Wasilla beats Ketchikan in Matson tourney final

The Wasilla Post 35 Road Warriors are still unbeaten in the Matson Invitational.

Wasilla beat Ketchikan Post 3 by a 7-3 score in the tournament championship game at Mulcahy Stadium, improving to 12-0 all-time in the event.

Wasilla’s victory clinched the program’s third Matson title, joining the ones the Road Warriors won in 2018 and 2021.

Former manager Ken Ottinger led the team to the previous titles — this time, his son Taylon did it. Like father, like son.

Ketchikan was playing in its fourth title game in tournament history.

Wasilla got off to a quick start, going ahead 3-1 in the first inning thanks largely to Karsen Spradling, who knocked in a run and stole home in the frame.

Wasilla tacked on two more runs in the third and two more in the sixth.

It was plenty of support for pitcher Jaren Venie, who went 6.2 innings and was named MVP of the tournament.

Back-to-back errors cost Venie a complete game as he was chased due to the pitch count.

His battery mate Pedro Camacho won the tournament’s Gold Glove Award.

Ketchikan’s Terik Brown won the Big Stick Award and teammates Chase Hanis was named Top Pitcher.