Road Warriors rebound from rare loss

WASILLA — The Wasilla Road Warriors bounced back from a rare loss to grab a sweep of a doubleheader in Fairbanks Saturday afternoon.

The Valley American Legion squad took a pair of games from Fairbanks Post 11, and used a 14-4 win in the late afternoon to complete the sweep.

Shortstop Matt Palmer led the Warriors with three hits, two runs and two RBI in the victory. Sam Loyer added three hits, two runs and an RBI from his leadoff spot. Every Road Warrior in the lineup scored at least one run, and five different players had at least two runs scored.

Palmer and Kyle Graham had two RBI each.

Earlier in the day, Wasilla beat Fairbanks Post 11 14-2. Ben Werner was 3 for 5 with four RBI to lead the Warriors. Jeffrey Forster added three hits and three runs.

Road Warriors pitching held Fairbanks to only three hits in each game.

The Road Warriors improved to 17-2 overall with the wins. Wasilla has scored at least 10 runs in seven of its last eight games.

Friday, Fairbanks Post 30 used a big ninth inning to hand Wasilla just its second loss of the seasons. Fairbanks plated six runs in the bottom of the ninth to score the 10-9 come-from-behind win. The surge answered Wasilla’s three-run effort in the top of the ninth.

Palmer, Werner and Forster scored two runs each for Wasilla. Palmer also added a team-high three RBI.

The Road Warriors return home to face Eagle River Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at McManus Field in Wasilla.

Wolves get past Pioneers

Boosted by a big first inning, Eagle River posted a 9-6 American Legion baseball win over Palmer Sunday afternoon.

Eagle River scored six of its nine runs during the first, and held a 9-1 lead after three innings.

Kolten Ketchum and Trace Serverson scored two runs each in the loss. Cooper McLaughlin and Wyatt Shults also scored runs for Palmer.

McLaughlin singled and scored in the first to give Palmer its first run of the game.

Palmer returns to the field to play West Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Anchorage.