Road Warriors win tourney

WASILLA -- A three-game winning streak is usually significant for most teams, but for some teams it is monumental.

The Alaska Road Warriors, who won just three games before last weekend and only three games all of last year, defeated the Fairbanks legion baseball team 7-6 in extra innings on Sunday to extend their winning streak to a trio of games.

"I was talking to the other coaches and I don't think we've won three in a row in five years," Road Warrior manager Pete Powell said.

The win was not only the Warriors third in two days, but it gave the team the Todd Ryan Memorial Tournament title.

The Todd Ryan Memorial Tournament is a four-team tourney hosted annually by the Road Warriors.

With the score tied 6-6 in the top of the eighth, Jordan Chadwell singled to right field to score Matt Smith.

The run gave the Road Warriors the 7-6 lead and eventual win.

Smith sparked the inning with a key pinch-hit single to left field.

"He gave me a pitch to hit," Smith said.

Jimbo Ressler pitched just more than six innings of relief to record the win.

The win may not only spark the confidence of the squad, but that of the junior hurler.

Ressler struggled during the first half of the season after tough appearances against the likes of Dimond and East.

"It's been disappointing," Ressler said. "I haven't been hitting spots. I've been wild."

Ressler was more successful in his outing Sunday striking out six, while only allowing five hits and two walks.

Ressler inherited a pair of baserunners in the bottom of the third inning and struck out the first two batters he faced to retire the side.

"Ever since we started he has not had a good outing," Powell said of Ressler. "We were real pleased today.

"We need pitchers," Powell added. "Jim was our number two pitcher last year. We don't want him to be anything but what he was last year."

David Sandvick got the start for the Warriors. The Wasilla High player started off well, but struggled in the third.

"Sandvick hit the wall in the third," Powell said. "He pitched two strong innings."

Sandvick allowed just two hits and struck out two hitters through two innings, but lost control of the situation in the third inning.

A pair of hits, a walk, a wild pitch a Road Warrior fielding error and a Sandvick throwing error allowed Fairbanks to cut a once 6-0 deficit to 6-5.

The Road Warriors got out to an early 6-0 lead with the help of a few key Fairbanks errors and the inability of Fairbanks starter Stephen Sealey to get the ball over the plate.

Jordan Chadwell scored on a Sealey wild pitch and Ressler reached on an error to drive in Shane Colgrove in the first inning. The runs gave the Warriors a 2-0 lead.

In the second inning Chadwell, Dude Hooser and Josh Morlan each scored on wild pitches. Colgrove reached on an error to drive in John Coan.

The four-run second gave Wasilla a 6-0 lead after two innings.

The final game of the three-day tourney was plagued with errors and wild pitches.

Twelve of the 13 runs in the game were unearned. The first earned run of the contest was the game winner, Chadwell's RBI single in the eighth.

"Everyone's played four in three days," Powell said. "Tired bodies."

The teams combined for 12 errors in the game.

The Road Warriors scored a 13-3 win over Fairbanks and defeated Kenai 12-2on Saturday to advance to the championship games.

According to Powell, the Warriors got key pitching performances from their starters, Smith and Walter Scott, in the wins.

The Road Warriors are back in action tonight as they host Bartlett at Lou McManus Field at 7.

The Warriors will host West at 7 p.m. on Thursday and then travel to Fairbanks for a three-game set against the 49ers.

The Warriors host East on July 17, Service on July 22 and Kenai on July 23.