Chugiak and Eagle River each remained undefeated Sunday, picking up their third wins in the double-elimination American Legion state baseball tournament at Mulcahy Stadium.
Chugiak trounced South 12-3, and Eagle River hung on to a 9-8 win over Fairbanks, setting up an unbeaten showdown Wednesday to earn a spot in Friday's title game.
Still alive in the loser-bracket are Kenai and Wasilla, with Kenai eliminating West 18-8, and Wasilla ousting East 11-2 on Sunday.
Chugiak starter Justin Schneider didn't last long in the Mustangs' win, but still made an offensive impact with a game-high three hits.
Schneider surrendered two runs and recorded just one out before being relieved by Connor Cimmiyotti, but scored one of his two runs during a five-run outburst in the sixth inning that helped the Mustangs pull away.
Bradley Cooper's two-run triple highlighted the rally, helping Chugiak increase its lead to 11-2.
Cimmiyotti pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings for the Mustangs, and Deven Ferris struck out two over four innings to earn a win.
Eagle River built a 9-4 lead in its win, before taking the field in the bottom of the sixth and watching Fairbanks produce a three-run rally to cut the lead to 9-7.
Fairbanks added another run in the bottom of the eighth on a Cameron Hendrix RBI-single, but Eagle River pitcher Chris Parker held in the ninth to preserve the win.
After suffering a first-round pummeling, top-seeded Kenai struck back in a big way, pounding out 16 hits in a game shortened by the mercy rule.
Kenai had two runners on with no outs in the bottom of the seventh when Ethan Oliver drove in two runs with a single that gave Kenai a 10-run lead.
The Twins rediscovered their offense Sunday, with nine players contributing hits, eight scoring runs and eight driving in runs.
Jacob Darrow had a particularly productive day, going 3 for 3 and scoring four times.
Wasilla disposed of East in an error-filled game; East committed six errors and Wasilla four. The Warriors offense flourished behind Russ Ruta's three RBIs and Josh Grissom's two hits, two runs and two RBIs.
Austin Anderson and Alejandro Soto drove in runs for East.
American Legion state tournament At Mulcahy Stadium Sunday's Results Winners' Bracket Chugiak 12, South 3 Eagle River 9, Fairbanks 8 Losers' bracket Wasilla 11, East 2 (East eliminated) Kenai 18, West 8 (West eliminated) Monday's Games Losers' bracket Wasilla vs. Dimond, 9 a.m. Service vs. Kenai, 12:15 p.m.
Anchorage Daily News