PALMER — Will Musson felt pretty good standing on second base in the bottom of the second inning against Taiwan on Saturday.

“I had a smile on my face like I was a 12-year-old,” Musson said.

Why was Musson so happy? Because after being recruited as a pitcher, Musson made his first start of the summer at third base and led the Miners at the plate with three hits and a run scored during the 4-2 extra-innings loss to Taiwan.

Musson’s second-inning double marked the pitcher’s first career hit in the Alaska Baseball League.

“It was a great opportunity to get a shot at third base,” Musson said. “I was pretty pumped to get a couple of at bats. I haven’t hit in a while, so I got up there and tried to get back in the rhythm. I was pretty happy with the results.”

Musson, who has left the University of Connecticut after two seasons with the Big East program, prides himself on being a two-way player, and is hoping to use his time in the ABL to not only showcase his skills on the mound, but show he has what it takes to be an every-day player.

“I came up here knowing that I’m a pitcher first, but I jumped in the cage on the first day and they saw I could swing the bat a little bit,” Musson said. “I’ve been working extra hard to get a couple of appearances at the plate. It’s been paying off.”

In addition to his double in the second inning, Musson singled in the fourth and singled and scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning.

Now that Musson has had some success as a position player, the Wethersfield, Conn., native said he’s eager to see more time at the plate and in the field.

“I was joking around [with the coaches], now you guys got to give me a couple of chances because I proved myself,” Musson said with a grin. “I understand they’ve got a bunch of other kids up here that are strictly position players, and that’s perfectly understandable.”

One of those players is Blake Newalu, an anchor at third base for 14 of Mat-Su’s first 20 games. While it’s unlikely Musson will unseat Newalu, an incoming freshman at the University of San Diego who was rated as one of the country’s top prep prospects as a high school senior, but Musson certainly made his presence in the field known.

“Maybe that puts it in the back of my mind to give him another chance to start or maybe pinch hit,” Mat-Su head coach Conor Bird said. “Maybe pinch hit.”

If nothing else, Musson’s ability to play in the field gives the Miners another option, Bird said.

“You’re playing so many games in a row, you always want to have people who can come in if needed,” Bird said.

Musson said it was his goal to be a two-way player this summer.

“It’s a great opportunity to come up here and get back into the game as a position player,” Musson said. “Now seeing that I can swing the bat a little bit, maybe I can jump in the game, and maybe pinch hit every now and then, maybe DH.”

Musson was recruited by UConn as a two-way player, but virtually all of his playing time came on the mound. He made 17 appearances as pitcher during his sophomore year, but had only one at-bat.

As a freshman, Musson appeared in 10 games as a pitcher and two others as a position player. His first career start came against North Florida on March 10, 2007.

“They didn’t use me much in the field, so I’m leaving UConn to pursue my career as an infielder and a pitcher,” Musson said.

Musson said he has not decided where he will play next season.

Bird said it’s possible to be a two-way player at a high level of college baseball, but an athlete needs to make a choice before hitting the professional ranks.

“In the college there’s definitely some two-way guys,” Bird said. “But in the Major Leagues it’s so specialized there.”

Although Musson feels he may go further in his baseball career as a pitcher, it’s hard for him to chose which he likes best.

“It’s kind of 50-50,” Musson said. “When I get in the game as a pitcher, I love being in control, going out there and competing. But at the same time, I love facing those pitchers and being in the field making plays.

“I think if I have a future, it’s in pitching,” Musson said. “But as long as I can hit and play the field, I’d like to do it as long as I can.”

Rain out rescheduled

for Thursday

The Mat-Su Miners were forced to cancel Sunday’s home game against the Anchorage Glacier Pilots due to poor weather.

The contest, which is also Fred Meyer Day at the Park, was postponed until Thursday at 2 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field.

In addition to the Alaska Baseball League contest, fans will also have the chance to win prizes donated by Fred Meyer. The located department store has given the Miners more than $2,000 worth of merchandise to be used as give-a-ways. The list of prizes includes iPod music players, an XBox Guitar Hero- Aerosmith game, barbecue grills, coolers and a flat screen television.

The Miners will play the Pilots today and Wednesday at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage. Both games are slated to start at 7 p.m.

Miners make roster changes

The Miners have lost catcher Wes Dorrell for the season, Mat-Su general manager Pete Christopher said on Sunday.

Dorrell was forced to leave the squad due to a family emergency, Christopher said.

Dorrell, a Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo sophomore, appeared in 18 games for the Miners, and saw action at catcher and first base.

During that time, Dorrell was among team leaders in several offensive categories, including hits (14), RBI (11) and home runs (three).

Dorrell’s biggest moments with the Miners came in a 14-5 win over the AIA Fire on July 2 and a 2-1 victory over the Peninsula Oilers on June 24.

In the win over the Fire, Dorrell finished 3-for-6 at the plate, with a home run and five RBI.

Dorrell gave the Miners the win over the Oilers with the go-ahead solo home run in the seventh inning.

To fill the void left by Dorrell, the Miners have signed University of Nevada-Reno junior Tyson Jaquez, Christopher said.

Jaquez made 35 starts for the Wolfpack, recording a .292 batting average. He also collected nine home runs, 26 RBI and 28 runs scored.

In two seasons at UNR, the Western Nevada Community College transfer, has seen time at catcher, first base and third base.

Dorrell is the fourth player the Miners have lost since the start of the 2008 Alaska Baseball League season.

Infielder John Tommasini was diagnosed with mononucleosis, outfielder Cortez Cole returned to Jackson State University to enroll in summer school classes and pitcher Thain Simon left the Miners to join the Canadian national team.

Miners among

league leaders

A pair of Miners are currently among the Alaska Baseball League statistic leaders, according to the ABL.

Catcher Wes Dorrell and Bryan Haar, of the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, both have a league-high 11 RBI. Dorrell is also third in the league with three home runs.

Pitcher Jason Erickson leads the ABL with 20 strikeouts and three wins.

Also among the league leaders are pitcher Max Peterson (tied for third with two wins), pitcher Michael Rocha (tied for second with two saves), pitcher Steven Fischback (tied for third with 16 strikeouts) and designated hitter Ty Rasmussen (tied for third with three home runs).

The Miners are third in the six-team league with a cumulative ERA of 3.00 and fifth with a .216 team batting average.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.