Favored teams win in first round of Legion tournament

Third-seeded Service posted six runs in the seventh inning -- including a two-RBI homer by Bryan Beard -- to handily defeat sixth-seeded Wasilla in the first round of the American Legion State Baseball Tournament.

Service Post 28 001 300 6 -- 10 14 0

Wasilla Post 35 000 100 1 -- 2 7 2

Service 10, Bartlett 0

Stephen Ferntheil went 2 for 3 and furnished one RBI and two runs Tuesday when Service thrashed Bartlett at Klatt Field.

Eighth-grader Zach Ferntheil struck out 10 batters for the Cougars and teammate Corey Crabb went 2 for 4, adding two RBIs and two runs.

Service, Chugiak in championship game

Service and Chugiak emerged undefeated after four days of pool play to advance to Sunday's late championship game of the 15th annual BP Exploration American Legion baseball tournament at Mulcahy Stadium. Stephen Ferntheil's two-out walkoff single lifted Service to a 4-3 victory over South and gave the Cougars a 3-0 record in pool play, while Chugiak's first four batters scored against Fairbanks to power the Mustangs to an easy 10-3 win and a 2-0-1 record in pool-play.

In Service's close win, South led 3-2 after four innings but Service came back with a run in the sixth and one in the seventh. Ferntheil's RBI single in the seventh scored Jack Cronin, who also singled.

BP tournament concludes today

Three Anchorage teams and Fairbanks will square off today for the chance to play in the BP Exploration Invitational Tournament championship at Mulcahy Stadium.

Service defeated Fairbanks 5-1, thanks to Garrett Grenier's five-hitter in seven innings and will meet South today at 2:15 p.m. in semifinal action.

In other tournament action: 

Service shortstop Chase Barrus led the Cougars to an 8-6 victory over Eagle River with four runs, four hits and a pair of RBIs Saturday at Mulcahy Stadium in the third day of the BP Exploration Invitational Tournament.

The winners of Chugiak vs. Fairbanks and Service vs. South games face off tonight at 7:30 p.m. for the title of the eight-team tournament. 

Fairbanks, Service, Eagle River romp in Legion tournament

Blowouts were the name of the game Friday at the 15th annual BP Exploration baseball tournament at Mulcahy Stadium.

Three of the five pool-play games all ended after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule. Fairbanks throttled Eagle River 23-1, Service blanked Bartlett 15-0 and Eagle River roughed up Bartlett 17-5.

Among Friday's highlights:

• Sam Sewell struck out eight in five shutout innings and got support from Garrett Grenier (3 RBIs) and Chase Barrus (3 hits) to lead Service past Bartlett.

Cougars win two, drop one in Kenai

Garrett Brown knocked in two runs and Chase Barrus scored two runs, drove in one and stole three bases to help Service beat Wasilla 10-3 Wednesday in Kenai's Bill Miller Big Fish Tournament. On Tuesday, Kenai rallied with two runs in the seventh inning to defeat Service 4-3.

Service bounced back from that loss later on Tuesday, as Cory Crabb smacked a two-run triple to help the Cougars beat Wasilla 9-6.

Service Post 28 323 020 -- 10 8 0

Wasilla Post 35 000 102 -- 3 5 2

Service Post 28 000 210 0 -- 3 9 4

Kenai Post 20 200 000 2 -- 4 3 3

Wasilla Post 35 220 020 0 -- 6 6 3

Service Post 28 123 219 x -- 9 8 0

Service 5, East 1

Service freshman Garrett Brown threw a six-hitter Sunday, striking out six batters and walking two to lead the Cougars to victory over East at Wasilla. Brown also furnished a double and a triple and drove in three runs.

Service 16, Dimond 1

Cory Crab smacked a three-run triple Saturday when Service dominated Dimond at McManus Field.

Service pitcher Garrett Grenier threw a five-hitter for the Cougars, who registered 10 hits and one error.

