Infielder named team MVP

PALMER — With his team in need of a big hit in a close game with the Anchorage Bucs Saturday, Stephen Branca stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded.

And just as he’s done throughout the summer, Branca came through, drilling a ball over the left field fence. The Branca grand slam was part of a six-run sixth inning during the Miners’ 10-7 come-from-behind win over the Bucs.

That hit is just one example why Branca was named the Miners’ 2011 most valuable player.

“I’m honored,” Branca said. “I know there’s been a lot of great players to play up here. To be an MVP is really an honor.”

The Tennessee-Wesleyan incoming senior hit .299 in 40 games this summer. He led the Miners with 43 hits, nine doubles, two triples and 24 RBI. He was one of only two Miners to play, and start, in at least 40 of the team’s 41 games.

The natural shortstop made the move to third base for the summer and was an anchor on the left side of the infield for the Miners.

Branca was one of five players recognized by the team during the Miners’ annual banquet late last week. Lefties Mark Anderson and David Gibson shared honors as the co-MVPs of the pitching staff.

Infielder Ryan Ford was given the Stan Zaborac Award, an honor named for the late Miners general manager and given to the player who demonstrates outstanding leadership, professionalism, sportsmanship, clutch play and Miners spirit. Infielder Kevin Lum earned the Mike Kelly Award, an honor named for a former Miners pitcher and infielder, and that’s given to the player who displays outstanding versatility and competitiveness as a player and athlete.

Anderson and Gibson both put together solid summers on the mound for the Miners. Anderson finished the season with a team-best 5-1 record. The Brigham Young product also had a 1.58 earned run average and fanned 16 hitters in 40 innings.

Gibson led the team with 37 strikeouts, 45.1 innings pitched and 37 strikeouts. He finished 4-1 with two complete games.

Ford played in 38 games for the Miners, and made 37 starts. The middle infielder found a home at shortstop for much of the second half of the season and was also promoted to the leadoff role in the order later in the year.

Ford led the team with 21 runs scored and was among team leaders with 29 hits, 13 RBI and nine stolen bases.

Lum proved valuable at multiple positions and saw time in the infield, outfield and at designated hitter. He finished among team leaders with 30 hits, 14 runs and 13 RBI. He saw time in 37 games and made 36 starts.

Branca, Martin

to play in NBC

A pair of Mat-Su players have been added to rosters of teams competing in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

Branca has been picked up by the ABL champion Peninsula Oilers, which open World Series play Wednesday against the Northwest Honkers, a Washington-based team in the Pacific International League.

“I’m in my last year of baseball if I don’t get drafted,” said Branca, an incoming college senior said after he agreed to play with the Oilers. “I figure I might as well play as much as I can.”

Martin was picked up by the Crestwood Panthers, a team in the Northern Illinois and Chicago Suburban Baseball League. The Panthers opened play late Monday night against the Hays Larks, a team in the Kansas Jayhawk League.

Martin, a catcher for the Miners, will play first base for the Panthers.

Former Miners part

of big MLB deals

A pair of big trades before the MLB trade deadline included three former Mat-Su Miners.

Former Mat-Su catcher Matt McBride was one of four players dealt by the Cleveland Indians to Colorado in exchange for former Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez. McBride played for the Miners in 2005.

Two former Miners were involved in a three-team deal that included Toronto, St. Louis and the Chicago White Sox.

In the deal, which included outfielder Colby Rasmus going to Toronto and pitcher Edwin Jackson heading to St. Louis, former Mat-Su pitcher Jason Frasor landed in Chicago. Former Miners pitcher Marc Rzepczynski was sent to St. Louis.

Frasor pitched for the Miners in 1997 and Rzepczynski threw for Mat-Su in 2005.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.