Warriors rock Valdez in opener

WASILLA -- On Friday Wasilla scored sweet revenge and showed signs of things to come.

The Warrior baseball squad blasted the Valdez Buccaneers 14-5 at Wasilla High School Friday.

"They came in last year and kicked our butts," Wasilla head coach Jim Ressler said. "After seeing their score against Houston, I was getting butterflies."

Valdez pounded Houston 20-5 the night before.

Last season the Buccaneers scored a double-digit victory over the Warriors in the Wasilla home opener.

Ressler and the Warriors may have had a mean case of d/ja vu during the first inning as Valdez took a quick 3-0 lead. The Buccaneers took the quick lead after a bases- clearing double.

After the early Valdez offensive surge, the Warriors were able to shut down the Buccaneers. Warrior junior pitcher Jimbo Ressler retired the next nine Valdez hitters.

"We settled down after the first," Jim Ressler said.

The Warriors got their own offensive surge going in the third.

Wasilla loaded the bases with a Dan Mahoney single and consecutive walks to Chase Korsmo and Gunner Bahn. Shane Colgrove drove in Mahoney on a ground-out to cut the Valdez lead to 3-1.

With the bases still loaded two batters later, Jimbo Ressler knocked a ball into right field. The double scored Korsmo and Bahn to tie the score.

Wasilla took a 4-3 when catcher David Sandvik scored on a wild pitch. Jimbo Ressler scored late in the inning on an Eddie Thomas double.

Jimbo Ressler allowed three runs on six hits and walked four and struck out five in 6 1/3 innings.

"He had the butterflies," Ressler said of his son. "He has been waiting for this for two months."

Ressler threw over 100 pitches and was just two outs shy of a complete game. Mahoney pitched the final two-thirds of the seventh inning for Wasilla.

Ressler led the Warriors on the mound and with the lumber. The junior pitcher and utility infielder went 2 for 5 with a single, double and four runs batted in.

Sandvik had a pair of hits and three RBIs. Bahn and Korsmo each scored three runs.

"We hit the ball tonight," Jimbo Ressler said. "We were disciplined at the plate."

The Warriors discipline at the plate showed as the registered just one strike out and 12 walks.

Seven different Warriors registered at least one base on balls. Thomas, Korsmo, Colgrove and Sam Loeb each got the free pass twice.

The Warriors finished 3-9 in the region last season following a trip to the state championship game in 2001.

According to Jim Ressler the Warriors consistently struggled in the early innings of games, but drastically improved as the game went on.

"After the first couple of innings we outplayed everyone," Jim Ressler said.

Leading the Warriors this season will be a trio of versatile juniors. Jimbo Ressler, Sandvik and Ben Fouske will be Wasilla's leaders on both the mound and at the plate.

Another notable athlete on the roster is Bahn.

"The reason he is on varsity is his speed," Jim Ressler said of the sophomore. "He is a quick runner."

Bahn will man the lead off position for Wasilla.

Ressler added that the best attribute of his team is the overall attitude.

"We don't have any hot dogs on the team," Jim Ressler said. "That's going to pay off."