Miners named All-American

PALMER — Brick Paskiewicz took the Alaska Baseball League by storm during the 2015 Alaska Baseball League summer season. Weeks after the conclusion of the ABL campaign, Paskiewicz continues to snag honors.

Paskiewicz, a master utility man with the Mat-Su Miners in 2015, has been named a first-team summer collegiate All-American at two positions by Perfect Game. Paskiewicz, the 2015 ABL Player of the Year and ABL Top Prospect, was recognized as both a pitcher and outfielder.

On the mound, Paskiewcz, a Paradise Valley Community College product who will play at Division I Grand Canyon University in Arizona this year, led the ABL with 13 saves. He was also 2-0 with a 0.85 earned run average. At the plate, Paskiewicz was second in the ABL with a .341 batting average. He committed only one error in the outfield.

“I knew he’d be big, but didn’t know he’d become what he’s become,” Miners head coach Ben Taylor said of Paskiewicz during the 2015 season. “I’ve never had a two-way guy like this. Usually something gives on either side. But that’s not the case here.”

Paskiewicz was one of five players with a connection to the Miners on Peferct Game’s 2015 All-American team. Eli Morgan and Zach Warren, both pitchers on the 2015 squad, were recognized. Morgan, a Gonzaga product, was a second-team selection. Morgan was 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA. He fanned 47 in 42.2 innings pitched. Warren, a University of Tennessee player, was named to the third team. Warren was 5-1 with a 1.85 ERA, and 52 strikeouts in 43.2 innings.

University of Tennessee infielder Nick Senzel, a member of the 2014 Miners, was named the Perfect Game Summer Collegiate Player of the Year. Senzel hit .364 with 34 runs and 34 RBI for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod League in 2015.

University of Pacific outfielder Gio Brusa, a Mat-Su Miner in 2013, was named an honorable mention. Brusa hit .290 for Yarmouth-Dennis of the Cape Cod League.

Baseball America lists Miners

Baseball America’s 2015 list of top 10 products in the Alaska Baseball League is made up predominately by Mat-Su Miners. Mat-Su, the 2015 ABL runner-up, boasts seven players on list of 10 released by the national baseball publication earlier this week.

Relief pitcher Corbin Martin, a Texas A&M right-hander, was named the league’s top prospect. Martin didn’t allow an earned run in 16 appearances. He added 27 strikeouts to his 0.00 ERA.

“Using an explosive four-seam fastball that sat 92-94 mph and touched 97, as well as a hard 83-84 mph slide, Martin overmatched Alaska league hitters out of the Mat-Su bullpen,” read the release by Baseball America.

Paskiewicz and Warren were named No. 2 and 3 respectively on Baseball America’s list. Pitchers Kyle Simonds (sixth) and Morgan (seventh) also landed on the list. Outfielder Alex Caruso earned the eighth spot, and designated hitter and catcher Matt Diorio was the 10th prospect.

Simonds, a teammate of Martin at Texas A&M, was 5-0 with a 1.77 ERA in 40.2 innings.

Caruso, entering his senior season at St. John’s University in New York, won the ABL batting title with a .368 average. Diorio, a Central Florida product, was fourth in the ABL with a .331 average.

Baseball America named Senzel the top prospect from the Cape Cod League. Brusa was No. 20, and Tennessee pitcher Kyle Serano, a 2014 Miner, was listed as No. 21 in the league.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.