Eagle River first baseman Paul Grotelueschen tags out ChugiakÕs Matt Sullivan. Photos By DAN SHEPARD

The Mustangs looked a little sluggish after drawing a first-round bye in the ten-team tournament, but they took advantage of two big innings to beat the pesky Wolves, scoring six runs in both the second and seventh innings.

Tim McCollum had the big game at the plate for Chugiak, going 3-for-4, with two RBIs. Jesse Oakes also contributed with a 2-for-4 outing, with three RBIs, earning him the team's Player of the Game honors.

Eagle River's Casey Volk was 3-for-3, all singles, but was on base in all five plate appearances, helped by a walk and being hit by a pitch.

The Mustangs had a couple of long hits, including a homerun hit by Matt Geurts to revive the Mustangs in the bottom of the seventh inning, after Eagle River tired the score.

Eagle River had their leadoff batter on base in six of the game's eight innings, eventually erasing Chugiak's early 6-0 lead with lone runs in the third and sixth, and two in the fourth and seventh.

Eagle River's big hit was provided by catcher Cody Helton in the fourth, scoring John Grotelueschen from second. Helton then crossed the plate on an infield out by Zach Weller.

Twice the Mustangs erased potential runs from Eagle River by turning double plays to end the inning. Eagle River actually ended the game with more runners stranded on bases than Chugiak, 10-7.

Mustang pitcher Casey Spink recorded the win, effectively shutting down Eagle River in the last two innings in relief of Garrett Balen.

Eagle River received a yeoman's effort from starter Steven Aumack, who pitched into the seventh inning before being replaced by Drew Grotelueschen in the midst of Chugiak's six-run rally.

Before the tournament started, the bracket was given an early surprise when it was found out that Dimond did not have the requisite 12 players to support a tournament team, thereby decreasing the original eleven-squad field to ten.

Eagle River, the 10th seed in the tournament shook things up further with a victory over West, 6-1, Saturday.

The Wolves got a complete-game effort on the mound from right hander Paul Grotelueschen.

Head coach Ken Wooster said that Paul Grotelueschen definitely brought his A game.

“He was consistently in front of the hitters all game long,” Wooster said Saturday.

In addition, the team helped to get West's leadoff batter out in seven of the game's nine innings.

Chugiak baserunner Doug Henie gets caught in a pickle between Eagle RiverÕs catcher Cody Helton and third baseman Stephen Schuessler.

Eagle River capitalized with two runs each in the game's first, fourth and eighth frames.

Neither team was helped by their four errors each.

The Wolves made the most of their limited opportunities in the first, with lead-off man Andy Moore scoring, following a walk, a stolen base and advancement via past ball, culminating on a sacrifice groundout by Paul Grotelueschen.

Volk then gained admittance to the bases by a walk, was pushed ahead by another walk to Stephen Schuessler, with both advancing on yet another ball, with Volk scoring on an infield error off the bat of John Grotelueschen.

Moore scored again in the fourth as West High pitching fell upon hard times, with four walks in the inning. Kyle Youngs also scored.

In the eighth, insurance runs were provided by a sacrifice fly from Moore, scoring Drew Grotelueschen, along with an RBI-single to left scoring Youngs, who had gotten on with a single.

Paul Grotelueschen, the team's Player of the Game, finished the game going 1-for-1, a single, but with three walks.

With Sunday's win, Chugiak advanced to play East Monday afternoon. Eagle River was pushed into the loser's bracket to face Service Monday.

The tournament title game is slated for 2 p.m. today, with an “if necessary” game for 6 p.m.

The winner of the tournament advances to regional tournament play in Bozeman, Mont., Aug. 13 to Aug.18.

This article published in The Alaska Star on Thursday, August 7, 2008.