Miners not going to Wichita

July 29, 2007

By Jeremiah Bartz/Frontiersman

PALMER - The Mat-Su Miners are still in the hunt for the Alaska Baseball League title. But the local organization has already decided, regardless of finish, the Miners will not travel to Wichita, Kan., to participate in the National Baseball Congress World Series.

Traditionally, the top team in the ABL at season's end is awarded a spot in the NBC World Series, a tournament once recognized as summer amateur baseball's premiere event.

But this year, each of the teams that currently sit in the top two spots of the ABL standings - the Miners and the AIA Fire - have opted not to go, according to Mat-Su general manager Pete Christopher.

League rules state the ABL champion is given the first chance to join the NBC field. And then the second-place team, and so on.

Christopher said officials from the third-place Peninsula Oilers have indicated that they will go, assuming they finish third.

Christopher said there are primarily two reasons why he and his organization have decided not to send the Miners to the NBC.

The top reason is money. Christopher estimates the trip to Wichita would cost about $30,000.

Another complication is a conflict for Mat-Su head coach Jeff Pritchard.

Pritchard, formerly an assistant coach at Santa Clara, was recently named an assistant coach and hitting coach at San Jose State, and he has to report to his new job on Aug. 1.

The NBC starts during the first week of August.

&#8220I'm not going to Wichita without my head coach. He's a big reason why we're 20-10 right now,” Christopher said on Thursday.

Christopher doesn't want to have to compete in a tournament without a head coach that has the potential of leading the Miners to their second ABL title in four years. But throughout the time it took to come to this decision, cost continued to be an overwhelming factor.

&#8220I'm a traditionalist. I love the history of the NBC,” Christopher said. &#8220But on the other hand, I've got to be a realist. I don't have $30,000 to take the team there for two weeks.”

Christopher said the recent growth of the tournament, has almost led to the event loosing a bit of it's luster.

Once a 32-team event, 46 squads are now invited.

&#8220You just don't play every day until you're eliminated, and that just stinks,” Christopher said.

Christopher said it is common for teams to wait two days between games.

When Mat-Su competed in the 2004 NBC World Series and finished second, the team was there for more than two weeks. Christopher said the organization spent nearly $1,000 per night for just hotel rooms.

&#8220That's with three guys to a room,” Christopher said.

The team also must allot meal money, about $15 per day, he said.

All of this is not counting air fare.

The NBC also comes on the heels of a stretch of non-stop baseball for the players. Most start their collegiate season in January, and continue through summer ball.

&#8220It's a grind. People don't understand that,” Christopher said. &#8220Our fans have to understand. They play preseason ball, a 56-game regular season, regionals, super regionals. Then they come straight up here. Most of these guys don't even go home.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.