Palmer, Wasilla each pick up pair of conference baseball victories

PALMER —Palmer started the week with a pair of tough losses to Valley rivals Wasilla and Colony.

But the Moose bounced back and capped a big conference stretch with back-to-back victories over Kodiak and Homer at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer.

Saturday, Palmer scored runs in each of the first five innings, and stormed to a 12-6 Southcentral Conference win over Homer.

Jarred Yanez and Damion Bailey drove in two runs each for Palmer. Austin Reeder, Aaron Christiansen and Cade Holland finished with an RBI each. Reeder, Skyler Hale, Hayden Shults and Ryan Kavalok scored two runs each for Palmer.

Homer cut Palmer’s lead to 6-4 in the top of the fourth inning, but the Moose broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the inning.

Joe Ranton and Landon Bunting finished with two RBI each for the Mariners. Leadoff hitter Michael Swoboda led Homer with three runs scored.

Friday, Palmer rallied to post a 13-11 victory over Kodiak at Hermon Brothers.

Kodiak jumped to a quick 5-0 lead in the first, and led 9-3 in the fourth, but the Moose used a big fourth inning to jump back in the game. The Moose scored six times in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 9.

Palmer went ahead for good with three runs in the sixth.

Reeder singled early in the inning, and after stealing a pair of bases, Reeder scored on a Hale single to tie the game at 11. Holland followed with a double to drive in Hale and provide the go-ahead score.

Holland also scored later in the inning.

Hale finished 2 for 3 with two runs and three RBI in the win. Holland was also 2 for 3, while collecting two runs scored and two runs driven in.

Shawn Walton finished 3 for 5 for Kodiak. Sam Bennett scored four runs, and Seth Rockenbach drove in four.

Warriors stay unbeaten

The Wasilla Warriors stayed unbeaten in Southcentral Conference play with a 7-3 victory over Soldotna Saturday afternoon at McManus Field in Wasilla.

Nolan Monaghan pitched 5 1/3 innings for the Warriors, scattering four hits and three runs, while fanning nine. Ben Werner led the Warriors at the plate, finished 3 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored. Monaghan also collected two hits, a run and an RBI. Jeffrey Forster and Hank Boyer also drove in runs for the Warriors.

Cody Quelland finished 3 for 3 for the Stars.

Wasilla used a seven-run second inning to beat Kenai 16-6 Friday at McManus Field.

Cyrus Lovell led Wasilal with three hits and three RBIs. Monaghan and Forster drew three walks each at the plate.

Gavin Petterson led the Kards with two hits and two RBI.

Wasilla has won five straight, and is now 8-0 against Southcentral Conference teams.

Stars kill late Colony rally

Colony scored seven runs in the final four innings, but Soldotna held on to grab a 14-7 win over the Knights Friday at the Palmer Senior Field.

Cooper Smith, Trace Severson and Zachary Sattetly drove in two runs each for Colony. Cooper McLaughlin scored a team-high three runs, and Cole Doss added two runs scored for the Knights.

Saturday, Kenai used a monster ninth inning to post a 12-3 win over Colony. The Kards broke a 3-3 tie with nine runs in the final frame.

Kolten Ketchum collected two of Colony's six hits, and scored a pair of runs in the loss.