AOTW: Rilen Niclai’s skills in the box & on the mound lead Service to 2-0 start on opening weekend

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - Two games into the high school baseball season, a Service Cougar is putting the state on notice.

Junior pitcher Rilen NICLAI was outstanding this week vs Chugiak. The upperclassman finished the day with seven strikeouts in three full innings while allowing just one hit.

“I was just starting guys backwards. Laying the curveball, that really helped, and then hitting them with the fastball,” Niclai said.

His performance on the mound follows up an even better day at the plate. Niclai opened the season against Dimond 3 for 4 for a 0.775 hitting percentage, bringing in four runs while making his way around once himself.

Rilen’s play is his first step into filling the shoes his brother, Coen, left behind after graduating in 2024. The 2x Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year was drafted by the Miami Marlins before he chose to take his talent to the college ranks at Oregon.

“I’ve been talking to him every day,” Niclai said. “I recently went down to visit down there and just checking up on him, he’s been doing good.”

“I had his brother for a long time. He’s been with us for a long time,” Service head coach Willie Paul said. “They’re tremendous athletes and they’re willing to do whatever we need of them.”

Now a top prospect himself, Rilen and the rest of the squad are focused on repeating history. Service is chasing its second state title in the sport after winning it all last season.

“I think as it warms up, we’ll be seeing big things out of all our guys,” Paul said.

The season continues for Niclai and the rest of the team this week. Service faces a jam-packed schedule with four teams all set to battle the Cougars over the next five days.

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