Miners out of race, but aim to end season on winning note

PALMER - The Mat-Su Miners had been in the thick of a playoff race for most of the month of July. But the battle for the Alaska Baseball League title has turned into a two-horse race. And unfortunately for the Miners, they are on the outside, looking in.

&#8220It's bittersweet,” Mat-Su head coach Matt Dorey said. &#8220We'd like to be in a better position right now, chasing the pennant. But the Kenai trip kind of put us out of

it.”

The Miners had been fighting with both the Anchorage Bucs and the Peninsula Oilers. But four losses in five games to the Oilers in Kenai, all but eliminated Mat-Su and its title hopes.

Even though the Miners won't have a shot at a league title and the opportunity to compete in the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan., Mat-Su is still aiming to end the season with a winning streak.

&#8220It's a bummer we're not going to Wichita,” Mat-Su pitcher David Phelps said. &#8220We're playing for pride now.”

The Miners (23-16 overall, 18-15 in Alaska Baseball League play) were three games behind first-place Peninsula on Thursday, and 2.5 games behind the second-place Bucs. Dorey feels his team still has a lot of motivation to place at least second.

&#8220We still can put ourselves in second place, and that's important,” Dorey said. &#8220Because I believe we are one of the top two teams in this league.”

Anchorage and Peninsula are currently locked in a three-game series that should ultimately decide the league champion. The Bucs scored twice in the 12th inning to edge the Oilers 3-1 in the first game of the series Wednesday. Anchorage moved within a half-game of the win.

But the Miners also had the chance to factor into the decision. Mat-Su used a Joey August grand slam to storm past Anchorage 10-7 on Monday.

&#8220We could change the outcome of what they're trying to do in Kenai,” Dorey said. &#8220It's always nice to have a hand in it.”

Phelps said there is a more relaxed feeling amongst his teammates. There is not the pressure of winning the title, but the team is still aiming to win games.

&#8220We might as well go home happy,” Phelps said.

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