Fairbanks has not been kind to Mat-Su

FAIRBANKS - For the Mat-Su Miners, Fairbanks has not been the most enjoyable place to visit in recent memory.

For most of this decade, the trip north normally coincided with a significant losing streak. The Miners have struggled in the Interior, especially when facing their Alaska Baseball League nemesis, the Alaska Goldpanners.

But all of that may be over.

The Miners may have that Fairbanks monkey off their backs.

For the first time in the 21st century, the Miners took three games of the annual four-game series at Growden Park in Fairbanks.

Mat-Su swept a doubleheader on Monday, winning 4-1 and 7-6. In another doubleheader the following day, the Miners scored a 6-1 win in the first game, before surrendering a 12-4 decision in the series finale.

Each year when the ABL schedule is released, one of the first things Mat-Su general manager Pete Christopher looks at is the trip to Fairbanks.

&#8220I look to see if it's at the beginning of the year, or the end,” Christopher said. &#8220This year it worked out perfect.”

With three wins over Alaska and two more victories up north against Athletes in Action, the Miners moved into a tie at the top of the ABL standings.

&#8220It's huge,” Christopher said. &#8220(The Goldpanners) are always the team to beat anyway - every year. To take three out of four from them is tremendous. To take five of seven [on the trip] is even better.”

Mat-Su (14-7 overall, 9-6 in ABL play) accomplished the feat as it heads into an 11-game homestead.

Prior to this season, Mat-Su had scored more than one win against the Goldpanners in Fairbanks just once in the past five seasons. In 2001, Alaska and Mat-Su split a four-game series.

Alaska's 16-1 win over the Miners in the final game of the 2001 season was the start of the Goldpanners' 11-game winning streak against Mat-Su in Fairbanks. Last year, a 4-0 win over the Panners was the Miners first win against Alaska in Fairbanks in three years.

The Miners have had much more success against AIA in the Interior. Mat-Su is 9-6 against AIA in Fairbanks since 2001. Until last week the Miners had won six straight against the Fire.

The trek north is one of only two road trips the Miners make each year. Mat-Su will also travel south once this year, making a four-day trip to the Kenai Peninsula to play the Oilers.

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