Warrior baseball squad gets weekend sweep

PALMER -- Head coach Jim Ressler and the Wasilla Warriors baseball squad finally got their nemesis. After a 1-5 record against the Homer Mariners in the last three seasons, the Warriors earned a 9-6 win over Homer at the Palmer Seniors Field on Friday.

"They cost me first place last year," Ressler said.

The Warriors were ahead in the top of the sixth inning in each contest of a two-game series last year at Homer. The Mariners came back to win each game, and the losses cost Wasilla a region title.

Jimbo Ressler, Tyler Tillery and Dave Sandvik each helped ensure the Warriors wouldn't have a repeat of last season. Ressler and Tillery each had RBI doubles during a four-run fourth inning in the win.

Tillery and Sandvik each went 3-for-4 at the plate.

"Tillery's hitting the snot out of the ball," Ressler said.

Sandvik struck out six and walked four, en route to earning the win on the mound.

"Dave wasn't as sharp as we would have liked him to be, but that was his first game against live hitting," Ressler said. "He got his first-game jitters out of the way."

Wasilla followed the Homer win with a 12-1 win over Seward. Tillery allowed just one hit and struck out 10 of the 13 batters he faced.

Kyle Cowgill, Gregory Peck and Dan Mahoney each drove in two runs for Wasilla.

The Warriors improved to 4-0 with the win.

Palmer 16, Seward 6

Joe Smith drove in three runs and J.C. Forrester scored three times to lead Palmer to a 16-6 win over Seward in their season opener at the Palmer Seniors Field on Friday.

The Moose followed with a 9-1 loss to Homer the following day.