Warriors continue tear, top Knights

WASILLA — After losing a stacked senior class to graduation following the 2018 season, Wasilla head coach Ken Ottinger knew the Warriors coaches had some work to they prepared for the new year. Now after shuffling some pieces and figuring out who fits where, the Warriors are on a tear.

Wasilla improved to 9-1 over its last 10 games with a 10-1 victory over the Colony Knights Tuesday night at Wasilla High School.

“I was a little nervous this year coming in,” Ottinger said after the win over the Knights.

Both those nerves have relaxed as Ottinger and his assistants continue to see their Warriors play good baseball.

“I’m really happy with the guys. One through nine in the lineup, the pitching, the defense. The kids are playing their roles,” Ottinger said. “It’s a great team atmosphere. More than baseball, it’s a family atmosphere. We’re really preaching, play your role and winning will come. I’m really happy with it.”

Wasilla has now faced Southcentral Conference opponents eight times, in both league and nonleague action. The Warriors have plated at least 10 runs in all eight of those games, and has outscored their conference foes a combined 114-18.

“The kids are being unselfish. It’s let’s get the next guy up,” Ottinger said.

The Warriors also continue to draw walks. Colony walked 10 Warriors Tuesday.

“We preach a walk is as good as a hit,” Ottinger said. “Let’s be unselfish. Let’s be disciplined.”

Clancey O’Donnell led Wasilla with three RBI during the win over the Knights. Bison Malave and AJ Camacho each doubled. Camacho drove in two runs. O’Donnell, Camacho and Jacob Gilbert finished with two hits each.

Gilbert, Wasilla’s senior starting pitcher, enjoyed another stellar appearance on the mound. Gilbert pitched a complete game three-hitter, and fanned seven while walking only one.

Trace Severson, Bryant Marks and Evan Walker finished with a single each for Colony in the loss. Walker drove in Severson to provide Colony’s lone run.

Moose blank Huskies

Landon Guggenmos tossed a one-hit shutout to lead the Palmer Moose to a 10-0 win over Redington Tuesday night in Redington.

Cade Holland tripled and drove in four runs for Palmer. Luke Guggenmos and Keagen Norman added an RBI each. Lucas Adams scored twice, and was one of nine Palmer players to cross the plate.

Dylan Ward collected Redington’s lone hit.

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