Road Warriors win Matson Invite

ANCHORAGE — Ken Ottinger and the Wasilla Road Warriors found the silver lining in a difficult situation.

A gold medal.

The Wasilla post, which was ruled ineligible to compete in the Alaska American Legion Baseball State Championships due to a paperwork issue, capped its season by winning the Matson Invitational in Anchorage. The Road Warriors finished 5-0 in the annual tournament, which typically includes the eight Alaska American Legion programs that do not qualify for state. The Warriors qualified, finishing in third place of Alaska’s National Division. But two days before the start of the tournament, Wasilla post officials were notified that the Road Warriors had been disqualified for failure to purchase required insurance by the May 31 deadline. Ottinger, the team’s head coach, said the insurance was paid for, but the payment was late. Wasilla was one of three teams ruled ineligible. Palmer and Ketchikan also missed the deadline according to Alaska American Legion Baseball, but Wasilla was the only team of three that finished among the top eight programs in the state.

Wasilla beat Eagle River 8-3 on Tuesday at Mulcahy Stadium to win the Matson.

Ottinger said he was proud of the way his team responded to the controversy and emotions that came with not being able to compete in the state tourney.

“Sometimes blessings come in very (discolored) packages,” Ottinger said Wednesday evening.

Ottinger said as the Road Warriors look back on the experience, they can see it as a learning situation. But he said there is also a blessing. The Warriors had the opportunity cap the season with a victory and hoist a trophy.

“They could go away smiling, laughing, having fun,” Ottinger said. “No sadness of losing a heartbreaking game.”

Ottinger said his athletes were heartbroken about not being able to play in the state tourney, but once they hit the field in the Matson they were more relaxed.

“They play so much better when they’re loose,” Ottinger said.

Wasilla outscored opponents 39-16 during its five wins.

“The bats came alive,” Ottinger said.

Jacob Gilbert, who will be a senior next season, was named the Matson MVP.

“It’s awesome,” Ottinger said. “The kid is so relaxed. Nothing fazes him.”

Gilbert led the tournament with nine hits, seven RBI and a .600 batting average. Palmer also competed in the tourney, and Pioneers first baseman earned the Matson’s Big Stick award. Satterly, a Colony High School student-athlete, was second to Gilbert with a .583, and smacked the tourney’s lone home run.

Wasilla also beat Bartlett 10-2, Palmer 2-1, Eagle River 10-7 and Fairbanks 9-3 en route to the tile game. Palmer finished 2-2. The Pioneers beat Fairbanks 3-1 and Ketchikan 7-6.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.