A late-game rally provided some much-needed insurance runs as the Chugiak Mustangs moved one game closer to a state American Legion title Monday, defeating East, 17-5.
Chugiak dealt out a dose of revenge against the T-Birds, who had knocked the Mustangs out of contention during the BP Invitational Tournament earlier this summer and handed Chugiak a first-round loss in the state tournament last year.
After spotting East a 4-0 lead, the Mustangs chipped away gradually, helped by the timely hitting of recent graduates Jesse Oakes and Matt Geurts.
Oakes recorded a team high of five RBIs, including a bases-loaded triple, and scored three runs himself to punctuate the victory.
After trailing 4-2 through four innings, Chugiak finally captured the lead with a four-run fifth inning, on two hits, singles by Geurts and Oakes, a host of walks, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly from Tyler Belk. Beck had also supplied a double to the left field wall in the fourth inning, as had Ty Griffith to the right field wall in the second.
The Mustangs threw a near complete arsenal at East from the mound with five pitchers including starter Tim McCollum, with Casey Spink and Zack Morse providing middle inning relief, Griffith throwing the eighth and Matt Sullivan the ninth.
Catcher Geurts was named the team's Player of the Game for his offensive and defensive exploits on the field.
Having clawed their way back to the lead, Chugiak's meager two-run lead, 7-5, in the ninth was increased significantly with 10 runs in the inning. Morse leadoff the inning with a triple, followed by singles from Doug Henie and Geurts, along with a double from Sullivan and the triple from Oakes, which provided the firepower, sending the team into Tuesday's semifinal game against South.
Eagle River's season came to an end with their 7-1 loss to Wasilla in the consolation bracket Monday.
The Wolves turned to pitcher John Grotelueschen, who had thrown two innings against the Chugiak Mustangs, Sunday, only 12 hours earlier. Grotelueschen went eight innings, giving up ten hits and striking out four.
Eagle River had only five hits, with second baseman Kyle Youngs having his best game of the tournament, going 3-for-4. Youngs was selected as the team's Player of the Game.
Paul Grotelueschen scored the team's only run in the first inning, crossing the plate on a wild pitch after going on base with a walk.