Service's Brown, Nealley lead an 11-4 rout of Lynx

Garrett Brown struck out six batters Monday as the Service Legion baseball team dominated Dimond at Klatt Field. Catcher Kevin Nealley went 3 for 3 with two RBIs and one run scored for the Cougars.

Dimond Post 21 000 101 11 -- 4 4 5

Service Post 28 101 030 15 -- 11 11 1

Dimond -- Scott, Partusch (8) and Eastlick. Service -- Brown and Nealley.

W -- Brown. L -- Scott.

2B -- Dimond: D. Lauwers, Pritchard, Scott.

Service legion wins Fairbanks tournament

Aaron Miller knocked in the go-ahead run to lead Service to a 6-5 championship game victory over host Fairbanks in the Midnight Sun Tournament on Saturday.

Garrett Brown smacked a two-run double for the Cougars, who finished the tournament with a 4-0 record.

Runner-up Fairbanks was 2-2.

Earlier, Service defeated Bartlett 13-3 as Garrett Brown went 3 for 5 and furnished two RBIs.

Fairbanks Post 11/30/57 030 100 1 -- 5 6 2

Service Post 28 003 021 x -- 6 5 2

Fairbanks -- Hall, Ballard (3), Yauney (5) and Brooks. Service -- Grenier, Van Allen (6) and Nealley.

W -- Grenier. L -- Yauney.

2B -- Fairbanks: Wolfe. Service: Brown.

Service Post 28 040 311 4 -- 13 12 4

Bartlett Post 29 101 000 7 -- 3 7 1

Service -- S. Ferntheil, Barrus (5) and Brown. Bartlett -- Scott, McClain (3), L. Stonerock (7), Adams (7) and Cecil.

W -- Ferntheil. L -- Scott.

2B -- Bartlett: Cecil. 3B -- Service: Brown.

Service 11, Fairbanks 7

Kevin Nealley earned two runs and three RBIs Thursday to help Service past host Fairbanks 11-7 in the Midnight Sun American Legion Tournament.

Winning pitcher Bryan Beard scattered nine hits, struck out three batters and walked six.

Service Post 28 280 100 0 -- 11 10 2

Fairbanks Post 11/30/57 020 211 0 -- 7 9 6

Service -- Beard and Nealley. Fairbanks -- Wixon, Ballard (2), Wolfe (3) and Brooks.

W -- Beard. L -- Wixon.

2B -- Fairbanks: Lester 2, Meggert. 3B -- Service: Nealley.

Service wins two

Service's Chase Barrus went 2 for 3 and scored two runs Tuesday when the Cougars (7-3 American Legion, 8-4 overall) edged East 6-4 at Klatt Field. Teammate Garrett Brown struck out seven batters and picked up the win.

On Monday, Barrus went 3 for 4 and finished with three RBIS and two runs to help Service cruise past South 10-5 at Klatt Field.

East Post 34 020 200 000 -- 4 11 1

Service Post 28 400 110 000 -- 6 8 1

East -- Cassaday and Pohl. Service -- Brown, Crabb (6) and Nealley.

W -- Brown. L -- Cassaday.

2B -- Service: Beard. 3B -- East: S. Tuck.

South Post 4 000 005 0 -- 5 3 1

Service Post 28 111 331 x -- 10 13 0

South -- Graham, Ryan (3), Bezouzek (5), Archuletta (7) and Barea. Service -- Grenier, Crabb (5), Brown (5) and Nealley.

W -- Grenier. L -- Graham.

2B -- Service: Beard. 3B -- South: Allred. Service: Van Allen, Barrus.

Eagle River, Service split doubleheader

Jim Reeves drove in Eagle River's winning run in the tenth inning, leading the Wolves to a 5-4 legion victory over Service on Saturday at Loretta French Fields.

Brandon Metzel threw nine innings and got 21 of 27 outs on fly balls for the Wolves (3-4).

The Cougars rallied to win the second game 14-6.

Service's Bryan Beard went 2 for 4 and scored twice in the bottom of the sixth with a triple and single.

