Twins end Road Warriors’ run

ANCHORAGE — Winners of three straight, the Alaska Road Warriors were on a roll. But on Wednesday, the Valley squad hit a wall.

Josh Gilbert pitched a complete game six-hitter to lead the Kenai Twins to a 6-3 win over the Road Warriors during the Alaska American Legion Baseball State Championships at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.

“He did what he had to do,” Alaska head coach Steve Mossburgh said of Gilbert. “He wasn’t overpowering us. We couldn’t hit the ball.”

Gilbert, who walked five and fanned one in nine innings, allowed just one hit — a Mike Dotson single — during the first four innings. Alaska catcher Wes Smith walked twice during the first four innings, but the Road Warriors couldn’t drive runners in even though Mossburgh felt the Warriors hit the ball hard.

“We just couldn’t find a hole,” Mossburgh said.

Alaska did manage to tie the score at 2-2 in the fifth inning. Tommy Rodamer put the Warriors on the scoreboard with a run-scoring single, and Alaska kept the inning alive with a pair of bunt singles.

Eric Washington’s bunt scored a run.

Unfortunately for Alaska, Kenai answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning,.

The Road Warriors, who finished third in the 2007 state tourney, end the 2008 with a fourth-place finish. The team played in five games, finishing 3-2 in tourney play.

“I’m proud of them. It’s been a good year,” Mossburgh said, noting its the third straight season the Warriors have eclipsed the 20-win mark. “We played five games in the tournament. We haven’t played five games since they won it in 1990.”

Alaska 8, Fairbanks 7

Wes Smith and Kody Ziter each drove in a pair of runs to lead Alaska to an 8-7 win over the Fairbanks 49ers on Tuesday.

Smith finished 4-for-4 at the plate, scored three runs and collected two RBI in the win.

Chris Bydlon added two hits and an RBI for the Warriors.

Colter Peterson earned the win in relief, pitching five shutout innings.

Chugiak wins title

Chugiak edged Kenai 4-3 on Thursday afternoon to win the Alaska American Legion state title.

Chugiak erased an early 1-0 deficit to claim the crown.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.