Alaska Baseball League makes changes at annual meetin

Sept. 22, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

ANCHORAGE - Pete Christopher walked away from the Alaska Baseball League's annual meet pretty happy.

Two items the Mat-Su Miners general manager has felt very strongly about - the need for bigger rosters and more scouts at ABL games - were both addressed at the meeting. The ABL approved a move to increase the limit on out-of-state players from 22 to 24, and the league is creating a showcase event primarily to lure MLB scouts to the 49th state.

In each of the last few seasons, Christopher has found himself scrambling for players late in the summer. The ABL allows teams to carry Alaska players on rosters, in addition to the maximum. But that hasn't helped Christopher.

&#8220I don't have many local players I can rely on,” Christopher said. &#8220Guys break down during the season, and finding replacement players in July is tough.”

Just by adding an extra arm or additional infielder could make a big difference, Christopher said.

For the last two years, the ABL had tried to create a postseason tournament, partly to get professional baseball scouts to Alaska. For one reason or another, those attempts have failed. Rather than hosting a tourney, the ABL has opted to cram as much baseball action as possible into a five-day span. On each one of those dates, two games will be scheduled at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage, with a third at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer.

&#8220We need to get the scouts back,” Christopher said.

The games will be counted in the league standings. The dates have not been determined yet. Christopher said the league must be sure there are no other major conflicts, such as the College World Series or any of the high school showcase events that also attract scouts.

The league has also decided not to cooperatively finance the travel costs of sending one team to the National Baseball Congress in Wichita, Kan. For the last two years each ABL organization has chipped in $5,000 toward the total travel costs for the league champion. Now, ABL teams are solely responsible for their own costs.

For the first time in the history of the league, the ABL will be represented at the American Baseball Coaches' Association national convention in January. Christopher said the league can no longer rest on its laurels.

&#8220There's 40 collegiate summer leagues now. We have to compete for players,” Christopher said.

In other league news, Christopher has been placed in charge of marketing for the league.

&#8220It's exciting because I'm going to promote the hell out of the league,” Christopher said.

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