Roller-coaster season ends

Aug. 5, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE\Frontiersman reporter

ANCHORAGE - One run.

One lousy, stinking run.

That's all that kept the Alaska Road Warriors from advancing in the Alaska state American Legion Baseball tournament Wednesday

One lousy run.

In a season of ups and downs, the 4-3 loss to Bartlett in an elimination game at the state tournament proved to be a microcosm of the Road Warriors' season.

The Road Warriors got on the board first when Josh Morlan scored on a David Breck triple in the top half of the first inning. Morlan led off with a bunt single and stole second before reaching home.

After their good start the Road Warriors saw their lead disappear in the bottom half of the inning. Bartlett took advantage of the weather and a couple of passed balls to build a 4-1 lead by the end of the third.

The Road Warriors struggled with the bat for the next five innings, recording just one hit. They did manage to mount a late rally, but couldn't make up the deficit, bringing an end to their roller-coaster season.

"It's been the same thing all season," Road Warriors coach Pete Powell said. "We start out good, hit a lull, then we finished up with a rally. We just came up short today."

"It hurt," Shortstop Breck said of losing out to Bartlett, a team the Road Warriors had beat three times this season. "We just weren't able to hit, other than that I thought we played well in the tournament."

A persistent rain pelted both teams for the first four innings of the game, making the field sloppy. Though Powell knows the Road Warriors could have and should have done more on the field, he didn't blame poor weather on his team's performance.

"Bartlett had to play in the same conditions we did," Powell said. "We just weren't able to make the plays when we needed to and it cost us in the end."

As for Breck, there's a reason he was battling third in the lineup. He delivered two key extra-base hits to help spark both the Road Warriors' offensive surges. In addition to his triple in the first he added a double in the fifth and drove in the first run during the two-run eighth.

"He had a real good ball game," Powell said. "He was a huge part of our offense today. It's a shame everyone else didn't have as good of an outing."

Breck was the only Warrior to solve the pitching of Bartlett's Nathan Ridley Wednesday, finishing the game two for four with two RBIs.

"He (Ridley) wasn't throwing harder than anyone else," Breck said of the Bartlett pitcher. "We weren't hitting and he just kept getting outs."

"Ridley's not the ace of our staff," Bartlett coach Chris Williams said. "But he looked like it today. He's a real competitive kid. He's pitched well for us all year, and he did it again."

In the top of the ninth the Road Warriors had a chance to steal victory away from Bartlett. With runners on second and third with one out, Powell called on Morlan, who bunted safely in the first to execute the squeeze play.

"You've gotta tie the game before you can win it," Powell said of the aggressive play.

With Adam Briceland racing home from third, Morlan popped his bunt attempt into the glove of Bartlett catcher Kevin Knox, who fired the ball to third, completing a double play.

"That was my call all the way," Powell said after the game. "Josh (Morlan) has been bunting well for us all season, so I decided to roll the dice. If I were in the same situation again I would do it all over."

Calling for the squeeze play was Powell's last call in a Road Warriors uniform. He announced his retirement in July and the reality of things ending hasn't sunk in yet.

"You know, right now I am disappointed for the guys," Powell said. "I feel bad for them to lose in that way. I haven't really thought about it being my last game."

The Road Warriors opened the tournament Tuesday, with another see-saw game, dropping a 10-7 decision to the Post 28 Service team, forcing them into the loser's bracket of the double elimination tournament.

Tyler Tillery started the game for Wasilla and was relieved after allowing five runs through the first eight innings. Joseph Smith took over blanking the Cougars until the games end.

Tillery added a solo homer in the fifth while Breck and David Doerr hit doubles.

Bartlett 4, Wasilla 3 (Wednesday)

Wasilla Post 35 100 000 020 — 3 8 1

Bartlett Post 29 210 100 00x — 4 8 4

Wasilla — Carlson, Prunella (3), Smith (5), Ressler (7) and Brent. Bartlett — Ridley, Stephan (9) and Knox. W — Ridley. L — Carlson. Sv — Stephan. 2B — Wasilla: Briceland. 3B — Wasilla: Breck, Briceland

Service 10, Wasilla 7 (Tuesday)

Wasilla Post 35 001 114 000 - 7 13 8

Service Post 28 002 125 00x - 10 11 1

Wasilla - Tillery, Smith (8) and Brent. Service - LaPointe, Hand (5), Hass (5) and Paul. W - Hass. L - Smith. 2B - Wasilla: Doerr, Breck. Service: Cronin. HR - Wasilla: Tillery.