Miners named ABL All-Stars

PALMER — There are at least 23 reasons why the Mat-Su Miners are the most well represented program on the Alaska Baseball League National Division All-Stars roster.

Fifteen players and the coaching staff will represent the Miners during the ABL All-Star Game, slated for today at 4 p.m. at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.

“I’m beyond over the moon for these kids,” Mat-Su skipper Ben Taylor said of those recognized. “I’m so proud of our kids who were nominated. I’m proud of the whole operation, the whole organization. It’s a fantastic time to be a Mat-Su Miner.”

Pitchers Zach Warren, Eli Morgan, Kyle Simonds, Corbin Martin, James Harrington, Calvin LeBrun and Brigham Hill; catcher Matt Diorio; infielders Nyles Nygaard, Tyler Wolfe and Tanner Nishioka; outfielders Alex Caruos, Vance Vizcaino and Chris Hall; and Mat-Su’s two-way standout, pitcher and outfielder, Brick Paskiewicz were all named to the ABL National Division team.

Harrington, LeBrun and Hill will not be available to pitch, but will be recognized.

“I’m really excited for our guys,” Taylor said. “It’s a real honor for these guys to be ABL All-Stars, especially with the tradition of this league.”

The Miners enter the league’s all-star break with an ABL-best 23-7 mark in league play. The Miners are 8.5 games ahead of the second-place Anchorage Glacier Pilots (14-15) in the ABL National Division. Mat-Su is the top hitting and pitching team in the league. The Miners lead the ABL with a .275 batting average, nearly 40 points better than the next best team, the Peninsula Oilers and their .239 batting average. The Miners are also first in runs scored with 129, 21 more than Chugiak’s 108. The Miners have also allowed the least amount of earned runs, 45, good enough for a league-best 1.52 earned run average. Mat-Su is the only team in the ABL with an ERA lower than 2.00.

In addition to the 15 Miners named to the all-star team, Mat-Su’s coaching staff will also be represented. Taylor will skipper the ABL Northern Division team for the third straight year, and his assistants Matt Greely and Sean Winston will also be on hand.

“On a personal level, I’m really honored,” Taylor said. “The third straight year managing in the all-star game is a really humbling experience.”

In addition to the all-star game, the league is also hosting its annual ABL Home Run Derby today at 1 p.m. at Mulchay.