Miners excited about potential of 2013 squad

PALMER — With four titles since 2004, the Mat-Su Miners are arguably the most successful organization in the Alaska Baseball League in the last decade. During the offseason, eager to build a team with the ability to play for a fifth crown in 10 years, the Miners brought in someone who knows a thing or two about winning championships.

Ben Taylor, the all-time winningest manager in Texas Collegiate League history, will make his debut as the field manager of the Miners when the Valley club opens its season and a three-game exhibition series with the Chugiak Chinooks today at 4 p.m. at Hermon Brothers Field.

Taylor, who finished with a 136-76-1 record and capped his TCL career with a 2012 title after four years with the East Texas Pumpjacks, said he’s thrilled to have an opportunity to help the Miners continue to make their mark in the nationally recognized ABL, and he’s excited about the potential of his 2013 squad.

“In nine years of summer baseball, managing the last four years, I have never been more excited about what I have on paper coming in,” Taylor said recently. “I’m really excited about what we have on paper. Yes, I understand it’s on paper, but that’s all we have to this point. But I’ve never been more excited.”

It’s not all just statistics and good recommendations, though. The core of Taylor’s squad could be four players who helped Taylor’s Pumpjacks win a TCL title in 2012. Kansas State catcher Blair DeBord, UC Davis outfielder John Williams, Kansas State infielder RJ Santigate and Texas A&M pitcher Ty Schlottmann have all followed Taylor to Alaska after a year with him in Texas.

“It’s huge, absolutely huge,” Taylor said of having four of his former players on the current Miners roster.

Taylor said, with everything new this season, it will be nice to have that familiarity. Taylor leads an all-new coaching staff for the Miners. Jon Karcich is the assistant coach, and Brad Baker is the team’s new pitching coach. Longtime general manager Pete Christopher returns for his 11th season with the local club.

Taylor was named head coach after Christopher put together a preliminary roster for the 2013 season. But Taylor praised Christopher for allowing him to put his own stamp on the team.

Heading into any summer season, Taylor — who is also a coach at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona — has certain priorities when he begins to help put together any team.

“It was great Pete gave me the opportunity to tweak some things,” Taylor said. “Between the pair of us, we were really able to put together what we really wanted.”

Taylor said he looks to trusted colleagues within baseball to send him talent.

“Most of the kids we have play for friends of mine during the (school) year,” Taylor said.

Toughness, grit and athleticism are among the main traits Taylor looks for, he said.

Below is a position-by-position analysis currently on the 2013 Mat-Su roster.

Pitchers

There’s one thing Taylor is always looking for in a pitcher — velocity.

“Velocity solves a lot of problems,” Taylor said. “Most of our guys are on the upper end of the spectrum. I’m not saying 96 (mph), but the 89-92 range.”

The Miners feature seven right-handers and five southpaws on the 2013 roster. Taylor said hoping five left-handers will allow the Miners to give teams different looks in both the starting lineup and the bullpen.

Among the arms on the staff is a pair of Kansas State pitchers who helped the Jayhawks win a Big 12 title.

Right-hander Blake McFadden, a former Gatorade Player of the Year in Missouri, has made a dozen starts for the Jayhawks and could be among the pitchers used in the Mat-Su starting lineup this summer. McFadden is 6-2 with 35 strikeouts. McFadden’s Kansas State teammate, Nate Williams, leads the Jayhawks with a 2.98 earned run average. Williams has also fanned 52 hitters.

Texas A&M’s Ty Schlottmann, who didn’t allow a run in eight appearances for the Aggies as a freshman, could also start for the Miners, Taylor said.

One of Mat-Su’s lefties, Gardner-Webb sophomore Mitch Warner, was 3-0 with a 2.25 ERA during the college season. He made 24 appearances in relief and struck out 21 hitters. Bradley sophomore David Koll made 12 starts for his school and fanned 52 hitters in 62 innings.

Catcher

The Miners could be strong behind the plate. Mat-Su currently boasts four backstops, including DeBord, a 2013 first-team All-Big 12 selection.

“We’re really excited about the position,” Taylor said.

DeBoard has started all 57 of KSU’s games this season. He is hitting .317, with 60 hits and 35 RBI. The Miners also have Kentucky sophomore Michael Thomas, who finished the year with a .992 saves percentage. Taylor said Purdue freshman Jack Picchiotti is an up-and-coming talent.

Rounding out the position is a local talent, former Wasilla High standout Josh Grissom, who recently finished his freshman season at Dakota State.

Infield

Mat-Su’s lone returner from the 2012 season is in the infield, Dallas Baptist sophomore Nash Knight.

Last season, Knight played in 31 games for the Miners. He led the team with 23 walks.

Santigate was one of four Miners who played for Taylor in Texas last summer and could be a big part of the Mat-Su infield. Santigate, who is hitting .327 with 31 runs scored at KSU, is expected to play third. Patrick McGrath, a Washington State freshman, is a young talent who should also play at third.

Tennessee freshman AJ Simcox, a 2012 MLB draft pick, could be among Mat-Su’s top players in the infield.

“The kid started every day as a freshman in the SEC. That doesn’t happen. Guys like that don’t grow on trees,” Taylor said of Simcox.

Taylor is excited about Valparaiso sophomore shortstop Spencer Mahoney, a former freshman All-American who has been named all-conference in back-to-back seasons. Mahoney batted .271 with 38 runs scored as a sophomore.

“He’s a physical, athletic shortstop,” Taylor said of Mahoney.

Bradley first baseman Greg Partyka could provide the power for the Miners. Partyka has 15 home runs and 85 RBI in his career at Bradley.

“He’s the beef in the middle of the lineup,” Taylor said. “We’re looking for big things from him.”

