Leadoff hitter uses career night to lead Miners past Chinooks

PALMER — Through his first 12 games with the Mat-Su Miners, Coby Boulware was still waiting for his first RBI of the season. But on Wednesday night, Boulwaree enjoyed a career night in the Alaska Baseball League.

The University of Arkansas freshman drove in five runs to lead the Miners to an 11-6 win over the Chugiak Chinooks at Lee Jordan Field in Chugiak. While Boulware, who had recently been promoted to the leadoff spot, may not have been driving in runs, he has been scoring runs. Boulware scored twice on Wednesday. With only 13 games, the late addition to the roster is tied for fourth on the team with 14 runs scored. Nine of those runs scored have come against the Chinooks.

Boulware was also 3 for 5 at the plate, with three extra-base hits. He doubled twice and triple in the win. With the bases loaded in the fourth, Boulware notched a bases clearing triple to give Mat-Su a 5-0 lead. He scored late in the inning to push his team’s advantage to 6-0. Boulware added a run-scoring double in the sixth, and notched his fifth RBI of the game in the ninth.,

Erik Webb also finished with two RBI in the win, and was one of five Miners to drive in at least one run. Boulware, Tanner Carlson, Justin Kirby and Sam Thompson scored two runs each.

The Miners improved to 20-12 with the win.

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