Ottinger said.

The Dimond game opens a challenging stretch for the Warriors that also includes nonconference dates with Chugiak and South Anchorage.

“Dimond, Chugiak, South right off the bat,” Ottinger said.

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