Chugiak scores rare win over the Miners

CHUGIAK — The Chugiak Chinooks have not had much success at all against the Mat-Su Miners this summer. But Chugiak found a way to earn a win Saturday.

Chugiak broke a seven-game losing skid against Mat-Su with a 7-4 win over the Miners at Loretta French Field in Chugiak.

Chugiak’s win over Mat-Su was its first in Alaska Baseball League play against the Miners this season. The Chinooks are now 1-7 against the Miners in league play, and 2-9 overall.

Mat-Su held onto the top spot in the ABL National Division despite the loss. The Miners (14-9) remain a game ahead of the second-place Anchorage Glacier Pilots (14-11). Anchorage was shellacked by the Alaska Goldpanners 26-7 in Fairbanks Saturday.

Mat-Su held a 1-0 lead early Saturday, but Chugiak jumped ahead with a four-run fourth. The Chinooks added a run in each of the next three innings. The Miners tried to rally with two runs in the seventh and another in the ninth.

Paul Panaccione and Cameron Newell, the top two hitters in the Mat-Su lineup, finished with two hits each. Newell also drove in two runs. Nick Blaser and Matthew Decker finished with an RBI each. Cameron Frost legged-out his league-best seventh triple of the season.

Mat-Su starter Kyle Serrano was tagged with the loss after allowing four hits and three earned runs over four innings.

Mat-Su returns to action Monday to face the Glacier Pilots in Anchorage. After a home game against the Pilots on Tuesday, the Miners will play their next five on the road.