R.J. Dirscherl contributed in multiple ways, reaching base in all four plate appearances and pitching the final inning Thursday to spearhead Eagle River to a 7-1 win over Dimond Post 21 in the opener of the BP Exploration Invitational Tournament at Mulcahy Stadium.
In Thursday's other game, South Post 4 exploded for seven runs in the third inning on the way to a 14-5 victory over Chugiak Post 33.
Dirscherl singled in his first three at bats and drew a walk in his final at bat, scored three runs, stole two bases and drove in a run. He also pitched a scoreless seventh inning in the first game of an eight-team American Legion baseball tournament that runs through Sunday.
Eagle River blew open the game with a five-run second inning.
Lauren Frost went 2 for 4 for Eagle River, driving in one run and scoring one run. Mike Fitzgerald also scored a run and drove in a run.
Dimond, which committed three errors and surrendered four unearned runs, received four-plus innings of one-run relief from Blayke Brower. Preston Micheletto went 2 for 4 for Dimond and was the only Dimond player with multiple hits.
South's leadoff hitter, Jonah Costello, went 3 for 4, scored twice, drove in two runs and stole a base in the romp over Chugiak. Max Micks of South went 2 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
South scored runs in five consecutive innings, beginning with its third-inning eruption.
Chugiak's Zac Brueggeman went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs.
The tournament continues Friday at Mulcahy with five games.
LANIER BAGS NO-HITTER
Chugiak Post 33's Jimmy Lanier pitched a no-hitter over the weekend in Fairbanks to spark his club to a 17-0 American Legion baseball victory over Fairbanks in seven innings.
Lanier struck out seven, including five batters swinging, in his gem. He required 75 pitches, 50 of which were strikes.
Lanier walked three and received ample support – Chugiak scored six runs in the first three innings.
WEST 22, PALMER 7
Wilton Farmwald went 4 for 5 and drove in six runs Wednesday to spark West Post 1 to a 22-7 American Legion baseball win at Palmer.
Billy Ballantine scored five runs for West and Dillon Oberly threw a complete game.
BP Exploration Invitational Tournament
American Legion Baseball
At Mulcahy Stadium
Thursday's results
Eagle River 7, Dimond 1
South 14, Chugiak 5
Friday's games
Dimond vs. Colchester (Va.), 9:15 a.m.
Strathmore (Canada) vs. Colchester (Va.), 11:45 a.m.
Strathmore (Canada) vs. Eagle River, 2:15 p.m.
South vs. Team Avenue (Calif.), 5 p.m.
Columbia (Tenn.) vs. Chugiak, 7:30 p.m.