Miner shortstop earns all-league honors

Sean Timmons, a 28-year-old pitcher competing against players 10 years younger than himself, was named the Alaska Baseball League player of the year.

The award, voted on by a panel of 13 members of the media who cover the Alaska Baseball League, was announced Friday. Timmons, a Fairbanks Goldpanner, compiled a 5-1 record this year, had a low 1.50 earned run average and pitched two complete game shutouts. He is a full-time Fairbanks resident who is in training to be a physician's assistant. He also happens to dominate hitters in his spare time.

The only Mat-Su Miner named to the All-Alaska Baseball League Team was shortstop Josh Mader. He led the Alaska Baseball League with four triples during the regular season. Miners who just missed out on the all-league honors include Matt Young, who was fifth in the league in hitting with a .305 average and second in the league in hits; pitcher Koley Kolberg, who was third in innings pitched, compiled a 5-3 record and posted a sparkling 2.22 earned run average; outfielder Matt Inouye, who fifth in the league in RBIs and second in doubles; and Mike Kelly, who played a variety of positions and had six saves on the mound.

The Panners dominated the voting, with five players on the team. Their manager, Ed Cheff, was named the manager of the year for the second time in a row. He led the Panners to their second league title in as many years, and he will guide the Panners in Wichita, Kan. during the National Baseball Congress World Series this week.

Miners drop a big one

The Mat-Su Miners fell 7-1 to the Anchorage Glacier Pilots Thursday afternoon. It was their first loss in the five-game Anchorage Bucs Wood Bat Invitational tournament, which wrapped up Friday.

The Miners fell into a 5-0 hole before putting a run up in the bottom of the fourth. It was a little too little, a little too late. Jeff Butts was a thorn in the Pilots' side, however. Butts had a single and a triple -- the only two hits the Miners could muster in the seven-inning game.

Finishing in style

In a theme that was perhaps the very definition of Miner baseball in 2003, the Mat-Su Miners followed their tournament loss to the Glacier Pilots by bouncing back to defeat the Anchorage Bucs 2-1 and claim the Wood Bat Invitational title.

"This team was special," said Miner general manager Pete Christopher. "They never give up. There were times when we lost 7 or 8 on road, but they always bounced back."

While the Miners will miss post-season play, the win elevated the team's overall record to 24-23, and Christopher was proud of the fact that they finished strong and ended the season over .500.

Three Miners claimed team honors after the game. Pitcher, Mike Kelly, who got the win in the final game, is Miner's Player of the Year. Outfielder Matt Young was Most Valuable Position Player and Koley Kolberg was Most Valuable Pitcher