Miners clinch home field advantage in ABL championship

PALMER — The Mat-Su Miners started their final homestand of the 2015 Alaska Baseball League regular season Friday night. And with a victory in front of a record crown, the Miners made sure there will be two more home games at Hermon Brothers Field this summer.

Kyle Simonds pitched seven strong innings and Nyles Nygaard notched a key two-run double to help lead the Miners to a 3-2 win over the Chugiak Chinooks in front of a crowd of 1,312 fans. Mat-Su improved to 30-8 overall and 27-7 in league play, and clinched home field advantage for the upcoming ABL Top of the World Series. Mat-Su, which clinched the ABL National League title and a spot in the league championship series with a victory in Fairbanks on July 21, will host the winner of the ABL American League in a best-of-3 series Aug. 3-4 in Palmer.

“We get to host the Top of the World Series, which is really exciting,” Mat-Su head coach Ben Taylor said after the win. “The guys are excited.”

Game 1 has been scheduled for Aug. 3 at 6 p.m. Game 2 is Aug. 4 at 3 p.m. A third game, if necessary, will follow Game 2. Mat-Su, back-to-back ABL runner-up during the past two seasons, is in search of its first league crown since 2010.

“It’s huge,” Nygaard said of the chance to host the championship series. “Playing in this beautiful ballpark, we’re really stoked about that. We’ve got a great team, great guys on our team. The coaching staff is unbelievable. That’s why we’re doing so well this year.”

Heading into play Saturday night, the Anchorage Bucs (17-14) held a three-game lead over the Peninsula Oilers (14-17) in the ABL AL. The Bucs hosted the Oilers Saturday night, but results were not available prior to press time.

Friday, the Miners, who also reached the 30-win mark for the first time since 2010, trailed 2-1 before Nygaard helped Mat-Su take back the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Alex Caruso singled to lead off the inning, and Brick Paskiewicz added another single to put two runners on. With two outs, the right-handed hitting Nygaard punched a ball sharply down the first base line into right field. Unsure if it was fair or foul, Nygaard motored down the baseline, and both Caruso and Paskiewicz hustled around to score.

“I saw it going down the line. I didn’t know if it was going to get out there or stay fair,” Nygaard said. “You just got to put your head down and run, and hope it’s fair.”

Nygaard’s go-ahead two-run double helped Mat-Su overcome the two runs Chugiak had scored in the top of the sixth.

“Nyles has played really well since he came back off the all-star break,” Taylor said. “He’s been solid for us all year. He’s a really good baseball player.”

Simonds enjoyed another stellar start on the mound for the Miners. The Texas A&M product scattered five hits and allowed only one earned run in seven innings. He fanned three and walked three.

“Kyle was fantastic,” Taylor said. “He made big pitches when he needed to make big pitches.”

Simonds is now a perfect 5-0 in five starts for the Miners this summer, and Mat-Su is undefeated in the seven games he’s appeared in. His earned run average now sits at 1.45.

Caleb McCann and Paskiewicz also pitched an inning of scoreless relief each. Paskiewicz notched his league-high 12th save of the summer. The Miners are 16-0 when Paskiewicz pitches.

Friday night’s official attendance, 1,312, is the most since Mat-Su Miners general manager Pete Christopher took control of the team prior to the 2003 season.

Simonds also helped the Miners win a pitchers’ duel. Chugiak starter Conner Menez allowed eight hits and three runs during eight hits of work. Heading into the game, Menez had won his last two starts against the Miners and is the only pitcher in the ABL to beat the Miners twice this summer.

“He’s one of the best pitchers in the league,” Taylor said of Menez. “It was a big challenge for them.”

Nygaard and Paskiewicz finished with two hits each for the Miners. Caruso, Tyler Wolfe, Tanner Nishioka and J.J. Hancock also had one hit each. Nishioka gave the Miners the early lead with an RBI single in the first inning.

Mat-Su played Chugiak for the final time this season Saturday night. Results were not available prior to press time. See frontiersman.com/sports. Mat-Su’s home stand continues Monday with the first of three home games against the Anchorage Glacier Pilots. The Miners host the Pilots Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. each night. Mat-Su also hosts the Anchorage Bucs Tuesday at 6.