Trio of Warriors named all-state

WASILLA — For the second straight year, the Alaska Road Warriors notched a top-4 finish at the Alaska American Legion State Championships. Among the reasons for the team’s success was the play of Jonathon Boyer, David Newman and Isaac Courson.

Each of those players was recognized earlier this week when they were included on the Alaska American Legion All-State squad.

Boyer — who played first base and shortstop, and pitched for the Warriors — is among eight infielders named to the team. The Colony High incoming junior batted .397. He drove in 18 runs and scored 17.

“Wherever we needed him, he always performed well,” Road Warriors head coach Myrl Thompson said.

Boyer is also part of the team’s younger group of players, and should be key in the years to come, Thompson said.

Newman, another versatile player, was among a half-dozen outfielders selected. The recent Wasilla High graduate batted .394 with 20 RBIs and eight doubles.

“We could put him anywhere,” Thompson said.

Newman spent the year as the team’s third hitter in the lineup.

Courson was one of two relief pitchers recognized. The Palmer High graduate was 3-1 with a 2.83 earned run average.

“He came through for us all year,” Thompson said.

Dusty Wisdom and Damon Hammer were named honorable mentions. Wisdom was arguably the Wasilla team’s top pitcher before suffering a season-ending injury in July.

Wisdom was also an every day first-baseman. Hammer was a staple at second base for the Warriors.

Kenai’s Jake Darrow, South’s Cal McKim and Bryan Barker, Chugiak’s Cameron Fritz, Service’s Jake Ridley, and Dimond’s Cory Clevenger and Matt Prichard were also named all-state infielders.

The outfielders on the list also included Eagle River’s Travis Ahlgren, Fairbanks’ Jace Lovell and Curtis Wolfe, Kenai’s AJ Hull and Dimond’s Dylan Lauwers.

Eagle River’s Zach Weller, Service’s Stephen Ferntheil and Fairbanks’ Matthew Wixon were the catchers named to the list.

Dimond’s Sagen Osborne, Chugiak’s Craig Sexton and Service’s Zach Ferntheil were honored as utility players.

South’s Josh Crapps and Max Karnos, Fairbanks’ Tim Ballard, Lauwers, Clevenger and Zach Ferntheil were named all-state starting pitchers.

Service’s Michael Choy was an all-state relief pitcher.

Clevanger, Lauwers and Zach Ferntheil were all named all-state at two positions.

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