Ready to deliver: Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks open 2017 ABL season

CHUGIAK — Much like the other four teams in the Alaska Baseball League, the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks are working with a fluctuating roster and waiting for players to trickle in as the Chinooks prepare for the 2017 summer season.

Unlike professional baseball, there’s not time for spring training in the historic ABL. Chugiak and its four ABL rivals — the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, Anchorage Bucs, Mat-Su Miners and Peninsula Oilers — feature players who jump from their college season right into summer league play. Just hours before Chugiak’s season opener Monday, Chinooks general manager Chris Beck said the team has only seven of its position players on the roster for the season debut against the Anchorage Bucs Monday night in Anchorage.

“The Bucs are in the same spot,” Beck said.

But once the full roster of talent hits the team’s home ballpark, Lee Jordan Field, Beck said the Chinooks should be in good shape.

“Overall we’re happy with the guys,” Beck said of the roster.

Beck said the Chinooks have position players who hit the ball well during their college seasons, and is looking forward to seeing what the Chinooks have in their pitching staff.

“We’ll see how they do. In this league, if you pitch, you’re going to be OK,” said Beck, who also doubles as the team’s pitching coach. “On paper (the pitching staff) looks good.”

The Chinooks have a pair of right-handed pitchers returning from their 2016 squad. Birmingham Southern sophomore Preston White and Masters University sophomore Robert Winslow are both back. White posted an earned run average of 1.59 during the college season, and made 15 appearances and four saves. Winslow was 905 with a 2.95 era, and fanned 100 hitters in 113 innings. White is a two-way player, who hit .311 in 47 games as a sophomore, with 75 hits and 51 RBI.

Another Masters product, infielder Aaron Schackleford, also returns for another year with the Chinooks. Schackleford hit .282 during the 2016 ABL season and .313 during the college season for a Masters squad that advanced to the NAIA World Series. Beck said Schackleford will be a utility player for the Chinooks.

Beck also noted Azusa Pacific catcher and first baseman Justin Gomez. As a sophomore, Gomez earned first-team all-conference honors after hitting .314 with 53 hits and 35 RBI. Beck also mentioned Baylor junior outfielder Levi Gilcrease, who should hit at the top of the lineup for the Chinooks.

Chugiak hosts its home opener Thursday at 7 p.m. against the Mat-Su Miners at Lee Jordan Field. The pregame ceremony is set to include the Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department, and Anchorage municipality Mayor Ethan Berkowitz will be on hand to help honor Lee Jordan, a longtime area resident and staunch supporter of Chinooks baseball.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.