Outfield

Taylor said the Miners have put together a, “real interesting, real athletic,” group to roam the outfield of Hermon Brothers Field.

Leading the group could be another touted Tennessee freshman, Christin Stewart.

Stewart left high school as the career leader for home runs in Georgia state history. His 69 career high school home runs fell just short of the national record of 75. Stewart hit 26 home runs as a junior, which set a Georgia state record.

“That’s kind of impressive to me,” Taylor said.

As a freshman with the Vols, Stewart batted .310 and drove in 27 runs.

Pacific freshman Gio Brusa, a switch-hitter, could be among the players with the best overall tools, Taylor said.

“He’s got the potential to be one of the more special players in this league,” Taylor said.

Williams, a Cal-Davis sophomore, is among the four players following Taylor to Alaska from the TCL.

“John Williams was the absolute guts of our 2012 championship team,” Taylor said. “He played all three outfield sports and believe he hit everywhere in the lineup for me. His energy is off the charts.”

Purdue freshman Jack Amaro is a “gritty, speed-type player,” Taylor said. Cal-Santa Barbara freshman Dalton Kelly is a “smooth swinging left-handed hitting outfielder,” Taylor said.

Contact Jeremiah Bartz at 352-2273 or sports@frontiersman.com.

Pitchers

No. Player B/T Class College/Hometown

18 Trevor Bettencourt R/R Fresh. Tennessee/San Jose, Calif.

15 Gavin Glanz R/R Junior Oral Roberts /Arvada, Colo.

30 Beau Hilton L/L Soph. Gardner-Webb/Jacksonville, Fla.

31 Patrick Kenny R/R Fresh. Purdue/Gurnee, Ill.

29 David Koll L/L Soph. Bradley/Lake Elmo, Minn.

27 Tyler Martin R/R Fresh. Central Florida/Jacksonville, Fla.

25 Blake McFadden R/R Fresh. Kansas State/St. Joseph, Mo.’

26 Phillip Orr R/L Fresh. Dallas Baptist/Spillwood, Texas

7 Ty Schlottmann L/L Fresh. Texas A&M/Brenham, Texas

17 Drew Smith R/R Fresh. Dallas Baptist/Crowley, Texas

32 Mitch Warner L/L Soph. Gardner-Webb/Chambersburg, Pa.

22 Nate Williams R/R Soph. Kansas State/Valley Center, Ka.

Catchers

No. Name B/T Class College/Hometown

9 Blair DeBord R/R Junior Kansas State/Manhatten, Kan.

1 Josh Grissom R/R Fresh. Dakota State/Wasilla

6 Jack Picchiotti L/R Fresh. Purdue/Oak Park, Ill.

24 Michael Thomas R/R Junior Kentucky/Elizabethtown, Ken.

Infielders

No. Name B/T Class College/Hometown

8 Nash Knight S/R Soph. Dallas Baptist/Oak Point, Texas

14 Spencer Mahoney L/R Soph. Valparaiso/LaGrange Park, Ill.

11 Patrick McGrath R/R Fresh. Washington State/Woodinville, Wash.

35 Greg Partyka L/R Junior Bradley/Bartlett, Ill.

28 RJ Santigate L/R Junior Kansas State/Las Vegas, Nev.

10 AJ Simcox R/R Fresh. Tennessee/Knoxville, Tenn.

16 Ben Wylly L/L Fresh. San Diego/Irvine, Calif.

Outfielders

No. Name B/T Class College/Hometown

4 Jack Amaro R/R Fresh. Purdue/Naperville, Ill.

19 Gio Brusa S/R Fresh. Pacific/Lodi, Calif.

12 Dalton Kelly L/L Fresh. Cal-Santa Barbara/Redding, Calif.

20 Christin Stewart L/R Fresh. Tennessee/Lawrenceville, Ga.

23 John Williams L/R Soph. Cal-Davis/Los Gatos, Calif.

Head coach: Ben Taylor

Assistant coach: Jon Karcich

Pitching coach: Brad Baker

June 9 Chinooks, 4 p.m.

June 10 at Chinooks, 7 p.m.

June 12 Chinooks, 7 p.m.

June 13 Panners, 7 p.m.

June 15 at Pilots, 7 p.m.

June 17 at Pilots, 7 p.m.

June 18 at Bucs, 7 p.m.

June 19 at Oilers, 7 p.m.

June 20 at Oilers, 7 p.m.

June 21 at Oilers, 7 p.m.

June 22 Chinooks, 7 p.m.

June 23 at Bucs, 7 p.m.

June 25 Chinooks, 7 p.m.

June 26 AK All-Stars, 7 p.m.

June 27 Oilers, 7 p.m.

June 28 at Pilots, 7 p.m.

June 29 at Pilots, 7 p.m.

June 30 at Bucs, DH, 2 p.m.

July 1 at Bucs, 7 p.m.

July 2 Bucs, 7 p.m.

July 3 Panners, 7 p.m.

July 4 Panners, 7 p.m.

July 5 Bucs, 7 p.m.

July 6 at Chinooks, 7 p.m.

July 7 Pilots, 4 p.m.

July 8 Pilots, 7 p.m.

July 9 Oilers, DH, 5 p.m.

July 10 Oilers, 7 p.m.

July 13 Chinooks, 7 p.m.

July 14 Chinooks, 4 p.m.

July 16 at Chinooks, 6 p.m.

July 17 at Chinooks, 6 p.m.

July 19 vs. Chinooks at Anch., 1 p.m.

July 20 at Pilots, 1 p.m.

July 21 ABL All-Star Game

July 24 at Pilots, 7 p.m.

July 25 at Panners, 7 p.m.

July 26 at Panners, DH, 5 p.m.

July 27 at Panners, 5 p.m.

July 28-Aug. 4 ABL Tournament