Former Colony standout makes first appearance with Miners

PALMER — Sometimes even in a tough loss it’s easy to find something positive.

During Mat-Su’s 9-5 loss to Chugiak Wednesday at Hermon Brothers Field, the bright spot for the Miners was the debut of former Colony High School standout Jonathon Boyer.

Boyer, a 2013 graduate of Colony High, pitched 2 2/3 scoreless in his first career appearance in the Alaska Baseball League. Boyer entered the top of the sixth inning with one out and two runners one base. With his first career ABL pitch, the 6-foot-6 right-hander forced Chugiak’s Steven Pollex to hit into an inning-ending double play.

“Boyer was awesome, absolutely fantastic,” Miners head coach Ben Taylor said after the game. “We needed outs. We needed a bridge to the ninth inning. We threw him into the fire, and he was outstanding.”

Boyer fanned one, walked one and allowed two hits in nearly three innings of work. In the seventh, Boyer faced only four hitters. He allowed a double to Nicholas Covello, a hit helped by the wind blowing toward the left field wall. In the eighth, Boyer notched a strikeout and forced two outs with ground balls.

“I thought he threw the ball exceptionally well. He pounded the strike zone, threw nothing but strikes. He went after hitters and threw nothing but strikes,” Taylor said.

It was the first time Taylor and Miners pitching coach Brad Baker had the chance to see Boyer pitch in a game setting.

“Boyer does that, he becomes a viable option. And that’s a great thing. That just makes us better,” Taylor said.

It’s also Boyer’s first appearance on a mound in quite some time. Boyer recently capped his freshman year at Kansas City Community College. He spent most of the season battling a lingering injury. Boyer made one appearance, allowing a hit in one inning against William Jewell College.

Boyer said he was excited to be back on the mound.

“It feels pretty good,” Boyer said after the game. “I went in a rough situation, got out of it, and had some fun with it.”

Boyer, playing on a team made up mostly by Division I athletes, said he had no idea when he would make his season debut.

“I was kind of hoping to get in there, whenever they needed me,” Boyer said.

Boyer said there were nerves, but using his first pitch to force the double play certainly helped.

“It got the jitters out of the way,” Boyer said.

Boyer was eligible to return to play another season with the Alaska Road Warriors American Legion program, but said accepting the Miners’ offer to join the team was an easy decision.

“It’s pretty awesome. I’m learning a lot from the guys. They’re giving me pointers, telling me stories, it’s fun,” Boyer said. “I’m looking at getting every bit of advice I can get.”

Boyer was one of two Valley products to see time on the mound Wednesday. Grissom, a Wasilla High School graduate, also pitched in the sixth inning. Grissom is in his second season with the Miners. Last year, Grissom started the season as the bullpen catcher, but went on to make three appearances with the team. Grissom also played his sophomore season of college at Blue Mountain Community College, where Baker is the head coach.

Taylor said another positive Wednesday was the play of Miners infielder Terrence Connolly. The UNC-Willmington product finished 2 for 4 at the plate, scored a run and drove in another.

“Connelly was out early getting some extra hitting done, and he got some things to show for it tonight,” Taylor said.

Paul Panaccione doubled for the Miners. Mitchell Nau and Hunter Simmons each drove in a run. Five different Miners scored runs.

Chugiak, which rebounded to beat Mat-Su after consecutive losses to the Miners, jumped on Mat-Su early, with three runs in the first inning.

Despite the loss, Mat-Su won the season opening series, the Alaska Airlines Preseason Series.

Mat-Su begins league play Friday against the Anchorage Glacier Pilots at 7 p.m. at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.