High School Sports

Ketchikan rallies, Wasilla romps to grab spots in state baseball championship game

The Ketchikan Kings used a strong finish and the Wasilla Warriors used a fast start Friday to win semifinal games at the state baseball tournament at Mulcahy Stadum.

Ketchikan scored six runs in the final two innings to rally past the West Eagles 7-6, and Wasilla scored six runs in the first inning to roll past the Chugiak Mustangs 13-1.

The Kings and Warriors will play for the championship at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Ketchikan made the most of several West miscues late in the first semifinal to erase a 5-1 deficit. The Kings scored four times in the sixth inning — runs scored on a balk, an error, a hit batsman and a single — and added the tying and go-ahead runs in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly and a fielder’s choice.

Trailing 6-5 going into the seventh, Ketchikan put its first two batters on base -- Gavin Salazar walked and a C.J. Paule hit a bunt single -- and a balk put both runners in scoring position. Hayden McGarrigan’s game-tying sacrifice fly scored Salazar and an error put runners on the corners, setting up a game-winning fielder’s choice that drove in Paule

In the late semifinal, Wasilla pounced on Chugiak, chasing two pitchers while building an insurmountable 6-0 lead in the first inning.

Nine Warriors scored runs, seven had hits and six drove in run. Jacob Gilbert pitched five innings for Wasilla, fanning six and allowing three hits.

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In consolation action earlier in the day, Colony survived with an 8-4 win over West Valley and Juneau eliminated North Pole 11-1.

ASAA/First National Bank state baseball championships

Friday’s results

Wasilla 13, Chugiak 1, semifinal

Ketchikan 7, West 6, semifinal

Colony 8, West Valley 4, loser out

Juneau 11, North Pole 1, loser out

Saturday’s games at Mulcahy Stadium

Fourth place — Colony vs. Juneau, 10 a.m.

Third place — West vs. Chugiak, 12:30 p.m.

Championship — Ketchikan vs. Wasilla, 3 p.m.

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