Road Warriors named to legion all-state team

WASILLA — Four Wasilla Road Warriors were named all-state and their skipper earned a top honor.

Catcher Jeffrey Forster, infielder Ben Werner and pitcher Hank Boyer were all named to Alaska American Legion’s Baseball Team of Excellence. Kyle Graham was named to the team as a utility player. Ken Ottinger garnered coach of the year honors.

Werner was among the top hitters in the state, hitting .492 with 27 RBI and 23 runs scored. Boyer fanned 46 hitters in 33 innings of work, and posted a 2-0 record with three saves. Forster finished with 11 extra-base hits, and was among the top defensive catchers in Alaska.

Kendell Ruta earned an honorable mention as an infielder.

The Road Warriors finished 20-12 overall and 13-5 in league play during the 2017 summer season. The Warriors entered the state tournament as the No. 3 seed, but were eliminated after back-to-back losses to West Anchorage and Chugiak.

The Road Warriors featured players from Wasilla High and Houston High, and one college player. Forster played in his final season of American Legion baseball following his freshman year at Feather River Community College in California.

Werner and Graham will both be seniors at Wasilla High in the fall. Boyer graduated from Wasilla and Ruta graduated from Houston in May.

Alaska American Legion Baseball Team of Excellence

Coaches of the Year:

Ken Ottinger, Wasilla; Willie Paul, Service; Joe Tompkins, Juneau.

First team:

Catcher — Jeffrey Forster, Wasilla; Cody Quelland, Kenai; Kyle Henrickson, Dimond; Alex Muir, Juneau; Infield — Dylan Montagna, Dimond; Chris Crespo, West; Zeb Storie, Juneau; Paul Steffensen, Kenai; Jake Andresen, Dimond; Raleigh Pigg, Service; Ben Werner, Wasilla; Anthony Maldonado, South; Cooper Bailey-Parsons, Service; Bryce Swofford, Juneau; Outfield — Ronan Klancher, Service; Vonche Wood, Fairbanks 30; Derek McGinnis, South; Scott Larionoff, Kodiak; Kasey Watts, Juneau; Cody Leslie, South; Starting pitcher — Jake Andressen, Dimond; Hank Boyer, Wasilla; Leland Wilson, West; Jaren Childs, Service; Gaten Davis, East; Gage Webster, South; Isaac Roehl, Fairbanks 11; Zeb Storie, Juneau; Relief pitcher — Kaden Roetteger, Dimond; Luis Nunez, West; Cobey Cupp, Service; Utility — Donavin McCurley, Juneau; Kyle Graham, Wasilla; Jaren Childs, Service.

Honorable mention:

Infield — Samuel Hall, Chugiak; Chase Reed, Fairbanks 30; Michael Star, Ketchikan; Isaac Roehl, Fairbanks 11; Cobey Cupp, Service; Ryan Wood, Bartlett; Kendell Ruta, Wasilla; Sterling Retzlaff, Eagle River; Damian Mohl, South; Outfield — Ian Frizelle, Chugiak; Cameron Butler, Chugiak; Robert Cox, Juneau; Shawn Jones, West; Michael Richter, Fairbanks 11; Ian Byrd, Bartlett; Kam Williams, Eagle River; Starting pitcher — Mose Hayes, Kenai; Sean Gardeline, Dimond; Ian Frizelle, Chugiak; Shaun Walton, Kodiak; Wyatt Brajas, Ketchikan; Ronan Klancher, Service; Ryan Wood, Bartlett; Braden Olmstead, Eagle River; Relief pitcher — Samuel Hall, Chugiak; Catcher — Luke Langnes, West; Chris Malagodi, Service; Utility — Seth Adkins, Kenai; Mose Hayes, Kenai; DJ Davis, Chugiak; Shaun Walton, Kodiak; Luis Nunez, West.