Valley players named all-state

WASILLA — Nolan Monaghan and Jeffrey Forster have enjoyed a lot of success together throughout their baseball careers.

The duo helped lead the Wasilla High varsity team to three straight Southcentral Conference titles, and shared Southcentral Conference Northern Division Most Valuable Player Awards after their senior seasons with the Warriors. Now, Monaghan and Forster, who will advance to the next level together in the fall as freshmen in the Feather River Community College baseball program, have earned another honor.

Monaghan and Forster were each named to the Alaska American Legion’s Team of Excellence for the 2016 season.

Despite seeing his season shortened due to injury, Monaghan earned all-state honors at two different positions. The lefthander earned honors as a starting pitcher and outfielder. On the mound, Monaghan posted a 3.06 earned run average. As an outfielder, Monaghan hit .333, and slugged .500.

Forster earned first-team honors at catcher. He hit .314 with two home runs, 22 RBI, and drew 18 walks.

Monaghan and Forster both graduated with Wasilla High’s class of 2016.

Several Road Warriors were also named honorable mention. Koby Burns (pitcher and outfield), Hank Boyer (pitcher and infield), Matt Palmer (infield) and Ben Werner (infield) were all named honorable mention.

The players honored helped the Road Warriors finish fourth in the Alaska American Legion State Tournament.

Cooper McLaughlin and Wyatt Shults represented the Palmer Pioneers in the list. McLaughlin was an honorable mention at starting pitcher, and Shults was an honorable mention in the outfield.

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

2016 Alaska Legion

Team of Excellence

Catcher — Jeffrey Forster, Wasilla; Wyatt Berg, Fairbanks 30; Cooper Bailey-Parsons, Service; Sladen Hohl, South; Infield — Colin King, Fairbanks; Raleigh Pigg, Service; Matt Hess, Chugiak; Charlie Bucolo, Chugiak; Josh Darrow, Kenai; Dylan Montagna, Dimond; Parker Johnson, South; Outfield — Nolan Monaghan, Wasilla; Kasey Wattts, Juneau; Nick Hall, Service; Vander LeKiters, Chugiak; Paul Steffenson, Kenai; Calvin Hills, Kenai; Starting pitcher — Nolan Monaghan, Wasilla; Philip Wall, Juneau; Bryce Swafford, Juneau; Sam Hanson, Chugiak; Cody Curfman, Chugiak; Matthew Daugherty, Kneai; Joe Becher, Kenai; Parker Johnson, South; Jake Andresen, Dimond; Relief pitcher — Nick Hall, Servce; Kaden Roettger, Dimond; Calvin Hills, Kenai; Utility — Mike Cesar, Juneau; Cody Curfman, Chugiak; Julitio Fazzini.