Mat-Su Miners: Schedule includes 24 home games

PALMER - When the Mat-Su Miners throw out the first pitch of the season on June 10, the Alaska Baseball League squad will start a stretch of 42 games in 49 days.

That's a lot of baseball. But the schedule that includes only eight days without a game once the Miners open the season, is actually not as loaded as its been in years past. The Miners are getting a little later start this year, about three or four days, compared to recent seasons. The Miners still have the same stock of ABL games, but whittled down the nonconference schedule a bit.

There are a couple reasons for that, Mat-Su general manager Pete Christopher said.

The Miners have to pay half of the air fare and the full cost of lodging for the Outside teams that come to the Valley. Early in the season, the Miners generally see the smaller crowds of the season, and it is no longer economically feasible to have a huge list of nonconference teams on the schedule. Most of the teams in the league still have large nonconference

schedules.

&#8220We're in the smallest market,” Christopher said. &#8220Those other teams have a little more money to play with.”

Christopher also opted for the later start to allow more players to arrive in the Valley before opening day. In recent years, the Miners have been short staffed as many of their players competed in the postseason with their college teams. This year the Miners have 11 players on teams that advanced to the College World Series Regionals. The Regionals are June 2-5.

Mat-Su has three non-league opponents on the 2006 schedule. The Miners open their season against the Southern California Running Birds on June 10.

The Running Birds visited Hermon Brothers Field last season, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Miners early in the season.

On June 11, Mat-Su will play its first of three games against the Lake Erie Monarchs. Hailing from Carelton, Mich., the Monarchs play in the Great Lakes League. Lake Erie's roster sports players from colleges in Michigan, Illinois and Ohio.

Mat-Su also plays Lake Erie on June 12 and June 16.

The Miners host the Beatrice (Neb.) Bruins for a two-game series, starting June 17. The Bruins, a team that has a roster with talent from Big 12 schools such as Nebraska, Texas and Texas A&M, last came to Alaska in 2003. Beatrice finished 6-4 on its 10-game trip, and beat the Miners 3-0 in their only meeting.

The Miners open ABL play, hosting the Athletes in Action Fire on June 19.

There are only two major road trips on the schedule. Mat-Su travels to the Interior for a seven-game trip, starting June 29. The Miners play AIA at Growden Park in Fairbanks from June 29-July 1, then meet the Alaska Goldpanners on July 2, July 3 and in a doubleheader on July 4.

Mat-Su travels to the Kenai Peninsula once this season, facing the Oilers in a four-game series, starting July 17.

Mat-Su, second in the ABL last season, is seeking its second league title in three

years this season.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com