Service Post 28 001 010 200 0-- 4 6 1

Eagle River Legion 100 000 300 1-- 5 9 1

Service -- Fernthiel, Van Allen (8) and Nealley. Eagle River -- Metzel, Sperling (10) and Weller.

 W -- Sperling. L -- Van Allen.

2B -- Service: Beard. Eagle River: Helton. 3B -- Eagle River: An. Ortiz.

Service Post 28 022 037 x -- 14 12 4

Eagle River Legion 220 002 0 -- 6 6 1

Service -- Boedigheimer, Sewell (5) and Crabb. Eagle River -- Sperling, Howell (6), Youngs (6) and Reeves. 

W -- Sewell. L -- Sperling.

2B -- Service: Barrus (2), Van Allen. Eagle River: Helton. 3B -- Service: Beard.

Service, Kenai split baseball doubleheader

Service pitcher Garrett Brown struck out 10 and walked three in eight innings to lead the Cougars (4-2) to a 5-1 American Legion victory over host Kenai on Wednesday.

Kenai pitcher Josh Gilbert was strong on the mound as well, striking out 10 batters in seven innings.

Service's Jack Cronin furnished a two-RBI single in the eighth.

In the second game, Tyler Marcuson scored Kenai's first run in the second inning to start off the Kardinals' 10-3 non-league victory.

Service's Nolan Boedigheimer hit a two-RBI single in the 6th inning and Stephen Fernthiel went 2 for 4 with an RBI.

Service Post 28 000 001 031 -- 5 9 2

Kenai Post 20 000 000 010 -- 1 5 5

Service -- Brown, Grenier (9) and Nealley. Kenai -- Gilbert, Griffin (8) and Marcuson.

W -- Brown. L -- Gilbert.             2B -- Service: Beard. Kenai: Gilbert.

Service Post 28 010 002 0 -- 3 8 3

Kenai Post 20 040 312 x -- 10 7 2

Service -- Sewell, Miller (5) and Crabb. Kenai -- Marcuson and Elson.

W -- Marcuson. L -- Sewell.

Service sweeps West

Service unleashed a relentless hitting attack Saturday to sweep West in an American Legion baseball doubleheader at Klatt Field.

Stephen Ferntheil drove in three runs with a pair of extra-base hits to spark Service's 13-6 win in the first game, and the Cougars followed up with a 14-hit assault to beat West 16-3 in the second game.

In the second game, Chase Barruson and Garrett Brown each drove in three runs and piled up three hits.

Sean Muller's three-run single highlighted West's six-run sixth inning in the opener.

West Post 1 000 006 0 -- 6 6 2

Service Post 28 313 013 2 -- 13 10 2

Mezich, Muller (5) and Mahon; Grenier, Wiles (5) and Nealley. WP -- Grenier. LP -- Mezich. 2B -- Service: S. Ferntheil, Van Allen. 3B -- Service: S. Ferntheil, Beard.

Service Post 28 040 222 6 -- 16 14 2

West Post 1 011 100 0 -- 3 4 3

Boedigheimer, Van Allen (4), Crabb (6) and Brown; Olson, Cleary (4), Harrison (7), Strobe (7) and H. Delacruz. WP -- Van Allen. LP -- Olson. 2B -- Service: Barrus, S. Ferntheil.

Service's Beard wins CIC baseball MVP

Service High failed to advance to the ASAA state baseball tournament, but the Cougars this week were left with something to cheer about.

Service ace Bryan Beard was voted the Most Valuable Player for the 2009 Cook Inlet Conference season by the conference's coaches. The senior starting pitcher finished the season with a 3-1 record and a tidy 2.42 ERA.

His skills weren't limited to the mound. On offense, he batted .462 and ripped three doubles and three triples.

The Big Stick Award went to Service's Stephen Ferntheil for batting .581 with three doubles, four triples and 15 runs.

South shortstop and second baseman Cal McKim earned the Gold Glove for committing just one error in 10 games.

