Late Mat-Su magic lifts the Miners past the Pilots

PALMER – Perhaps it was the best game of the year for the Mat-Su Miners.

Down 4-0 in the first inning. Down 5-4 entering the bottom of the 8th. It didn’t matter. Mat-Su triumphed 8-5.

The Miners persevered and dug deep on Monday night against the Glacier Pilots. What was once a rowdy Anchorage dugout became ever-so-silent when the night concluded.

So, how did it all play out?

First of all, Candon Dahle got the start once again for the Miners. The soon-to-be BYU Cougar has started every Monday so far this season, and this time, had his family in attendance. Father Corey, mother Shannon, and younger brother Cash flew up from Idaho to watch Candon deal. And early on, it wasn’t looking good.

Anchorage, who came in with the best batting average, on-base percentage, and runs per game in the ABL, earned back-to-back singles off of Dahle to begin the game. A few batters later, the road team got a run across home plate on a groundout.

But then came designated hitter Andrew Lamb. The .200 batter for the season slugged a three-run shot over the right field fence on a two-strike count with two outs. It was deflating for Dahle and the Mat-Su faithful.

The big righty (who’s aforementioned dad, Corey, by the way, is 6-foot-8), allowed singles to the 8th and 9th batters in the Glacier Pilots lineup to start the 2nd inning. But he settled in after that. Dahle would retire the next 11 of the next 12 Anchorage hitters spanning from the 2nd inning into the 5th inning. He finished with five innings pitched, allowing four earned runs on six hits. Dahle has gone at least five full innings in each of his four starts this season.

The Miners scored four runs in the 4th inning to tie the game at 4-4. First baseman Cooper Vest, with his family including father Scott and brother Boston also in attendance, began the frame with a line drive to center field. Catcher Steven Lancia walked and right-fielder Maddox Haley singled to load the bases with nobody out.

Two batters later, and Anchorage relief pitcher Ethan Ocegerra in the game for the starter Caden Copeland, Mat-Su DH Landon Rogers worked an RBI walk.

Then, Braydon Rogers struck again. Just five days after launching a solo home run to kickstart a rally against the Glacier Pilots, the utility player roped a three-run double down the left-field line. You could feel the momentum change in the ballpark.

Anchorage retook the lead in the next inning (the top of the 5th) on an error that would’ve been the third out.

But Miners reliever Vinny Bianchi tossed a masterclass, going three full scoreless inning, suffering just one hit to keep Mat-Su in the game.

Bianchi’s work finally cashed in during the bottom of the 8th. Center fielder Kaden Carpenter walked, Landon Rogers singled to right on an opposite-field slapshot, and Braydon Rogers got plunked by a pitch to load the bases.

Then Kaleb Hannahs tied the game on a line drive single to left field, a wild pitch brought home another run, Alex Thurston singled as well that drove in a run, and Emilio Barreras hit a sacrifice fly for another run.

Will Rizzo shut the door in the top of the 9th. The Cornhusker is now four for four in save opportunities this season.

The Miners improved to 8-7.