Saturday doubleheader key to postseason hopes

With nine days left in the Alaska Baseball League regular season, the Mat-Su Miners are one of four teams still in contention for one of two league berths to the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kan.

Mat-Su is one of two ABL teams with a back-loaded schedule. The Miners and the Alaska Goldpanners each have nine games remaining on the 2004 slate. Mat-Su and Alaska are also two of the four teams vying for the positions to Wichita.

As of press time Thursday, the Peninsula Oilers stood in first place with 17-10 league record. The Panners were one game back with a 15-10 mark, while Mat-Su (14-11) and the Anchorage Bucs (16-13) each stood two games behind.

The Miners' travel plans may become more clear after this weekend. Mat-Su will host the Panners in a three-game set this weekend at Hermon Brothers Field. On Saturday, the squads face in a doubleheader with the first game scheduled for 2 p.m. and the third game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m.

Fortunately for the Miners, the remainder of Mat-Su's games will be at the friendly confines of Hermon Brothers Field. Following the Panner series, Mat-Su will host the Anchorage Glacier Pilots in a two-game set, July 27-28