Wasilla right-hander tosses 2-hit shutout in win over Juneau

The Jacob Gilbert Show took over the Alliance League Game of the Week at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage Wednesday night.

The rocket right-hander was must-see TV as he threw a 2-hit complete-game shutout for Wasilla in a 4-0 win over Juneau in a rematch of last year’s state tournament championship game.

Gilbert (4-1) racked up eight strikeouts and retired 12 of the final 13 batters to lower his season ERA to 0.58 in 35.2 innings.

He was uncharacteristically wild at times, probably a result of being overly charged up in this marquee matchup. Who could blame him? This was the first time he had faced Juneau since last year’s state title game when he gave up eight runs in a no decision.

This time was different. Sure, it’s different Juneau team. But this was also a different Gilbert.

Mixing in a high-hard fastball and a knee-bucking breaking ball, he danced out of trouble early and dominated late.

Gilbert worked around a single and walk in the first inning; two hit batsman and a walk in the second inning; and a walk and hit batsman in the third inning.

He teamed up with second baseman Andre Brown for a beautifully executed pick off to help Wasilla squash a two-on, no-outs jam in the second inning.

Gilbert took matters into his own hands the rest of the way, working around a single and HBP to Brennan Ludeman, who was the only Juneau player to reach base after the third inning. He threw 100 pitches.

Gilbert’s strikeout-to-walk ratio is now 56-5 on the season.

Wasilla (17-4, 6-3) scored two runs in the top of the first inning, thanks in part to a perfectly executed hit-and-run with Waylon Payne hitting and Jacob Hansen running. Hanson went from first to third on Payne’s base hit and never stopped as he rounded third after the Juneau outfielder misplayed the ball.

Calvin Stoll’s two-out RBI single made it 2-0. Gilbert walked and later scored in the fifth inning to make it 3-0. Max Wanser’s sac fly pushed the lead to 4-0 in the sixth inning.

Juneau (1-4, 0-2) made two web gems when center fielder Porter Nelson made a nice over-the-shoulder catch near the 410-foot sign in the third inning and second baseman Preston Williams made a diving catch on a line drive to save a run in the fifth inning.