Chinooks- Trace Niemann SID

The Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks opened their season with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Mat-Su Miners on Friday night at Lee Jordan Field.

The Chinooks struck first in the third inning when Kai Butler came home on a wild pitch to give the Chinooks a 1-0 lead. After the Miners tied the game in the seventh, the Chinooks answered in the bottom of the eighth. Reese Vassar and Kirby Jenkins sparked the rally before Phoenix West delivered the go-ahead RBI single, scoring Jenkins and putting The Chinooks back in front for good.

West finished the night 2-for-3 with the game-winning RBI, while Jenkins scored both Chinooks runs. Cal Wipf added a double and reached base three times, and the Chinooks collected six hits as a team.

On the mound, Mason Trotter set the tone by allowing just one hit over 4.1 scoreless innings. Trey Harper earned the win out of the bullpen, and Evan Rossi closed the door in the ninth to record the save. The Chinooks' pitching staff combined for 13 strikeouts as they get the first win of the season to start 1-0.