Miners begin pivotal ABL series

With just two weeks left in the Alaska Baseball League regular season, pressure is building as league teams compete for one of two berths to the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

The Miners, who stand a game and a half out of first place, as of Monday morning, are one of four teams that look to still be in contention for one of the invitations to Wichita. While the Miners are certainly in the running, the Mat-Su club could be facing the toughest road to a berth to Wichita. Seven of the Miners' final 10 games are against teams ahead of Mat-Su in the standings. Peninsula and the Alaska Goldpanners are currently tied for first place. The Oilers host Mat-Su in a three-game set starting today, and Mat-Su will host Alaska in a three-game set next weekend and in the final game of the season, July 31. The Miners' World Series hopes may not be decided by the outcome of their series in Kenai, but Mat-Su knows wins against a team it has struggled against thus far are pivotal. The Oilers took three of four games from Mat-Su at Hermon Brothers Field earlier this season.

"They really shoved it up our butts pretty good," Mat-Su pitcher Chris Mason said.

The Oilers used their steady, but not spectacular style to win two of three games last week in Palmer.

"The main thing about them is they just play catch," Mason said. "They don't make errors. They catch the ball and throw you out."

The Miners take on the Oilers in Kenai, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, each night at 6 p.m. Live Internet broadcasts are available at www.oilerbaseball.com.

"These games against Kenai pretty much make or break our season," Mat-Su infielder Josh Satin said. "If we go down there and hit well, field well and feel comfortable, there is no reason why we shouldn't go down there and win at least two games."