The Wasilla Warriors will face off against the Chugiak Mustangs at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Wasilla has given up an average of 7 runs per game this season, but Saturday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Wasilla is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Alaska's top teams: Juneau-Douglas, who was ranked fifth at the time (Wasilla was ranked eighth). The Warriors lost 17-5 to the Crimson Bears on Friday. The matchup marked the Warriors' lowest-scoring contest so far this season.
Brice Kennedy was cooking despite his team's loss, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and one run. Kade Russell was another key player, going 1-for-2 with one run, one double, and one RBI.
Meanwhile, Chugiak entered their tilt with Dimond on Saturday with two consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with three. They put the hurt on the Lynx with a sharp 11-2 win. While the Mustangs didn't have the best season last year (they finished 9-11), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
Cole Lux made a big impact no matter where he played. He looked comfortable on the mound, pitching one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up a single hit in four consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, going 1-for-2 with two runs, one triple, and one RBI. That triple was his first of the season.
In other pitching news, Jonah Shearer looked comfortable as he pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs off one hit. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two hits in four consecutive appearances.
Back at the plate, Chugiak got a massive performance out of Pace Newkirk, who went 2-for-3 with two runs, one triple, and one stolen base. Those two hits gave Newkirk a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Ethan Atkinson, who got on base in three of his four plate appearances with five stolen bases and three runs.
Chugiak was getting hits left and right and finished the game having posted a batting average of .400. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their batting average total in three consecutive games.
Chugiak's victory bumped their record up to 7-1. As for Wasilla, their defeat dropped their record down to 5-2.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Saturday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Wasilla has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.1 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Chugiak struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.8 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Wasilla might still be hurting after the 19-9 loss they got from Chugiak in their previous matchup back in May of 2024. Can the Warriors avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
