Miners score another lopsided win over Chugiak

CHUGIAK — Cameron Newell was the last outfielder added to the Mat-Su roster. Now, the late addition is making a big impact for the Miners.

Newell, a UC Santa Barbara sophomore, smacked a three-run home run and collected four RBIs to lead the Miners to a 13-2 rout of the Chugiak Chinooks Tuesday evening in Chugiak.

“He was a middle-of-the-lineup guy for (UC Santa Barbara) for the last two years as a left-hander. He kind of fell into our laps,” Miners head coach Ben Taylor said recently.

Newell, now batting .389 for the Miners, finished 3 for 5 in the game. He helped the Miners club 15 hits in the game. Eight of the nine Miners in the batting order finished with at least one hit. Eight Miners scored at least one run, and seven had at least one RBI.

The Miners also continued their recent tear against Chugiak. Monday, Mat-Su beat Chugiak 15-6 at Hermon Brothers. In consecutive nights, Mat-Su has combined for 26 hits and 28 runs against the Chinooks.

Cameron Frost finished 4 for 5 with a pair of runs for the Miners, and raised his summer batting average to an even .400. Brandon Smith and Mitchell Nau had two hits each. Paul Panaccione and Newell scored three runs each. Nau and Frost added two runs scored each.

Mat-Su also finished with six extra-base hits. Nau and Newell hit home runs. Frost, Nau and Jordan Rodgers had a double each.

Newell and Nau highlighted Mat-Su’s biggest inning, a four-run fourth. With one out, Nau blasted a home run. Following a Frost double and Panaccione walk, Newell cleared the bases with his homer.

Jon Ferrendelli earned the win on the mound, his first of the summer. Ferrendelli scattered seven hits over 5 1/3 innings, fanned three and allowed only one earned run.

Seve Romo and Josh Grissom combined to pitch the final 3 2/3 innings.

Mat-Su improved to 5-3-1 overall and 3-2 in Alaska Baseball League play.