Pioneers cap historic season at state tournament

PALMER — The Post 15 Palmer Pioneers American Legion baseball team capped their most successful season in recent memory this year, winning their first game in the State tournament in over three decades. The Pioneers were eliminated from the state tournament with a 9-3 loss to Ketchikan on July 24, but with a large portion of the lineup returning for next year, Post Manager Matt Ketchum feels that the future is bright for Palmer baseball.

“I think it’s sustainable from the talent that’s coming through with what Palmer LIttle League is doing and then what the high schools are doing, for Post 15 to continue to do this and the expectation moving forward should be to make state every year,” said Ketchum.

Ketchum was not surprised with the legion team’s success after each of the high school squads that the legion team pulls from enjoyed their most successful years ever. The Colony Knights made it to their first ever state championship for Division 1 and the Palmer Moose won the Division 2 state championship in the spring. The Pioneers capped their 2020 season in the Alliance for Legion Baseball with a Matson Tournament title and the A team for the Pioneers also made it to the state title game last year. Ketchum said that the Pioneers saw better pitching throughout the year, helping to prepare them for the state tournament along with last year’s postseason experience.

“They weren’t chalking it up as a win already, they had to come after us to get the wins so we’d been facing the better pitchers throughout the season, so that helps,” said Ketchum. “Confidence is huge in baseball so you’re going to get better by playing the best.”

The Pioneers qualified for the state tournament as an 8 seed and defeated 4 seed Dimond in the 7th longest game in Alaska legion state tournament history. The Pioneers won 3-2 to secure their first state tournament victory in 32 years. The Pioneers then continued in pool play with an 18-7 loss to eventual state runner-up South Anchorage and a 9-3 loss to Ketchikan last Saturday. With a number of players battling injuries, Karsen Spradling was a key contributor for the Pioneers in their win. Spradling was a crossover player, getting time both with the varsity AA team and the A squad before he was called up for the state tournament.

“I couldn’t be more proud of a kid like Karsen Spradling,” said Ketchum. “When we had injuries and he came and played every single inning and every single at bat in the state tournament and did phenomenal. As a matter of fact in the Dimond game he made two of the last three outs defensively and played right field, third base and second base. He was the utility player and totally comfortable and he grew a lot in the two months playing single A ball which is awesome. That’s what it’s supposed to do, it’s supposed to develop.”

The Pioneers beat crosstown rivals Post 35 four times and beat Dimond three times throughout the regular season. Just prior to the state tournament, the Pioneers played extra innings against eventual state champions Eagle River.

“We played small ball,” said Ketchum. “We were hitting and running, the bunts were working for us and sacrificing bunnings and I was really proud of how the kids executed in those situations. They weren’t super used to it but we developed into it and did great.”

The Pioneers placed three players on the Team of Excellence with pitcher Jason Gunderson, infielder Kaden Ketchum and outfielder Evan Walker. Gunderson threw eight heroic innings during the win against Dimond and proved himself to be among the best in the state during the course of the season. Gunderson also started the championship game for the Palmer Moose this spring.

“I would put him on the bump against anybody in the state,” said Ketchum. “He is phenomenal and he played single A ball last year and he is a great kid. He is team first, he is just incredible and I wish I had a herd of him.”

Walker scored twice in the loss to Ketchikan.

“He was phenomenal defensively and he was just clutch with runners in scoring position and hitting over .400 all season long and so I was super super proud and happy for those kids to get all state recognition,” said Ketchum.

Ketchum said that the increase in numbers has helped provide stability to the program that has now made the state tournament two out of the last three years. Nearly 40 players tried out for the team, and Ketchum said that both AA and A squads practiced together. Ketchum commended A coach Ricardo Solis on his development of young players in the program.

Among the bright spots for Ketchum is the relative youth of the Pioneers, with pitcher Landon Guggenmos, infielder Brayden Parrent and pitcher Koen Leaders all returning to the lineup next year, as well as hard-hitting Colton Haase.

“I’m proud of what we did,” said Ketchum. “I’m juiced for next year.