SURPRISE TRIP

PALMER — Reagan Moczygemba’s summer started out fairly typically for a college kid. The St. Mary’s University junior was working as a waiter in a restaurant. He’d attended a few weddings, and in late June Moczygemba took a trip to Wichita, Kan., to catch a College World Series game as part of a friend’s bachelor party.

But the bachelor party and road trip led to a whirlwind trek to Alaska. Now the Bulverde, Texas, native is helping the Mat-Su Miners battle for an Alaska Baseball League title.

Moczygemba had no idea his trip to Omaha to watch some baseball would be interrupted by the opportunity to play summer ball for the Miners.

“I was surprised,” said Moczygemba, who received a text message while watching the championship game of the CWS. “(They said) come up here and play.”

Moczygemba talked to Mat-Su head coach Russell Raley on the phone, and as soon as Raley offered him a spot on the team, Moczygemba was off on his impromptu trip north.

Moczygemba called his parents and his boss at the restaurant to tell them about the sudden news. He also called his St. Mary’s teammate, Jonathon Cisneros, who played for the Miners last season.

“I asked him quite a few questions, what clothes to pack, how things worked, about the league,” Moczygemba said.

Moczygemba said he knew from Cisneros that the ABL is a good league, but everything else was completely new.

Despite heading into foreign territory, Moczygemba quickly found a home with the Miners. When Moczygemba arrived, the St. Mary’s product was given a chance to win the job at third base. After making his first start July 6 during a doubleheader sweep of Pilots, Moczygemba hasn’t been out of the lineup.

Moczygemba collected four hits in the doubleheader, and has at least a hit in 10 of his 11 games in a Mat-Su uniform. He’s hitting .382 and has only committed one error at third base.

The Miners also won the first 10 games Moczygemba was in uniform.

“He’s really kind of helped solidify the infield defensively, and he’s had good nights at the plate,” Raley said. “He’s been a key part of the run we’ve made.”

When Raley invited him to join the Miners, Moczygemba said the head coach didn’t promise a long-term spot in the lineup, but did say he’d have the chance to earn it.

“I’m glad to come up here, glad to help the team out a little bit,” Moczygemba said. “I’m trying to do what I can to help the team win.”

Moczygemba has spent all of his time with the Miners at third, but played a variety of positions for St. Mary’s, a Division II program based in San Antonio, Texas.

Moczygemba has played at second base, third base, shortstop and right field for the Rattlers. He even made a half-dozen starts at catcher.

“I’m confident playing anywhere on the field, anywhere but on the mound or first base,” Moczygemba said. “It’s fun to be able to play wherever. I just try to help my team win as much as I can.”

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