Most valuable volunteers

PALMER — As Pete Christopher spent his holiday weekend working inside of the future concession stand at Hermon Brothers Field, the Mat-Su Miners general manager had plenty to be thankful for.

The top priority of the offseason is replacing the field’s decades-old food stand, a single-story building that’s well past its prime. Christopher and the Miners started the project early in the fall and quickly hit a major snag. But thanks to the work of a few valuable volunteers, fans will be able to hit a brand new two-story concession stand to find their favorite baseball treats once the Miners hit the field during in summer 2011.

Marty Saucier, a journeyman carpenter in the Alaska Regional Council of Carpenters Local 1281, and Alcan Electric’s Brandon Warner are among a loyal group of volunteers who are helping the nonprofit Miners finish the project.

Christopher is thrilled with all of the volunteers, who have braved less than ideal weather conditions during a month’s worth of six-day weeks to work on the project. That list includes a number of Miners fans and Mat-Su assistant general manager Bob Plumley. But Christopher said the help of journeymen professionals such as Saucier has been especially key.

“We wouldn’t have had the concession stand built,” Christopher said.

The Miners’ plans included another carpenter, but conflicting schedules left Christopher and the Alaska Baseball League organization in need of help. Wiring and pipes to the old concession stand have already been cut and trenches for the foundation of the new building had already been dug.

“We were past the point of no return,” Christopher said about the project.

That’s when the Local 1281 Carpenters Union and Saucier stepped in to help. Local 1281 business manager Scott Hansen put the Miners in contact with Saucier, Christopher said, and Saucier visited Hermon Brothers to check the project out.

Saucier, a Wasilla resident who has worked as a carpenter in Alaska since moving here from Texas in 1990, recently underwent major knee surgery. He’s been off work since his surgery, and said he thought this project would be a good way to get the hammer back into his hand.

“I’ve been just hobbling around. I wanted to get back into the work force and see where my abilities were,” Saucier said.

Saucier said he wanted to help out for the good of the community, but the project also provided a good reason to get out of the house. Even hobbling around, Saucier helped the Miners build the shell of the building, complete the framing and put the roof on.

Christopher stressed the value of having a professinal such as Saucier to oversee the project.

“He grabbed the ball and ran with it,” Christopher said. “It was just awesome. No obstacle stood in his way. He was always three steps ahead.”

Christopher, the local baseball organization’s lone full-time paid employee, said the team’s survival hinges on the work of the volunteers. The construction stand is one of a number of major projects at Hermon Brothers during the last several years. A new press box was built in 2005 and the new beer shack was constructed in 2006. Last year, the outfield walls were replaced.

A number of Miners faithful, fans such as Rick Erickson and Terry Johnson, also helped with manual labor. United Rentals and Alaska Pacific Rental donated equipment and Robinson Millwork donated some materials. The lumber was purchased from Spenard Builders Supply at a discounted rate. A $10,000 donation from British Petroleum and a $10,000 Mat-Su Health Foundation grant helped cover costs of the project. A full list of volunteers and donations can be found at matsuminers.org.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/matsu_sports.