A balanced effort propels the Miners to a 7-1 victory over the Chinooks

PALMER - The momentum of Saturday afternoon’s game at Hermon Brothers Field flipped in the 5th inning.

Down 1-0 with two runners in scoring position and one out and Mat-Su starter Drew Christo just recently pulled from the contest, Chugiak first baseman Ty Beck rocketed a line drive down the first base line. But Miners’ first baseman Cooper Vest was there to snag the line drive. Chinook's designated hitter Blake Wilhoite, baserunning at third base, took off for home on contact and was thrown out by Vest for a double play.

What could have been a two-run double was instead a double play that ended the inning.

“Absolutely [it would have been a completely different game if that was a hit,”] said Head Coach Ty LeBrun.

“We told our guys, ‘hey, use that [play],” LeBrun said.

Mat-Su third baseman Kaleb Hannahs led off the bottom half of the 5th frame with a bloop double to shallow left-center. Then lead-off man Nolan Tucker laid down a bunt on the third base line that was good enough for a single that also advanced Hannahs to third.

Two batters later, center fielder Alex Vergara sent a moonshot down the left field line but it tailed foul into the trees beyond the fence. On the very next pitch, he sent a whistler over the head of a shallow-playing Michael Kelly in center field. Vergara reached third base and two runners scored to make it 2-1 Miners.

“He absolutely tattooed that ball,” LeBrun said.

Mat-Su scored its other five runs all in the 7th inning. Vest began the frame with a single. Then Vergara roped a double down the left-field line which scored a hustling Vest.

The next batter was catcher Steven Lancia. He hit a somewhat shallow fly ball to right-center. The outfielders ran into each other when the catch was made which allowed Vergara to score easily.

Then left fielder Maddox Haley got aboard on a dropped third strike, the first time that that’s happened for the Miners this season. With him on base, right fielder Kaden Carpenter hit a sharp line drive to right that was misjudged by the outfielder Brayden Broome. Haley was halfway done the line to home when he put on the brakes and dove back safely to third.

Two batters later, shortstop Emilio Barreras went right back up the middle which scored both Haley and Carpenter. After a wild pitch, the Grand Canyon product was at second base, and soon later he scored on an RBI single from Hannahs.

Starter Drew Christo went just over four innings, allowing four hits and one earned run. He also struck out five batters but did hit two and walked five. Christo did a good job getting out of jams - the Chinooks stranded 10 runners through the first five innings.

Ethan Lyke was awesome in relief. The southpaw out of Murray State went five innings, allowing just two baserunners (1 hit and 1 walk). Lyke’s command was on full display. Only three batters came to the plate in each of the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th innings against him. Lyke’s ERA dropped below 2.40 with the outing. That’s the 2nd best mark on the team among pitchers with at least four appearances (Vinny Bianchi is 1st).