Miners earn major ABL honors

PALMER — When asked about the Mat-Su Miners roster prior to the start of the 2015 Alaska Baseball League season, Mat-Su head coach Ben Taylor immediately noted how vital utility players would be to the success of the Miners during the summer season.

“With a smaller roster, you’ve got to look at things differently. A two-way guy becomes very important for a small roster like this,” Taylor said in early June. “Guys who play multiple defensive positions become very important.”

Taylor might as well have been gazing into a crystal baseball. Mat-Su’s third-year skipper was exactly right.

The Miners dominated the regular season, finishing 34-11, and clinched the ABL National League and a spot in the ABL Top of the World Series for the second straight year. Part of that overall success is due to the work of Mat-Su’s utility and two-way players, and a few of those athletes have been recognized by the league.

Miners outfielder and closer Brick Paskiewicz was named ABL Player of the Year and ABL Top Prospect, and Mat-Su utility player Tanner Nishioka earned Silver Slugger honors according to information provided by league officials Sunday night.

Paskiewicz — the third straight Mat-Su Miner to win ABL Player of the Year honors, joining former outfielders Cameron Newell last season and Christin Stewart in 2013 — was the top player in the league at two different positions. The first-team All-ABL right fielder finished second in the league in batting, with a .341 average, and committed only one error in 34 games.

On the mound, Paskiewicz, a first-team relief pitcher, led the league with 14 saves. The Grand Canyon University commit had more saves than any other team in the ABL. He also boasted a 0.85 earned run average, and Mat-Su was 17-0 when he pitched.

“I knew he’d be big, but didn’t know he’d become what he’s become,” Taylor said of Paskiewicz earlier this season. “I’ve never had a two-way guy like this. Usually something gives on either side. But that’s not the case here.”

Like Paskiewicz, Nishioka also excelled while serving several roles for the Miners. The Division III product from Pomona-Pitzer College in California was a first-team All-ABL selection at first base, but also made appearances at third base and shortstop, in the outfield and at designated hitter. He did all of that while establishing himself as one of the top hitters in the league. Nishioka finished tied for the team lead with a .364 batting average, and was three plate appearances from sharing a piece of the ABL batting title. Fellow Miner Alex Caruso, another All-ABL selection, won the batting crown with the .364 average. But unlike Caruso, Nishioka did not have enough plate appearances to qualify. League rules state players must average at least 2.7 plate appearances per game on their team’s schedule. With a 45-game schedule, Mat-Su players need at least 121 plate appearances to qualify for league leaders. Nishioka finished with 118 plate appearances.

Paskiewicz and Nishioka both earned two spots on the All-ABL first team. Paskiewicz was named at both right field and relief pitcher, while Nishioka garnered the honor at first base and utility player.

The duo stood among six Miners on the first team. Caruso earned honors in the outfield, Matt Diorio garnered first-team honors at designated hitter, and Gonzaga products Eli Morgan and Calvin LeBrun were both named first-team starting pitchers.

Diorio was also in the chase for the ABL batting crown, and finished fourth in the league with a .341 average.

Morgan and LeBrun were among the top pitchers in the league. Morgan finished the regular season 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA, and 47 strikeouts in 42.2 innings pitched. LeBrun was 4-1 with a 1.30 ERA, and 44 strikeouts in 48.2 innings.

Taylor earned ABL Coach of the Year honors after leading Mat-Su to 34 wins and its second straight ABL NL title. Taylor, in this third season with the Miners, is already the third-winningest head coach in team history.

Earlier this season, Taylor earned his 200th career victory as a collegiate summer baseball head coach. Taylor, a former head coach with the East Texas Pumpjacks, is also the all-time wins leader in the Texas Collegiate League.

2015 All-Alaska Baseball League

Player of the Year: Brick Paskiewicz, Miners

Top Prospect: Brick Paskiewicz, Miners; Conner Menez, Chinooks

Gold glove — Alex Seifert, Oilers

Silver Slugger — Tanner Nishioka, Miners; Stephan Trosclair, Bucs

Coach of the Year — Ben Taylor, Miners

First team:

First base — Tanner Nishioka, Miners; Second base — Stephan Trosclair, Bucs; Third base — Adalberto Carrillo, Pilots; Shortstop — Jordan Washam, Oilers; Catcher — Renae Martinez, Panners; Outfield — Brick Paskiewicz, Miners; Alex Caruso, Miners; Luke Hamblin, Pilots; Utility — Tanner Nishioka, Miners; Designated hitter — Matt Diorio, Miners; Starting pitcher — Eli Morgan, Miners; Will Hibbs, Pilots; Calvin LeBrun, Miners; Drew Jacobs, Pilots; Conner Menez, Chinooks; Braxton Wilks, Chinooks; Relief pitcher — Brick Paskiewicz, Miners; Paul Lujan, Oilers.