Road Warriors clinch first place, top seed in tournament

WASILLA — Locked in a heated race for the regular-season title, the Alaska Road Warriors expected to face a must-win situation when the Wasilla-based American Legion team took the field Saturday afternoon.

But thanks to Fairbanks’ surprise sweep of Juneau on Friday, the Road Warriors had already claimed their crown and the top see in the upcoming state tournament. But that doesn’t mean Wasilla chose to take their feet off the gas pedal. Powered by an eight-run second inning, the Warriors stormed to a 12-1 win over Eagle River at McManus Field in Wasilla.

“We wanted to show everybody we’re not messing around,” said veteran infielder Russ Ruta, who drove in a pair of runs during the second inning.

Wasilla improved to 22-7 overall with the win, and 18-4 in league play. Less than a week ago, the Road Warriors stood knotted with South Anchorage in a first-place tie, with Juneau just behind both clubs. Before Wasilla’s win over South, Road Warriors skipper Myrl Thompson said he expected his team to need to win its final three, and hoped Juneau would drop a game along the way. Juneau owned the tiebreaker over the Road Warriors and had the potential to catch Wasilla in the standings. But Fairbanks helped Wasilla’s cause on Friday, beating Juneau 12-9 and 7-6 in a doubleheader, knocking the Crimson Bears out of contention for the regular season title and the top seed in the tournament.

“(Fairbanks) was in 10th place, struggling all season. But the last few games they started to pick up the pace,” Thompson said after the Wasilla win Saturday. “It sure was nice they did it.”

Ruta and Ben Ross each finished 2 for 2 with three RBI in the win. Every Wasilla starting hitter in the lineup scored at least one run and seven of the nine starters drove in at least one run. Jonathon Boyer drove in a pair of runs, and Matt Palmer scored twice.

Eight of Wasilla’s 12 runs came in the second inning. Wasilla finished with four hits in the second, and drew seven walks off a pair of Eagle River pitchers in the inning.

“That’s what we’ve been preaching the last week or so,” Thompson said. “Play disciplined, and not swinging at bad pitches. Generally good things happen if you do that. End up ahead in the count, and then you’ll get a pitch you can hit.”

Dalton McHugill pitched five innings to earn the win for the Road Warriors.

Contact Jeremiah Bartz at 352-2273 or sports@frontiersman.com