Late rally gives Miners doubleheader sweep over Bucs

July 13, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/ Frontiersman

PALMER - Mat-Su put together a Valley rally Thursday night, picking up two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning for a come-from-behind win over the Anchorage Bucs to sweep a doubleheader at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer.

The sweep enabled Mat-Su (14-4 ABL, 16-4 overall) to increase its lead in the Alaska Baseball League to a game-and-a-half over Athletes in Action.

&#8220It's pretty huge,” Miners head coach Jeff Pritchard said following the win.

Miners shortstop Derek Helenihi hit a one-out RBI single to right field off Bucs reliever Jared Gayheart for the game-winner.

Mat-Su started out the inning down 3-2, but that all changed after designated hitter Michael Ewing walked and advanced to second on a wild pickoff attempt by Gayheart. Ewing then came around to score on a line-drive to left field by first baseman Ryan Conan.

Chris Cullen pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up the victory.

Pritchard said he wasn't a bit surprised with his team's comeback, considering how well the team has played all season long.

&#8220The guys just enjoy playing as a team,” he said. &#8220It's a pretty special thing.”

The Bucs strung together four consecutive two-out hits to take the early lead in the top of the second. Gayheart - who started the game as the designated hitter - picked up a bunt single, then moved to second on a single to center by Logan Schafer. Third baseman Tom Mendonca followed that up by fisting Brown's offering just over Ben Price at third base for an RBI double, and catcher Matt Lucchesi finished things off with an RBI single to put Anchorage up 2-0.

Mat-Su center fielder Carl Uhl had a spectacular play in the top of the fourth, making a diving catch to rob Lucchesi of a base hit. Uhl then alertly relayed the ball back to the infield to double off Mendonca, who was running from first on the play.

Bucs starter Cheng-Chang Lee didn't give up a hit until the bottom of the fourth, when left fielder Joey August picked up an infield single over second base.

Anchorage added a third run on an RBI single by Sean Ratliff that just got under the glove of a diving Gunnar Terhune at second base.

Mat-Su cut the lead to 3-2 in the fifth without hitting the ball out of the infield. Right fielder Don Brown led off with a walk, then reached second on an error by Anchorage shortstop Gabe Jacobo that also allowed third baseman Ben Price to reach first safely. Terhune then laid down a rare two-strike bunt for a base hit to load the bases with none out. Uhl promptly hit into a 6-4-3 double play, but Brown scored and Terhune moved to third on the play. The Mat-Su second baseman then scored on a wild pitch to left fielder Joey August.

The game remained 3-2 until the eighth and the Miners' last-minute heroics. Following the game, Pritchard said the win demonstrated how much pride his team takes in not giving up until the final out.

&#8220It's just a testament to how gutsy these guys are,” Pritchard said.

Pritchard said he hopes the team's winning ways can continue as the Miners prepare for a crucial late-season road trip.

&#8220Hopefully we'll keep it going.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com