K-State hurler returns

PALMER — The Mat-Su Miners have added a pair of players, one who are familiar to Miners fans.

Matt Applegate, who pitched for the Miners last summer, has returned for his second tour of duty with the club.

“He has good stuff and he competes,” Mat-Su head coach Brian Yocke said. “You can throw him out there in a game-winning situation and he doesn’t get nervous. He’s been here before.”

The Kansas State junior made seven starts for the Miners last summer, finishing 4-2 with a 2.86 earned run average. He was second on the team with 44 innings pitched and fanned 19 hitters.

Applegate was a top starter at Kansas State as a junior. He made a team-high 16 starts, finishing 5-5 with a 4.63 ERA. He was second on the team with 89.1 innings pitched. Applegate fanned 77 hitters, while walking only 27.

The Miners have also added Carson-Newman catcher Mason Guymon. The Oak Ridge, Tenn., native made 55 starts as an underclassman and another 32 as a freshman. Guymon came recommended by a former coach of Mat-Su pitching coach Chris Gordon.

“He’s a good, defensive catcher,” Yocke said. “He’s got a nice, low target; pitchers love him. He plays the game the right way.”

Applegate helps fill the void left by pitchers AJ Holland and Ryan Kemp, who recently signed professional baseball contracts. Both were drafted earlier this month. Holland, selected in the 16th round by Atlanta, signed with the Braves organization. Kemp, picked in the 14th round by Cincinnati, also signed.

Both recently completed their junior seasons at St. Joseph’s.

Guymon is here to fill the roster spot left by San Diego State catcher Denny Vigo, who is now playing with the Alaska Goldpanners in Fairbanks.

Vigo was the third catcher on the depth chart and wasn’t getting much playing time. Yocke said the incoming sophomore needed to find a team that could provide more time in the field.

“He needed some playing time,” Yocke said. “He’s an unbelievable kid. We just didn’t want a kid like that to rot on the bench.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.