Sports

4 teams still alive in Legion state baseball tournament

Second-seeded Kenai is the only team still undefeated in the double-elimination American Legion state baseball tournament following a comeback win Tuesday at Mulcahy Stadium.

Also still alive in the tournament are Wasilla, Juneau and Service.

The Twins rallied with two runs in the seventh inning to take a 4-3 win over fifth-seeded Wasilla in the winner's bracket game.

Kenai's Paul Steffenson drove in Jacob Sonnen for the game-tying run and Kenneth Griffin drove in Joshua Darrow for the go-ahead run.

The Twins closed the game with a 1-6-3 double play in the top of the ninth.

Steffenson and Tyler Covey also scored for Kenai.

Wasilla was led by leadoff batter Benjamin Warner, who went 3 for 5 with a run and an RBI.

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Both teams tallied seven hits.

[Wasilla rallies, Kenai rolls at state baseball tournament]

In elimination contests earlier in the day, top-seeded Juneau and sixth-seeded Service survived one-run games to remain alive.

Service ousted defending state champion Chugiak 5-4, and Juneau edged Dimond 5-4.

Raleigh Pigg came to the rescue for Service after Chugiak touched starting pitcher Ronan Klancher for three runs in the first inning.

Pigg pitched the final eight innings, giving up three hits and an unearned run while striking out seven.

Klancher stayed in the game and provided offensive support. Service's leadoff batter, he was 2 for 4 and scored two runs.

Also going 2 for 4 for Service were Cooper Bailey Parson and Michael Yandell. Yandell, batting in the No. 9 spot, drove in the winning run in the eighth inning by beating the throw on a two-out swinging bunt with a runner on third base.

Matt Hess, Cody Curfman and Charlie Bucolo drove in runs for Chugiak.

In Juneau's win over Dimond, Bryce Swafford pitched a nine-inning complete game and went 2 for 3 at the plate to lead the winners.

Juneau's Michael Cesar drove in two runs while going 3 for 3.

Dylan Montagna powered Dimond with a home run and a double.

[State baseball tournament begins with an upset and a blowout]

The tournament continues Friday with Service facing Wasilla and Juneau against Kenai.

The championship is set for 3 p.m. Saturday. All games are at Mulcahy Stadium.

The tournament winner will qualify for the Northwest Regional in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Correction: The Friday matchups were incorrect in an earlier version of the story.

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Thursday's scores

Kenai 4, Wasilla 3

Juneau 5, Dimond 4 (loser out)

Service 5, Chugiak 4 (loser out)

Friday's games

3 p.m. – Service vs. Wasilla (loser out)

6:30 p.m. – Juneau vs. Kenai

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