Miners rally for victory

PALMER — In each of their first six Alaska Baseball League wins of the season, the Mat-Su Miners spent much of the time in control. Regardless of whether there was a lopsided margin, the Miners managed to hold a continuous grasp of a lead.

But to score their seventh league win of the season Sunday, the Miners needed a rally.

Pablo Bermudez scored the go-ahead run on an Anchorage error in the bottom of the seventh to lead the Miners to a 3-2 seven-inning win over the Bucs at Hermon Brothers Field.

“It was great to see our club finally decide to take it over late,” Mat-Su coach Craig Ringe said. “It’s our first come-from-behind win, so that’s big to see.”

With the score locked at 2 in the final inning of an afternoon doubleheader, Bermudez legged out an infield single to lead off the inning. Quinn Pippen laid down a sacrifice to move Bermudez to second and Bermudez quickly scored when Anchorage second baseman Ryan Pineda threw the ball away after Mat-Su’s Matt Wessinger punched a ball into the middle of the infield.

In a fashion that’s become typical for the Miners this season, Bermudez hustled around the basepaths and took advantage of the Anchorage mistake to grab the score.

“Being aggressive and playing hard, we preach that and preach that,” Ringe said. “The kids keep buying into that more and more.”

Mat-Su rebounded to push across the final score after watching its lead disappear in the top of the inning. The Miners led 2-1 heading into the seventh, when Pineda posted a run-scoring single to tie the score at 2.

Sean Sullivan reached on an error to lead off Anchorage’s half of the frame. Cam Schiller followed with a sacrifice, and Sullivan quickly scored on Pineda’s single.

Despite allowing the game-tying run, closer Andy Mee earned the victory after one inning of relief. Mee, a two-way player who pitches and plays the outfield for the Miners, gave Mat-Su a lead with a run-scoring single in the sixth.

The Miners scored a pair of runs in the inning. Pinch runner Scott Arthur scored on a Bret Schwartz double early in the inning to put the Miners on the scoreboard. Mat-Su took the 2-1 lead when Schwartz scored on the Mee single.

“(Mee) had a big knock to bring us ahead,” Ringe said.

Six different Miners recorded a hit in the victory.

Blake Dieterich earned the start for the Miners, allowing two hits and one earned run over four innings. The University of Georgia freshman fanned one, but walked five.

Anchorage’s Fielding Pittman was tagged with the loss in relief.

The Miners swept a doubleheader with the victory. Earlier in the day, Mat-Su scored a 6-1 win over the Bucs. The Miners collected 10 hits and five different players drove in runs.

“We came out swinging it real well. We had a good approach at the dish,” Ringe said. “The lineup really gelled. Everyone did something to contribute.”

Wessinger hit a two-run homer to lead the Miners at the plate. Nick DeBiasse had a pair of doubles and finished 2-for-3 with an RBI. Mee, Wesley Thigpen and David Lyon also drove in runs.

Mee gave the Miners the early lead, using a sacrifice fly to score Matt Ozanne. Mat-Su extended that advantage to 4-0 when DeBiasse, Thigpen and Lyon drove in runs with consecutive hits.

Wessinger gave the Miners the 5-0 lead with his home run in the fifth.

Gage Smith earned the win in relief. The Florida State product allowed three hits and one earned run over two innings. Mat-Su hammered Anchorage starter Bob Mott for six hits and four runs over three innings.

The Miners played the Bucs again on Monday in Anchorage, but results were unavailable prior to press time.

Army junior

leaves team

Army junior Ben Koenigsfeld has left the team, Miners general manager Pete Christopher said.

Koenigsfeld pitches and plays in the outfield, but only appeared in two ABL games. Christopher said the New Port Richey, Fla., native wanted to pursue an opportunity with another team that may be able to provide more playing time.

Koenigsfeld became lost in what has become a very deep pool of outfielders on the Miners roster.

Arthur and pitcher Geoffrey Davenport arrived in the Valley over the weekend. The Miners are now only waiting on two pitchers, Robert Benincasa and Scott Sitz. Both are from a Florida State program that advanced to the College World Series.

The Miners are also missing head coach Russell Raley, who is an assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma. The Sooners are also in the CWS and play Clemson today.

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