THE MIGHTY QUIN: Miners outfielder named ABL MVP

PALMER — A day after winning the Alaska Baseball League batting title, Mat-Su Miners outfielder Quin Cotton added a few more accolades to his list of accomplishments this summer.

The Parker, Colorado, native and Grand Canyon University incoming sophomore has been named the ABL Player of the Year. Cotton, who led the league with a .331 batting average during the regular season, also garnered first-team All-ABL honors in the outfield and was named the league’s Silver Slugger.

“He’s as special of a hitter as I’ve had up here in five years,” Mat-Su head coach Ben Taylor said recently. “And he’s as great of a human being as he is a hitter.”

Cotton also led the league with 51 hits and a dozen doubles. He finished the regular season with 16 extra-base hits, drove in 19 runs and scored 25 runs.

“The best is yet to come with that kid,” Taylor said. “He’s had a fantastic summer, maybe as good a summer as anybody in the country.”

Cotton is the fourth Miner since 2013 to earn the league’s player of the year honors joining outfielder and pitcher Brick Paskiewicz (2015), and outfielders Cameron Newell (2014) and Christin Stewart (2013).

Cotton is also one of seven Miners to earn first-team honors. First baseman Blake Benefield, a Middle Tennessee product, catcher Ryan Haug (Arizona), starting pitchers John Doxakis (Texas A&M) and Spencer Henson (Oral Roberts), relief pitcher Thaddeus Ward (Central Florida) and closer Josh Green (Southeastern Louisian) were also named first team.

Outfielder Justin Ammons (Tennessee) and starting pitcher Calvin LeBrun (Gonzaga) earned second-team honors.

Benefield led the ABL in both home runs (six) and RBI (31). He also had 38 hits and a dozen runs score. Haug appeared in 23 games for the Miners, striking out only six times in 53 at-bats. He added 14 hits and eight rusn.

Doxakis finished the regular season 3-1 with a 1.08 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 25 innings. Henson was 2-1 with a 0.61 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings. Ward tied LeBrun for the league-lead with five wins this season. Ward also had a 1.72 ERA. Green led the league with seven saves, and didn’t allow an earned run in 18 2/3 innings. He also struck out 22.

LeBrun had a 2.02 ERA, finished 5-2 and had 36 strikeouts with only five walks.

Ammons hit 3.13 for the Miners, with 42 hits, 17 RBI and 17 runs scored.

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

All-Alaska Baseball League

Player of the Year: Quin Cotton, Miners

Top Prospect: Todd Lott, Bucs

Gold Glove: Jeremy Johnson, Chinooks

Silver Slugger: Quin Cotton, Miners

Coach of the Year: Ken Hokuf, Bucs

First team:

First base — Blake Benefield, Miners; Second base — Cody Sporrer, Bucs; Shortstop — Andre Gregory, Pilots; Third base — Nathan Webb, Oilers; Catcher — Ryan Haug, Miners; Utility — Cuba Bess, Pilots; Outfield — Quin Cotton, Miners; Todd Lott, Bucs; Kellen Strahm, Oilers; Starting pitcher — Raymond Kerr, Oilers; Logan Boyer, Bucs; Kyle Tyler, Pilots; John Doxakis, Miners; Spencer Henson, Miners; Relief pitcher — Thad Ward, Miners; Andrew Kneussle, Bucs; Tyler Wilburn, Pilots; Closer — Josh Green, Miners; Designated hitter — Pete DerKay, Bucs.

Second team:

First base — Ian Evans, Pilots; Second base — Brandon Michie, Chinooks; Shortstop — Aaron Schackelford, Chinooks; Third base — Mike Fuchs, Bucs; Catcher — Carter Bins, Pilots; Utility — David Hensley, Bucs; Outfield — Micah Pries, Chinooks; Will Brennan, Pilots; Justin Ammons, Miners; Starting pitcher — Max Karros, Pilots; Calvin LeBrun, Miners; Jacques Pucheu, Pilots; Mike Batten, Chinooks; Relief pitcher — Trent Paddon, Oilers; Steve Ledesma, Pilots; Closer — Tyler Wilburn, Pilots; Designated hitter — Kellen Strahm, Oilers.