2009 Cook Inlet All-Conference Baseball Team

First Team

First baseman -- Paul Grotelueschen, Eagle River. Second baseman -- Cory Clevenger, Dimond. Third baseman -- Kyle Youngs, Eagle River. Shortstop -- Colton Lauwers. Outfielder -- Bryan Beard, Service; Collin Cloud, Bartlett; Tim McCollum, Chugiak. Catcher -- Kevin Nealley, Service; Daniel Pohl, East. Utility -- Garrett Brown, Service; Dylan Wisthoff, West. Starting pitcher -- Colton Lauwers, Dimond; Bryan Beard, Service; Collin Cloud, Bartlett; Tim McCollum, Chugiak. Relief pitcher -- Garrett Balen, Chugiak; Brady Grisham, West.

Second Team

First baseman -- Tyler Belk, Chugiak. Second baseman -- Steve Hamel, West. Third baseman -- Nolan Olson, Dimond; Shortstop -- Stephen Ferntheil, Service. Outfielder -- Jacob Brownlee, Chugiak; Adam Manzer, West; Tynan Demoss, Dimond. Catcher -- Garrett Balen, Chugiak. Utility -- Tobias Morgan, Chugiak; Jack Ryan, South. Starting pitcher -- Cory Clevenger, Dimond; Trevour Riske, Dimond; Austin Cassaday, East; Jacob Brownlee, Chugiak. Relief pitcher -- Garrett Brown, Service; Paul Bezousek, South; Danny Olsen, West.

Honorable Mention

First baseman -- Cade Scott, Bartlett; Chase VanAllen, Service; Matt Serafine, Dimond; Jeramy Beltz, East. Second baseman -- Angelo Ortiz, Eagle River; Jack Cronin, Service; Pat Enslow, South; Third baseman -- Michael Perkins, South. Shortstop -- Augie Ortiz, Eagle River; Cal McKim, South; Brayam Campos, East. Outfielder -- Erik Cooper, Dimond; Dylan Lauwers, Dimond; Aaron Miller, Service; Kris Lehman, Eagle River. Catcher -- Adam Manzer, West; Christian Cecil, Bartlett; Dax Lauwers, Dimond; Sean Holmes, South. Utility -- Nolan Olson, Dimond; Andrew Grotelueschen, Eagle RIver. Starting pitcher -- Garrett Grenier, Service; Jacob Hurst, Eagle River; Augie Ortiz, Eagle River; Paul Grotelueschen, Eagle River; Colin Graham, South; Paul Bezousek, South. Relief pitcher -- Danny Olsen, West.

Service 16, Eagle River 6

Service's four, five, and six hitters crushed the cowhide on a windy Thursday night at South Anchorage Fields.  Bryan Beard, Kevin Nealley and Garrett Brown combined for nine hits, 10 runs and 10 RBIs for the Cougars.

Service improved to 7-1 and took over as leaders of the Cook Inlet Conference thanks to Dimond's win over Chugiak.  Eagle River fell to 4-4.

Eagle River   005  001  --  6 5 8

Service  014 533  --  16 15 3

Eagle River -- Hurst, J. Grotelueschen (4) and Weller.

Service -- Grenier, Brown (3), Van Allen (6) and Nealey, Crabb (5)

W -- Brown         L -- Hurst

2B -- Eagle River: Reeves, Helton.   Service: Nealley, Brown

3B -- Service: Nealley, Beard, Ferntheil, Grenier

Service 4, Dimond 2

Service pitcher Bryan Beard struck out five batters Saturday, when the Cougars (6-1) defeated Dimond (5-2) at South Anchorage Ball Fields. Stephen Fernthiel scored two runs and one RBI for the Cougars, who earned the first seed in next week's Cook Inlet Conference tournament.

Dimond 200 000 000 -- 2 4 2

Service 101 200 000 -- 4 7 1

Dimond -- C. Lauwers and Da. Lauwers. Service -- Beard and Nealley.

W -- Beard. L -- C. Lauwers.

