Road Warriors score shutout win over Pioneers

WASILLA — It looks like Wasilla head coach Ken Ottinger owes his son Taylon a steak dinner.

Taylon Ottinger used a pair of doubles and three RBI to help the Road Warriors post a 10-0 American Legion win over Palmer Tuesday night at Wasilla High School.

“I’m proud of my kid,” Ottinger said after the win. “Kid had a night. I’m going to buy my kid a steak dinner now.”

Taylon Ottinger also stole home during Wasilla’s five-run fifth. Ken Ottinger said he’s proud of all of his players who helped Wasilla bounce back from a nonleague victory over the Pioneers during the first day of the Todd Ryan Memorial tournament last week.

“We came out and knew it was a league game, it wasn’t a nonleague game,” Ottinger said. “We wanted to take care of business.”

Wasilla improved to 6-8 overall and 5-4 in league play with the win. Ottinger said the coaching staff has focused, in part, on getting or keeping players healthy during the first month of the summer season.

“We haven’t played with a full roster all year,” Ottinger said.

But he has talent returning to the everyday lineup.

“Best time of the year to come around is now,” Ottinger said.

Palmer, a fourth-year program, reached a program milestone with its win over Wasilla last week. The 10-3 win on June 28 marked the first time the Pioneers had beaten the Road Warriors. Palmer dropped to 4-9 overall and 0-5 in league play with the loss.

Balau Buckmaster tossed a two-hit, complete game shutout during the win over the Pioneers Tuesday. He fanned four and walked four.

“He got off to a slow start, but he got out of it by pounding the zone,” Ottinger said.

Taylon Ottinger and Jimmy Arend finished with two hits and three RBI. Kyle Graham scored three runs for the Warriors.

Contact Frontiersman editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.