Frontiersman official newspaper of Mat-Su Miners

May 8, 2005

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

The Mat-Su Miners now have an official newspaper and an official beer.

Mat-Su general manager Pete Christopher announced a series of sponsorship deals at his team's annual Grand Slam Raffle at the Raven Hall on the Alaska State Fairgrounds Saturday night.

In the first announcement, the Frontiersman is now recognized as the official newspaper of the Mat-Su Miners.

"The Frontiersman has always given the Miners great coverage - great articles about the players, great articles about the season," Christopher said.

"It's a great partnership - a natural partnership," Frontiersman publisher Kari Sleight said. "We are the Valley's newspaper, and the Miners are the Valley's team."

The Miners have also formed a cooperation with Great Bear Brewing Company to bring the local brew to the ballpark. Starting this season, Buzzy's Beer Shack will feature four Great Bear beers on tap, including a special Mat-Su MIner brew, which should resemble a traditional ballpark lager.

Christopher said he was able to cultivate a relationship with Great Bear Brewing Company and owner Ron Sponholz, and the two began discussing the idea of bringing Great Bear and the Miners together.

"It's something different for the fans," Christopher said.

The organization announced Grand View Inn and Suites will house the Miner coaching staff during the summers, as part of a sponsorship deal. Grand View also announced, its Trophy Room Bar and Grill will extend its hours on the nights of Miner home games and offer a special menu to the Miners and their fans.

"For the players, it's another option," Christopher said. "Normally they don't leave the ballpark until almost 11 p.m. and there are not many places open."

The Miners also announced Coca-Cola is the official soft drink of Hermon Brothers Field and Cellular One made a donation that will fund the purchase of a new batting cage and portable pitching machine.

In other Miner news, Mat-Su's home game on Father's Day, will feature a pair of special guests. Greg Harris, the director of development for the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, and Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame second baseman Bobby Doerr will visit Hermon Brothers.