Miners named All-ABL

PALMER — Jonathon Johnson helped the Mat-Su Miners turn three double plays during a 10-0 Alaska Baseball League title-clinching win over the

Anchorage Glacier Pilots at Hermon Brothers Field on Thursday.

Mat-Su general manager Pete Christopher believes Johnson is the league’s best when it comes to starting and turning the double play.

Apparently some other folks agree.

Johnson has been named first-team All-ABL and has earned the league’s Gold Glove award, according to a release issued by the league on Thursday.

“I can’t say enough about J.J.,” Mat-Su head coach Russell Raley said. “When he first came to us — and I think he’d agree with me — he didn’t do some of the things we asked him to do, but he bought into it. And I think he’ll be a better player for it in the future.”

Johnson has spent much of the 2009 summer as a steady presence at second base and has helped the Miners solidify its infield defense, an area where Mat-Su struggled early in the season. Johnson leads the Miners with 107 assists, and has a solid .956 fielding percentage.

The Lakewood, Calif., native and Loyola Marymount sophomore is one of three Miners to be named to the first team, and two representatives of Mat-Su to garner major awards. Outfielder James Ramsey and pitcher Justin Kraft were also named first team.

Raley was named the coach of the year.

Ramsey, who completed his freshman year at Florida State, leads active players with a team-high .331 batting average. He also leads the team with 42 hits, 23 RBI and 34 walks.

His on base percentage of .467 is also a team-best.

“That’s a player everybody here is going to have a chance to watch on T.V. someday,” Raley said.

Kraft has established himself as the ace of a staff, which boasts a stellar 2.49 team earned run average.

The Yakima, Wash., native is the top pitcher in the ABL with a 1.14 ERA. He’s 3-1 with 32 strikeouts in 47 innings.

“The numbers he’s put up are huge,” Raley said.

Raley, an Oklahoma assistant, earned coach of the year honors during his first season with the Miners.

“The players, that’s their honor,” Raley said of the award. “Nobody can be coach of the year or player of the year without all their teammates. The players, my assistant coaches, they made my job really easy.”

Raley led Mat-Su to its second ABL title since 2004.

2009 All-Alaska Baseball League

Player of the year- Drew Heid, Anchorage Pilots

Top prospect- Kevin Jacobs, Anchorage Bucs

Gold glove- Jonathon Johnson, Mat-Su Miners

Silver slugger- Drew Heid, Anchorage Pilots

Coach of the year- Russell Raley, Mat-Su

First team:

First base- Ben Minard, AIA; Second base- Jonathon Johnson, Mat-Su; Gunnar Glad, Pilots; Shortstop- Justin Schafer, Alaska; Third base- Jason Martinson, Anch. Bucs; Catcher- Austin Barnes, Anch. Bucs; Outfield- James Ramsey, Mat-Su; Drew Heid- Anch. Pilots; Brian Bello- Anch. Bucs; Designated hitter- Andrew Pollack, Alaska.

Starting pitcher- Justin Kraft, Mat-Su; Logan Darnell, Anch. Pilots; Ryan Millard, AIA; Ryan Carpenter, Anch. Pilots; Cody Kendall, Peninsula; Relief pitcher- Kevin Jacobs, Anch. Bucs; Kyle Brule, Alaska; DJ Mauldin, Anch. Pilots.