Miners blank Bucs in opening game of ABL championship series

PALMER — As Mat-Su opened the Alaska Baseball League Top of the World Series, the Miners coaches knew they needed their starter, Asa Lacey, to go a certain distance.

And Lacy delivered.

The Texas A&M lefthander worked through seven innings and combined with two relievers to throw a five-hit shutout during a 1-0 win over the Anchorage Bucs Saturday at Hermon Brothers Field in the first game of the best-of-3 league championship series.

“We said this guy’s got to go seven, come hell or high water,” Miners head coach Ben Taylor said after the win. “Whatever the result so we can save some guys from the bullpen for the next day so we don’t have to extend anybody, and he answered the call.”

Lacy not only chewed through seven innings, but didn’t allow a run despite allowing nine Bucs baserunners.

“Lacy was fantastic,” Taylor said. “He pitched himself out of trouble.”

Lacy also came up with a key defensive play early in the game.

With runners on first and third, and no outs, Lacy grabbed a short hop off the bat of Anchorage’s Brennan Breaux. As Anchorage’s Troy Claunch raced from third toward home, Lacy was able to cut Claunch off before the plate. Lacy chased down Claunch as he tried to retreat to third.

“That was huge. Really big for us,” Taylor said. “I think he gained some confidence through that.”

It was a start of a run of big defensive plays for the Miners. With Willy Escala at the plate, Anchorage called the double-steal. Miners catcher Austin Pinorini gunned down Breaux at second, for the second out.

“We threw out the back runner on a double-steal, which was pre-scripted,” Taylor said. “It really paid off for us.”

Lacy forced Escala to fly out to end the inning.

Lacy also had runners on first and third in the third, and worked his way out. The Miners had an inning-ending double play to end the fourth.

“Double plays, a pitcher’s paradise,” Lacy said.

In the sixth, Lacy allowed the first two hitters o reach, but retired the next three. Miners infielder Tyler Bosseti snagged a line drive to end the inning. Lacy capped his night in the seventh with his ninth strikeout of the game.

Malachi Emmond and Bryce Tassin each pitched a perfect inning. Tassin recorded his third save of the postseason.

Spencer Henson provided the lone run of the game, blasting a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth.

“He’s our guy,” Taylor said of Henson, who led the league with seven home runs and 33 RBI during the regular season.

With the victory, the Miners are now just a win away from their third straight ABL title. Mat-Su hosts Anchorage again Sunday at 4 p.m. at Hermon Brothers. A third game, if necessary, would be Monday a 6 p.m. in Palmer.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.