Service thwarts Eagle River’s late comeback attempt in battle of Alaska’s American Legion powers

While a wet and dreary night makes for a good scary story around a campfire, it creates less than ideal conditions for a baseball game — especially one as big as a matchup of the Post 28 Service and Eagle River Alaska Legion baseball teams on Wednesday night at Lee Jordan Field in Chugiak.

Both squads came into the pivotal showdown with 12-0 records in league play and were tied for first place in the standings.

Baseballs picked up heft in the consistent downpour, and there were even a few instances when slick bats slipped out of the grasp of players and went flying toward the dugout.

However, not even inclement weather was enough to stop Service from seizing sole possession of first place in the standings in a decisive 13-11 victory. The game seemed as if it was going to be a blowout at one point before Eagle River made things interesting late.

“It was tough and both sides had (to deal with) the elements,” Service head coach Willie Paul said. “Both pitchers weren’t able to execute their off-speed pitches because of how wet the ball was. Guys went up there looking for fastballs and both of these teams are good hitting teams, so if they know one is coming, they’re going drive it somewhere.”

That’s exactly what his team did in the top of the third inning when they dug themselves out of an early 4-1 hole through the first two and knotted the game up at 5-5.

The Cougars carried that momentum into the fourth, where it looked like they had broken the game open and built an insurmountable lead after racking up seven runs to go up 12-5.

“The guys did a good job of sitting back and waiting for their pitches,” Paul said. “We saw early that both pitchers were struggling in the elements with off-speed pitches, so just being selective and waiting for a fastball that’s out over the plate and being able drive it into the gaps, the guys did a really good job.”

Throwing the ball in rain makes it hard to throw pitches that require rotations, such as curve balls and split fingers.

“When it’s wet like this, you just don’t get it and it doesn’t move the way you want it to and you’re not able to locate it,” Paul said.

His words rang true in the bottom of the seventh, when it seemed they had a comfortable victory all but in the bag with Service holding a 13-8 lead.

Service called upon recent graduate Jacob Rafferty — who in early June was one of the key figures in securing the high school program’s first state title since 2001 — to tie a bow on a potential win.

But he wasn’t able to get into a rhythm and had to be retired after the Wolves were able to claw within two runs of tying the game and potentially setting up a walk-off, come-from-behind victory.

Reinforcements came in the form of rising junior pitcher Palmer Dalton, who answered the call and closed it out despite coming into a situation with more runners on base than outs on the board.

“It was good to see a young guy come in and finish the game on the mound like that, and the defense stepped up when we needed them,” Paul said. “At the end of the day, it’s a win and we can move onto the next one.”

While he is excited that his team was able to prevail in the end, Paul knows they have plenty to work on with the regular season nearing a close and playoffs right around the corner.

“It’s just staying focused, keeping that drive alive and really just getting to (the playoffs) and anything can happen,” said Paul, who noted that it’s been over 20 years since Service Legion last won a state title despite multiple appearances in the finals.

Earlier in the week, Service baseball legend and two-time reigning Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year Coen Niclai was drafted in the 15th round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Miami Marlins. It is a feat and honor that Paul believes Niclai is “extremely deserving” of and was proud to see come to fruition.

“It was awesome,” he said. “We had talked to him a bunch and we’ve had some scouts reach out to us, so we were hoping for the best-case scenario. We had a good feeling that he would get the chance and it’s awesome for him. We’re proud of him and he puts in a ton of work.”

[Anchorage’s Coen Niclai lands with the Miami Marlins in 15th round of MLB draft]

Whether Niclai decides to go straight to the pros or honor his commitment to play at the University of Oregon, his former coaches and mentors are “excited to see where his future goes.”