Deep in the ABL pennant race

PALMER -- With every win the Mat-Su Miners move one step closer to a berth in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan. With a loss, the Miners can scratch Wichita off their travel itinerary.

Mat-Su kept its hope of a World Series berth alive with a 6-2 win over the Anchorage Glaicer Pilots at Hermon Brothers Field, Wednesday. The win, combined with an Anchorage Buc win over AIA and an Alaska Goldpanner win over the Peninsula Oilers, created a log jam at the top of the Alaska Baseball League standings. As of Thursday, four teams were separated by just one game, with the Miners standing in a tie for second place. If Mat-Su continues its winning ways, Saturday's contest between the Miners and the Alaska Goldpanners at Hermon Brothers Field could determine the ABL champion and who goes to Wichita.

Brett Bigler and John Hester each drove in a pair of runs as the Miners took an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Bigler, who brings new meaning to the term "hitting to the opposite field" flared a bloop to short left field, right over the head of Pilot shortstop Ritchie Price. Billy Munich and Clayton Carson each scored on the play.

"That's Brett's game," Miner head coach Mike Buchmiller said. "Brett likes to hit the ball the other way and run like heck."

Bigler, a left-handed hitter who rarely pulls the ball, also had a bloop single into left field that set up a run in the fifth inning.

Hester followed Bigler's two-run single, with a two-run single to right field. Zeke Parraz scored to give the Miners a 3-0 lead and Bigler crossed home plate as Hester was caught trying to stretch a single into a double.

Opportune base running helped set up the Mat-Su scoring binge. Mat-Su third baseman Chris Mason slid hard into second base to break up a double play and keep the inning alive. Mason's play left two runners on base for Mat-Su and a Parraz walk set up the opportunity for Bigler to drive in a pair of runs.

"(Chris) did a great job of getting down there and putting some pressure on the guy and make a tough pivot for him -- it worked," Buchmiller said. "Anytime you can extend innings and keep yourself out of the double play, you give yourself an opportunity to succeed."

Kevin Tomasiewicz allowed just five hits and one earned run in eight innings of work to earn his fourth win of the season. The lefty took a shutout into the ninth inning, but Jason McGinnis, a Service High School product, spoiled the shutout bid with a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning.

"We had good pitching by Kevin, unfortunately he made one mistake," Buchmiller said.

Tomasiewicz struck out five hitters, walked four and did not allow more than one base runner until the sixth inning.

In terms of wins and losses, Tomasiewicz has been a hard luck story for the Miners this season. He has just a 4-4 record, but a 2.63 ERA in 51 innings pitched. Tomasiewicz is one of just two Miner pitchers to log more than 50 innings pitched this season.

"Kevin competes and give us an opportunity to win every night," Buchmiller said. "A ball here, a ball there -- his record could be totally different."

Random Hits … Wednesday was military appreciation day at Hermon Brothers Field. A drawing was held, awarding one fan with a United States flag that was flown above the capitol of Alaska … Sears also donated numerous items to be given away during the game … A berth to the NBC World Series could come down to Saturday's contest with the Alaska Goldpanners at Hermon Brothers Field. It is the ABL season finale and both teams are still in the hunt for a berth. Chris Malone, who threw a no-hitter and struck out 18 in his last start against the Goldpanners, could start on the hill for the Miners Saturday … The Miners also have a make-up game with AIA tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field. The game was rescheduled earlier this month due to the Fairbanks area

wildfires.