Oilers jump ahead of Miners in ABL standings

KENAI - Andy Preston gave the Peninsula Oilers a little breathing room Wednesday.

With his run-scoring, walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning, Preston did not only give his squad a 4-3 win over the Miners at Seymour Park in Kenai. Preston also ensured that Mat-Su will head back to the Valley trailing Peninsula in the Alaska Baseball League standings.

When the Miners arrived in Kenai prior to their five-game series with the Oilers, the two teams were locked in a tie at the top of the ABL.

Peninsula, winners of three of the first four games of the series, improved to 17-10 with the win on Wednesday, while the Miners dropped to 16-13. Heading into Thursday's action, Peninsula held a two-game lead over the Miners.

The Anchorage Bucs, 1.5 games back, stood in second.

Although the Miners obviously would have liked to win the series in Kenai, head coach Matt Dorey realizes a lot could still happen in the final week of the season. Mat-Su starts a three-game series against the Bucs on Sunday, and Anchorage follows with a three-game set with the Oilers.

&#8220We're still right in the mix,” Dorey said.

Daniel Magness gave the Miners a late opportunity with a game-tying RBI-double in the ninth inning.

Joe Ercolano walked to start the inning, and scored from second on Magness' double.

Starting pitchers Ryan Mottern and David Gruener were locked in a pitching duel, but neither was the pitcher of record.

Each allowed just one earned run in the game. Mottern gave up four hits and fanned 10 Mat-Su batters.

Gruener recorded five strikeouts and allowed only three hits.

Taylor Bills pitched two innings of relief and earned the win.

Mark Grbavac was tagged with the loss.

Cal Krenke reached on an error and scored in the third inning to give Mat-Su the early 1-0 lead.

Travis Coulter scored on an Ercolano sacrifice in the sixth.

Miners, Oilers

split doubleheader

Tim Smith pitched eight strong innings to lead the Miners to a 5-3 win in the second game of a doubleheader Tuesday in Kenai.

Smith fanned eight Oilers in the win.

Brent Milleville and Paul Gran each drove in runs in the sixth innings to give the Miners a 2-0 lead.

Milleville had another RBI in the Miners' three-run eighth.

The Oilers edged Mat-Su 2-1 in the first game.

Milleville drove in the lone Mat-Su run.

David Phelps went the distance in the seven-inning game, but was given the loss.

Oilers open series

with win

Peninsula opened its five-game series against Mat-Su with a 5-1 win over the Miners on Monday.

The Oilers did most of their damage in the sixth inning, scoring four runs.

Milleville posted a double in the ninth inning to score Donald Brown and erase Peninsula's bid for a shutout.

Miners announce

promotions

The Mat-Su Miners have only two home games left on the 2006 schedule, but they'll be a busy pair of games.

In addition to the action on the field, the Mat-Su organization has teamed with businesses from around the Valley to offer special promotions.

Monday, Mat-Su hosts the Anchorage Bucs at 6 p.m. Wilder Construction and Wells Fargo are sponsoring a baseball card giveaway. The first 200 fans who arrive at the ballpark will receive free Mat-Su Miners baseball cards. It is also Matanuska Music Day at the Park. Free tickets are available at the Wasilla music store.

Wednesday, when the Miners hosts AIA at 6 p.m., is UPS Day at the Park. Free tickets are available at the UPS Store. It is also the Miners' fan appreciation night. The club will open the gates at 3:15 p.m., and allow fans to watch batting practice, score autographs of their favorite players or picture with their favorite players.