Mat-Su’s big lefty dazzles as Miners beat Glacier Pilots

PALMER — Aaron Gilbreath was so good Friday night, he had opposing hitters spinning.

Literally.

Armed with four pitches, including a parachute changeup that seemed to drop from the sky, Mat-Su’s big lefty consistently kept Anchorage hitters off balance for a solid six innings. But in the top of the sixth, Gilbreath took one batter off his feet. As Anchorage catcher Adam Manzer struck out swinging, the momentum from chasing one of Gilbreath’s challenging changeups spun the former West Anchorage High standout 360 degrees until Manzer hit the deck.

“He used a mix. His fastball plays harder than it is, harder than the radar would show, because he’s got a changeup, that big parachute changeup that threw off a lot of guys. One guy even corkscrewed himself,” Miners pitching coach Nate Fritz said of Gilbreath after a 6-1 win over the Glacier Pilots at Hermon Brothers Field on Friday.

Gilbreath was perfect through 4 2/3 and pitched six shutout innings to help the Miners get the win.

“He came through and gave us the best outing he’s had all year,” Fritz said. “We couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Gilbreath, a Dallas Baptist junior, allowed three hits and fanned four in six innings of work. Fritz said the six innings pitched was as key of stat as any.

“We’ve used him in spots before, spot starts, but he knew before, we told him before the game, we’re going to have to extend him out and not use a lot of arms,” Fritz said. “We’re kind of down to the bottom of the barrel.”

With only three games left in the season after Friday, Fritz and the Miners were thankful of Gilbreath’s six innings and the need to use only three arms in the game. Tyler Davis and Clint Freeman also pitched in relief.

Through six, Gilbreath dominated with his four pitches.

“Four pitches, with varying speeds, it’s tough to hit,” Fritz said.

Gilbreath retired 14 straight Pilots before Matt Daugherty busted up the perfect game with a two-out single in the fifth inning. Gilbreath was able to retire the next hitter, Caleb Natov, quickly with a short chopper to the pitcher to end the inning.

Mat-Su’s offense helped the cause with 13 hits in the win. Freeman and Cullen led the Miners with three hits each. Ian Miller and Chris Taladay also had two hits.

Mat-Su took an early lead with a pair of first-inning runs. Bobby Boyd posted a leadoff single and used a pair of stolen bases to give the Miners their first advantage.

After stealing third base easily, Boyd scored on a Mat-Su double steal. Bill Cullen, who also singled, took off toward second base, drawing the throw from Manzer, Anchorage’s catcher. Cullen beat Manzer’s throw to second and Boyd raced toward home.

Both runners were safe and Mat-Su took the 1-0 advantage. Cullen later scored on a Branden Berry double.

In the fifth, Freeman singled and scored on an Anchorage passed ball to give the Miners the 3-0 lead. Cullen singled to knock in a run in the sixth, and Mat-Su iced the game with a pair of runs in the eighth.

Cullen and Freeman both had run-scoring singles in the eighth inning.

Mat-Su stole five more bases in the win. Boyd finished with two, giving him 24 for the season. Ian Miller stole his league-best 33rd base of the season.

Mat-Su closes a three-game series with the Pilots today at 2 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field. Results of Saturday’s game were not available prior to press time.

The Miners season finale, a home game against the Chugiak Chinooks, is slated for Monday at 6 p.m. The night also marks the annual MTA Appreciation Day.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com, follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports and find him by searching Valley Sports Huddle on Facebook.