Miners earn Alaska Baseball League major awards

PALMER — It may not have been a matter of whether a Mat-Su Miner would be named Alaska Baseball League Player of the Year. It was more like which Miners player would earn the league’s top honor.

Miners outfielder Christin Stewart and shortstop A.J. Simcox spent the 2013 season as the undisputed top hitters in the ABL. Both were legitimate ABL Player of the Year candidates, and both have snagged one of the league’s top postseason awards. Stewart was named the ABL Player of the Year, and Simcox earned the league’s Silver Slugger award.

“They’re special players,” Miners head coach Ben Taylor said. “Both have a chance to play pro baseball for a very long time. It wouldn’t shock me if they become ABL alums to play in the Major Leagues.”

Stewart and Simcox, a pair of University of Tennessee freshmen, combined to lead the league in seven batting categories. The duo also swept the top two spots in the league in five of those categories.

“It was nice to see them both receive one of the major awards,” Taylor said. “Either of them could have been co-Silver Slugger or co-league MVP. What they did for our team was massive. It was nice to see them get recognized for it.”

Simcox ran away with the league’s batting title, hitting .356 in a league-high 135 at-bats. Simcox finished 20 points ahead of Stewart (.336) and nearly 40 points ahead of Peninsula Oilers outfielder Andre Mercurio, who finished third in the ABL with a .319 average.

Simcox also led the league with 27 runs and 48 hits, and was second in the ABL with 20 RBI.

“A.J. told me before we got up here, his goal was to hit .350, win a batting title and be the best player in the ABL,” Taylor said. “He hit .356 and won a batting title. You’d be hard-pressed to find another player in the ABL who’s a better ball player.”

Those were lofty goals, but Simcox didn’t come to Alaska as your average ball player. The Knoxville, Tenn., native started 48 games as a freshman with the Vols. The son of longtime Vols assistant coach Larry Simcox, A.J. Simcox entered the UT program as one of the top high school players in the country. He was named a second-team high school All-American by Baseball America in 2012, and was the two-time District 4-AAA MVP in Tennessee.

Taylor’s lone dispute with the 2013 All-ABL voting came in the league’s pick for the 2013 ABL Top Pro Prospect, an honor given annually to the ABL player with the brightest future in pro baseball.

The award was given to Alaska Goldpanners shortstop David Fletcher, a recent high school graduate who will start his baseball career at Loyola Marymount in the fall. Fletcher led ABL infielders with 132 assists and stole a league-high 20 bases, but hit only .246.

Taylor said the award should have easily gone to Simcox.

“I’ve scouted for three (Major League Baseball) organizations since 2003, and for my money, A.J. is far and away the league’s top prospect,” Taylor said.

Stewart, the ABL POY, was the league’s top run producer in 2013. The outfielder led the ABL in home runs (five), doubles (14) and RBI (31). He was second in the league in batting average (.336), runs (26), hits (42) and triples (two).

“He did everything you want your 3-hole hitter to do,” Taylor said of Stewart. “He was the most feared hitter in the ABL with guys in scoring position.”

Stewart was another touted high school player when he chose to attend UT. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native tied the Georgia state record for most home runs hit during a career. His 69 career dingers were also only six short of the national record of 75.

Simcox (shortstop) and Stewart (outfield) were also among five players named All-ABL for the Miners, who finished second in the regular-season league standings. Third baseman Spencer Mahoney, designated hitter Gio Brusa and relief pitcher Drew Smith were also named to the first team.

Mahoney, a lifelong shortstop, made the move to third base for the summers. While making the transition, Mahoney also managed to finish sixth in the ABL with a .302 average. He also collected 32 hits and scored 16 runs, while batting in the team’s leadoff spot.

“He’s been a shortstop all his life. For him to move over to a new position and play well and hit like he did, while learning a new position, is not an easy thing to do,” Taylor said.

Brusa, who won the ABL Home Run Derby last month, was another run-producer for the Miners. He drove in 19 runs and scored 16, while finishing the season with 34 hits.

Mahoney, Simcox, Stewart and Brusa spent the bulk of the season hitting in the top four spots of the batting order.

“To have the first four hitters in our lineup on the all-league team says a lot about our team,” Taylor said.

Smith was among Mat-Su’s top relievers in 2013, making 14 appearances. He finished third in the league with five saves.

Catcher Michael Thomas, starting pitchers Trevor Bettencourt and Phillip Orr, and relief pitcher Beau Hilton represented the Miners on the second team.

Taylor said he was thrilled to see a number of Miners make the list.

“It’s a fantastic way to recognized some fantastic kids, and ball players,” Taylor said. “I’m very proud of their efforts, very happy.”

All-Alaska Baseball League

Player of the Year: Christin Stewart, Miners.

Pitcher of the Year: Garrett Mundell, Bucs.

Coach of the Year: Bryan Harris, Panners.

Silver Slugger: A.J. Simcox, Miners.

Gold Glove: David Fletcher, Panners.

Top Pro Prospect: David Fletcher, Panners.

First team:

First base — Alex Rubanowitz, Panners; Second base: Jake Alvarez, Oilers; Shorstop — A.J. Simcox, Miners; Third base — Spencer Mahoney, Miners; Catcher — Mike Wieland, Oilers; Outfield; Christin Stewart , Miners; Andy Crowley, Bucs; Andre Mercurio, Oilers; Collin Radack, Chinooks; Utility — Kevin Garcia, Pilots; Designated hitter — Gio Brusa, Miners; Starting pitcher — Garrett Mundell, Bucs; Sean Buckle, Pilots; Michael Robards, Pilots; Logan McAnallen, Oilers; GJ Strauss, Oilers; Nathan Bannister, Panners; Relief pitchers — Brendan McCurry, Pilots; Travis Barnes, Oilers; Michael Coates, Oilers; Drew Smith, Miners; Cody Moffett, Panners; Kevin Sprague, Panners.

Second team:

First base — Collin Ferguson, Bucs; Kewby Meyer, Pilots; Second base — David Edwards, Panners; Shortstop — David Fletcher, Panners; Third base — David Edwards, Panners; Catcher — Michael Thomas, Miners; Daniel Salters, Chinooks; Outfield — Brody Russell, Pilots; A.J. Ramirez, Oilers; Utility — Ryan Leonards, Bucs; Designated hitter — Michael Strentz, Bucs; Casey Munoz, Panners; Starting pitcher — Andrew Sopko, Bucs; Kyle Porter, Pilots; Trevor Bettencourt, Miners; Phillip Orr, Miners; Mikey Ramirez, Panners; Mike Jeffreys, Chinooks; Relief pitcher — Anthony Gonsolin, Bucs; Trevor Renfro, Bucs; David Herd, Bucs; Sean Adler, Pilots; Brody Greer, Oilers; Beau Hilton, Miners; Matt Mike, Panners; Devin Stanton, Chinooks.