I’ve been hiking and climbing in southcentral Alaska for quite some time, and I’ve often found that one of the most difficult journeys is from the couch to the door, and from the door to the car. Most people would agree that getting into the outdoors, even for short hikes, is a good prescription for improving and maintaining health. Besides, many of us spend too much time indoors during the long, dark winters. So here are some relatively easy hikes that are close by and don’t require the exceptional fitness of champion runner Ali Ostrander.
Even with a record crowd on hand there was still more than enough baseball to go around Thursday night at Lee Jordan Field.
Unfortunately for Fish fans, Malcom Tipler’s 2-run single in the top of the 14th inning put a damper on an otherwise dreamlike night at the ballpark as the Anchorage Glacier Pilots took a 3-1 win in the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks’ home opener.
Average doesn’t cut it at the Alaska state high school track and field meet, where each year the state’s most gifted young athletes run, jump and throw against each other and sometimes history to see who can be the best of the best.
The Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks will play their 2019 Alaska Baseball League home opener Thursday, June 6 against the Anchorage Glacier Pilots at 7 p.m. at Lee Jordan Field in Chugiak.
The team will honor Jordan during a special ceremony at the game. The longtime area resident — who was a huge supporter of local baseball and instrumental in bringing the team to town — died last year at the age of 88.
Chugiak lost its second straight loss in blowout fashion Saturday to exit the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska State Baseball Tournament in fifth place.
The Mustangs fell 10-0 to West in five innings, the second game in a row called early due to the mercy rule.
Justin Nevells went 2-for-3 and Christian Cambridge was 1-for-2 for the Mustangs, who finished the season 16-4.
The 2019 Eagle River Triathlon will bring hundreds of athletes to Chugiak Sunday for the 21st running of the event.
The triathlon will feature individual, team and kids’ competitions. The “sprint” triathlon includes a 500-yard swim, a 12.4-mile bike ride and a 3.1-mile run. The swimming portion of the event will be held in the Chugiak High pool, with the bike ride taking place on South Birchwood Loop/Terrace Lane and the out-and-back 5-kilometer run utilizing the bike trail alongside the Glenn Highway.
Several local athletes are competing in the Brian Young Track and Field Invitational Friday and Saturday at West High.
The two-day event features some of the best high school athletes in the state and will feature numerous athletes who won state championships last week in Palmer.
The Costanios brothers just keep one-upping each other.
Chugiak catcher Trystan Costanios hit a grand slam and an inside-the-park home run in back-to-back at bats Thursday to lead the Mustangs to a 13-3 romp over North Pole in the first round of the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska State Baseball Tournament at Mulcahy Stadium. Costanios went 2-for-2 with 6 RBIs in the rout, which came in Chugiak’s first game after Costanios’ younger brother, Camden, threw a no-hitter in the Cook Inlet Conference playoffs.
Chugiak’s Camden Costanios was unhittable, Trystan Costnios was uncatchable and the Chugiak Mustangs are the champions of the Cook Inlet Conference.
The younger Costanios — junior-to-be Camden — threw a seven-inning no-hitter May 23 to help Chugiak defeat West 7-0 in the final game of the CIC playoffs, secure a conference title and earn the No. 1 seed in the upcoming state baseball tournament. The elder Costanios — recent CHS grad Trystan — blasted a 3-run homer in the third inning to lead the Chugiak offense.
