Mat-Su outfielder picked in MLB draft

June 10, 2007

PALMER - The Seattle Mariners selected Mat-Su Miners outfielder Donald Brown in the 31st round of the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Friday.

Brown was the only current Miner and one of four former Mat-Su players to be picked in the 50-round selection meeting.

Brown, a Pepperdine junior, is preparing for a second summer with the Valley's Alaska Baseball League squad.

In 2006, Brown was named All-ABL after posting a .292 batting average and scoring 27 runs.

During his junior season at Pepperdine, Brown hit .328 and started 54 games for the Waves.

Mat-Su Miners general manager Pete Christopher was weary of Brown's selection in the draft, fearing the talented outfielder would opt to sign with a Major League club.

Upon hearing that Brown was selected, Christopher contacted the Camarillo, Calif., native, and learned Brown would postpone signing with the Mariners, and play for the Miners this summer.

&#8220He's going to play, and negotiate later,” Christopher said.

Two members of the 2005 squad, outfielder Michael Taylor and pitcher Marc Rzepczynski were picked in the fifth round.

Philadelphia grabbed Taylor, a Stanford junior, with the 173rd pick. Toronto selected Rzepczynski, a California Riverside, two picks later.

San Francisco selected Daniel Turpen, a pitcher on the 2006 Mat-Su squad, in the eighth round.

Miners hosting

golf tournament

Would you like to see if your talents on the fairway are on par with some of the top players on the diamond?

The Mat-Su Miners are hosting their annual golf tournament on June 23.

The event starts with a barbecue at 1 p.m., and the golfing begins with a shotgun start at 4 p.m. at Palmer Golf Course.

The cost is $325 for three players. The fourth person of each team is either a Miners player or coach.

Each registration includes lunch, four drink tickets and the chance to win prizes. There are contests for the longest drive, longest putt and the closest shot to the pin.

For more information, see the Miners Web site, www.matsuminers.org, or contact Marty Metiva at 355-7934.

Meet the Miners

The Mat-Su Miners are hosting ‘Meet the Miners' celebration June 15 at 5 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field.

The event gives fans the opportunity to see the upgrades to Hermon Brothers Field and mingle with the 2007 edition of the Valley's Alaska Baseball League squad.

Opening day is slated for June 16. The Miners host Three Rivers in non-league action at 7 p.m.

- Jeremiah Bartz