In a rare appearance in Homer, Alaska 20 split an Independence Day doubleheader with Dimond on Saturday.

Alaska 20 moved to 3-2 in the Alliance Baseball League and 5-11 overall, while Dimond is now 3-2 in the league and 12-4 overall.

In the 10-7 league victory, Alaska 20 jumped to a big lead before giving it up, then surging ahead late on a walkoff grand slam by hometown hero Mose Hayes.

Alaska 20 jumped on Dimond starter Luke Smith for five runs in the first inning, but Dimond took a 6-5 lead after the top of the sixth inning. Alaska 20 then scored once in the bottom of the sixth to knot things up.

The game went into extra innings, with Dimond taking a 7-6 lead in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, Hayes stood at the plate with the bases loaded and two outs before ending the game with a majestic Fourth of July firework.

Hayes pitched the first 4 2-3 innings of the game, giving up seven hits and four runs — three of which were earned. He walked six and struck out one.

Atticus Gibson gave up two earned runs in an inning of relief, while Nick Wehrstein had a drama-free out. Davey Belger pitched three innings and gave up an earned run on two hits to record the win.

Alaska 20 cranked out 14 hits in the victory. Hayes was 3 for 6 with two runs and four RBIs, Tanner Ussing was 3 for 4 with a run and two RBIs and Harrison Metz was 2 for 5 with two runs and an RBI. Sam Berry, Jacob Belger, Gibson, Karl Wickstrom, Wehrstein and Davey Belger also had hits.

Alaska 20 dropped the nonleague game 16-6, with Dimond invoking the mercy rule after five innings.

Dodge Petrosius, Jonathan Gregoire and Zavier Hayes all had trouble holding down Dimond on the mound.

Alaska 20 had three hits — from Charles Tappen, Petrosius and Hayes.

Alaska 20 then went on to host Eagle River on Tuesday. Eagle River swept Alaska 20 on Tuesday at the Kenai Little League fields.

Eagle River took the Alliance Baseball League contest 13-2 before collecting the nonleague contest 8-0.

Reach Jeff Helminiak at jhelminiak@peninsulaclarion.com.

Raythan Robbins takes a turn at bat during a Saturday, July 4, 2020 Alliance Baseball League game between Dimond and the Alaska 20 at Karen Hornaday Park in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)