Road Warriors steal two of three, prepare for tourney

WASILLA -- The 2004 Alaska Road Warriors campaign has been long and trying.

With the season rapidly coming to a close, the team has two goals -- to end it on a high note, and to secure a berth at the American Legion State Tournament by winning the upcoming district tournament. They took a step in the right direction over the course of three games this past Tuesday and Wednesday, scoring hard-fought one-run victories over the visiting Chugiak and Kenai legion sqauds.

Tuesday, the Road Warriors and manager Peter Powell won a battle with Chugiak, and accomplished that feat in a manner that is rarely seen around baseball in this day and age. They did so on the strength of a superior outing on the mound by pitcher Matt Smith, and playing small ball when it came down to crunch time. Smith pitched a complete game, limiting Chugiak to just four runs.

"(Smith) threw a real good ballgame for us," Powell said.

Heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, with the score tied, the Road Warrior hitters handed the win to Smith. Road Warrior Dave Doerr started the rally with a clutch single, and Powell decided to put the heat on Chugiak. With Kyle Cowgill at the plate, Powell called for the hit and run, and Cowgill delivered.

Following a sacrifice bunt, Powell again called on his hitters to step up. Josh Morlan answered with a suicide squeeze, to score Doerr and give the Warriors the 5-4 win.

Kenai rolled into town on Wednesday for a doubleheader, and two spectacular displays of baseball followed. If the Chugiak game was a battle, the first game Wednesday was an all-out war that lasted 10 innings, ending in a score of 11-10. Morlan and pitcher Tyler Tillery lead the way to victory. Morlan crushed two triples and drove in nearly half the teams' runs with five RBIs to his credit. Tillery started the game on the hill and lasted well into the marathon contest.

"He pitched a strong game," Powell said of Tillery. "He was a horse for us."

The latter half of the double-dip was just as close, but the Road Warriors came up just short, ultimately losing 8-7. Pitcher Jimbo Ressler struggled at the outset of the game. A barrage of early walks and a key Kenai homerun proved too strong to overcome.

"We were playing catch-up from the start, it's tough to win when you fall behind that early," Powell said.

The two victories the Road Warriors obtained in as many days ended the regular season on a positive note, and provide a good omen for the district tournament on Saturday.

"We have lots of momentum right now, our chemistry is as high as it's been all season," catcher David Sandvik said.

The three-team tourney kicks off Saturday at Bumpus Ballfields in Wasilla, with all games being played at McManus Field. The first game starts at 1 p.m. when Kenai takes on the host Road Warriors. The winner of that game takes on the team from Fairbanks at 5 p.m., who are considered to be the top team.

"Fairbanks swept us, took all four games," Powell said. "We're even with Kenai on the season though, should be a good ball game."

Fairbanks is 6-2 in league play.

Sundays action will consist of the third place game at noon, followed by the championship at 4 p.m.