Cardinal battery energizes Miners

PALMER -- The Mat-Su battery, a pair of Stanford products, energized the Miners and led the squad to a 4-0 win over AIA in the first game of a doubleheader at Hermon Brothers Field on Wednesday.

Matt Manship, a Stanford sophomore pitcher, pitched six scoreless innings to earn the win. John Hester, a Stanford sophomore catcher, delivered a pair of RBIs at the plate, and called a quick game behind the plate.

"Obviously with that connection, it is easy for me to put that combination, that battery, together," Mat-Su field manager Mike Buchmiller said. "They know each other and they worked well together in the past."

"I know what he likes to throw," Hester said. "I know how he likes to approach the hitters. We're already on the same page. It helps the speed of the game."

Manship worked fast in his first start of the summer, striking out seven and allowing just three hits. The San Antonio, Texas, native has yet to allow an earned run this summer and is averaging a strikeout per inning. Manship made five relief appearances before earning his first start. Buchmiller said Manship is expected to be in the Cardinal starting rotation next season and the Miners hope to groom the hurler this summer.

With Manship mowing through AIA hitters, Hester gave the Miners a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. AIA starter Tyler Meigs struck Josh Satin with a pitch to start the inning. With two outs, Hester drove a Meigs pitch down the left field line and Satin scored from second.

Hester gave the Miners a 2-0 lead, squeezing in Zeke Parraz in the sixth inning. With one out and Parraz on third, Hester laid down a bunt right in front of the mound and Parraz charged home to give the Miners the two-run advantage.

"It was one of those games where it seemed like we weren't going to get a big knock," Hester said. "Kind of a scrappy game."

Cris Errecart drove in Hester late in the inning and Satin added a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the seventh.