3B -- Dimond: Clevenger. Service: Fernthiel.

Service baseball team wins 21-3, still tied for 1st

Service mashed the cowhide again Friday evening as the Cougars beat Bartlett 21-3 and remained tied for first place in Cook Inlet Conference baseball.

Senior Kevin Nealley paved the way for the Cougars (5-1), going 3 for 4 with three runs.

Finishing with two hits were Garrett Brown, Stephen Ferntheil, Eric Miller, Garrett Grenier and Chase Van Allen.

Service has outscored its last two opponents 42-8.

Bartlett       120    00 --   3    4   3

Service  (11)81    1x -- 21  17   0

Bartlett -- Wilson, Scott (3) and Pasquale. Service -- Ferntheil, Grenier (3), Van Allen (5) and Crabb.

W -- Grenier. L -- Wilson.

2B -- Service: Nealley, Miller. 3B -- Team: Beard, Miller.

Service 20, South 5

Stephen Ferntheil went 3 for 4, drove in three runs and scored two three RBIs for the Cougars on Tuesday, when they smashed South (2-3) at South Anchorage Ball Fields.

Starting pitcher Garrett Brown added four RBIs and scored one run for the Cougars, who improved to 4-1 in the conference.

Service 4 3 7 06 -- 20 13 1

South     4 0 0 01 -- 5 3 2

Service -- Brown, Sewell (5) and Nealley. South -- Bezouzek, George (3), Karnos (3), Frazier (5) and Holmes, Ryan (4).

W -- Brown. L -- Bezouzek.

2B -- Service: Beard. 3B -- Service: Beard.

Beard goes distance in 4-2 Service victory

Service's Bryan Beard struck out seven and walked three while throwing a complete game as the Cougars' baseball team beat Chugiak 4-2 at South Anchorage Ball Fields. The Cougars improved to 3-0.

Service 030 010 0 -- 4 4 1

Chugiak 000 200 0 -- 2 2 4

Service -- Beard and Nealley. Chugiak --McCollum (1) Balen (4), Fritz (6) and Morgan, Balen (6).

W -- Beard. L -- McCollum. 2B -- Chugiak: McCollum.

Service 6, Eagle River 0

Freshman Garrett Brown scattered two hits over five innings and drove in a run Monday as Service shut out Eagle River 6-0 in Cook Inlet Conference action at the South Anchorage Ballfields. Stephen Ferntheil collected two of the Cougars' five hits.

Eagle River  000  000  0 -- 0 3 3

Service         201  012  x -- 6 5 0

Brown, Kohler (6) and Nealley; A. Ortiz, G. Grodleuschen (5) and Helton, Weller (6).

WP: Brown. LP: Ortiz.

Cronin leads Service baseball to win

Service High's Jack Cronin ripped two doubles and scored two runs Wednesday to highlight the Cougars' 8-6 nonconference victory over visiting Wasilla at Kosinski Fields.

Wasilla   031  000  2  --  6 5 2

Service  023   021  x  --  8 3 2

Wasilla -- Rodemar, Blydon, Newcom (5), Coleman (6) and Blydon, Rodemar.

Service -- Kohler, Sewell (2), Van Allen (3), Brown (4), Crabb (6), Ferntheil (7) and Nealley, Crabb.

W -- Brown     L -- Rodemar            2B -- Service:  Cronin

Beard throws a three-hitter in Service win

Service's Cook Inlet Conference season got off to a blazing start Saturday thanks to Bryan Beard, who pitched a three-hitter and went 2 for 2 to help the Cougars beat West 12-2 in five innings at Kosinski Fields.

Stephen Ferntheil and Garrett Grenier each produced a pair of hits and combined for three RBIs for the Cougars.

Service  343  02 -- 12  7  1

West      110  00 --    2  3  2

Service -- Beard and Nealley.      West -- Wisthoff, Grisham (3) and Manzer.

W -- Beard. L -- Wisthoff.        2B -- Service: Beard.        3B -- Service: Fernthiel.