New additions lead Miners

PALMER - It didn't take long for pitchers Tim Smith and Steve Kost to see their first action with the Mat-Su Miners.

Just hours after stepping off a plane, Smith and Kost teamed with reliever Craig Bennigson to toss a six-hit shutout and lead the Miners (3-1) to a 3-0 win over the Lake Erie Monarchs Wednesday at Hermon Brothers Field.

Fresh off flights from the Lower 48, the Mat-Su newcomers combined for eight innings of work in their first appearances in the Alaska Baseball League.

Smith arrived in Alaska late Tuesday night after making the 10-hour flight from North Carolina.

&#8220I was exhausted,” Smith said. &#8220getting used to the time change, the daylight - a lot of elements.”

Despite the fatigue, Smith worked quickly, retiring the first eight Monarch hitters.

&#8220We has just really good today,” Mat-Su head coach Matt Dorey said. &#8220He had command of the strike zone. He threw all his pitches for strikes.”

Smith, who posted a school record 13 wins during his sophomore season at Catawba, didn't allow a hit until late in the third inning. Lake Erie's Kyle Crepeau legged out an infield single knocked deep behind second base. Crepeau barely beat the throw from Mat-Su second baseman John Hee. Smith walked consecutive hitters after the Crepeau single to load the bases. Smith forced Sergio Morales to ground out to Mat-Su shortstop Paul Gran to end the inning.

Smith had the rough stretch in the third inning, but was happy with his outing, especially considering he has taken some time off from the mound.

&#8220I needed to take some time off and let my arm heal,” Smith said. &#8220It was a long season. I threw a lot of innings. I feel good now.”

Smith fanned four hitters, while allowing only two hits.

Kost didn't make it to the Valley until about 2 a.m. Wednesday, but was ready to for nearly three innings of work on the mound.

&#8220We knew we were going to go with Steve with any sign of trouble,” Dorey said. &#8220He did exactly what we asked of him. He threw a lot of strikes, and pitched himself out of a jam.”

The Washington State left hander allowed two hits and struck out two.

Bennigson struck out three in the ninth to get his first save.

Joe Ercolano's two-run single in the sixth inning gave the Miners a 2-0 lead. With a full count and the bases loaded, Ercolano dropped a ball right in front of Lake Erie right fielder Kevin Leady to score Cal Krenke and Kevin McMillan.

Mat-Su had numerous opportunities offensively early in the game, but was unable to produce.

&#8220We had a couple of shots early, but I don't know how focused we were on offense,” Dorey said. &#8220I think we were swinging at some pitches that weren't the ones we needed to be swinging at.”

The Miners stranded five runners in the first two innings, and had bases loaded situations in the first and the second.

&#8220Good players don't miss twice,” McMillan said. &#8220You can't make the same mistake twice.”

McMillan added a run-scoring single in the eighth.

Ercolano led the Miners at the plate, going 3-for-3. McMillan was 2-for-3.

With the win, the Miners swept the three-game season series against the Monarchs. The games against Lake Erie are among six non-league games Mat-Su plays this season. The Miners conclude their non-ABL schedule on Saturday, hosting the Beatrice (Neb.) Bruins at 7 p.m.

Mat-Su opens ABL play Sunday at Mulchahy Stadium in Anchorage against the Bucs.

Miners 5, Monarchs 3

In his first game in a Mat-Su uniform, Donald Brown was 2-for-2 and scored two runs in a 5-3 win over Lake Erie on Monday.

McMillan had a pair of hits, and drove in two runs in the win.

Gran, Krenke and Daniel Magness also posted RBI.

Marshall sophomore Brian Chrisman earned the win in relief. Notre Dame freshman David Phelps posted the save.

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