Miners blank AIA

PALMER -- Thanks to another stellar performance from hurler Koley Kolberg and a few web gems from defensive wizard Mike Kelly, a Jase Turner long ball is all the offense the Mat-Su Miners would need on Wednesday.

Kolberg pitched a four-hit complete game shutout and Turner hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first to lead the Mat-Su Miners past the Athletes In Action 2-0 at Hermon Brothers Field.

Kolberg, a 6-foot, 1-inch right hander who will pitch for the University of Arizona next season, has been nearly untouchable at Hermon Brothers Field in his last three starts.

Wednesday's victory was Kolberg's third straight win at the friendly confines and his second straight complete game shutout at home.

Kolberg has allowed just one earned run in his last three starts at home.

The Coppell, Texas native now has a team-high five wins and 31 strikeouts and lowered his earned run average to 2.22.

"This is a great place to pitch," Kolberg said. "(Today) my fastballs were moving. The hitters couldn't get good wood."

Kolberg was able to keep control of this situation for most of the contest, with help from his moving fastball. When Kolberg did allow a runner on base, the Miners were able to bail Kolberg out in dazzling fashion.

Kelly, who has wowed fans and frustrated opponents all season with his defensive heroics, made a pair of game-saving double plays.

In the eighth inning with AIA runners at the corners, Michael Cline struck a sharply hit ground ball in Kelly's direction. Kelly fielded the ball from his second base position, slid his foot over the bag and threw a strike to Turner at first base to complete the double play and end the inning.

With only one-out in the inning, failure to complete the double play would have cut the score to 2-1 and brought possibly the game-winning run to the plate.

"That was a great play," Kolberg said. "It think it is the best play I have seen in person."

Kelly completed a similar play in the second inning. With one out in the top of the first and a runner on first, Israel Victor sent a ground ball right near the bag at second and Kelly was able to tag the runner and throw victory out at first.

"We had clutch defense in the right spots," Mat-Su manager Kevin Edwards said. "It's nice to have Kelly back. He's like a coach out there. Guys like playing around him."

Kelly missed about a week of the season with a pulled muscle in his arm.

The versatile infielder has been one of the top defensive players in the Alaska Baseball League.

Kelly has 63 assists and just three errors this season, while seeing time at every position in the infield and pitcher. His .982 fielding percentage is a team best.

Turner put the Miners ahead 1-0 in the first inning with a 340-foot shot to right center field. With the wind whistling through Hermon Brothers Field, the left-handed slugger sent a bullet over the right field wall.

"It was a 2-0 count and I was looking for a fastball," Turner said. "I got a good swing."

Jed Lowrie added an insurance run for the Miners in the eighth inning. Lowrie scored from second on a Joey Hooft single to give the Miners a 2-0 lead.

Miners 2, Bucs 1

The Miners scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth to erase a 1-0 deficit and defeat the Anchorage Bucs 2-1 at Hermon Brothers Field on Tuesday.

The win snapped an eight-game Mat-Su losing streak.

Matthew Inouye notched an RBI double, driving in Jeff Butts to tie the score at 1-1.

Anthony Isabella followed with a walk-off sacrifice fly.

Joey Hooft crossed the plate and gave the Miners the 2-1 win.

Mike Kelly pitched two scoreless innings to pick up the win for Mat-Su.

It was Kelly's first win of the season.