Three local players added to Miners roster

PALMER — Kody Ziter thought his summer plans were set.

This weekend the Colony senior is capping his final season of high school baseball as he and the Knights compete in the ASAA/First National Bank State Championships at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer. Ziter was then scheduled to travel to Puyallup, Wash., on Monday to join his summer team, the Northwest Krush.

But Ziter decided to tweak his travel plans after Mat-Su Miners general manager Pete Christopher asked him to suit up for the Miners next week.

“I was kind of in shock,” Ziter said. “I’ve been going to their games since I was 11. I used to be that kid waiting for the autographs.”

Ziter is one of three locals who will suit up for the Miners during the first week of the Alaska Baseball League season as the team waits for the talent on its 2010 roster to arrive in the Valley.

Ziter, who will play college baseball at Southwest Oregon Community College next year, will wear the Miners green and gold during four games next week. He’ll dress for the three exhibition games against the Anchorage Glacier Pilots and the ABL opener against the Anchorage Bucs on Thursday.

As a young player growing up in the Mat-Su Valley, Ziter often thought about what it would be like to wear the uniform of his hometown team.

“I always wanted to do it someday, I just didn’t think it would come this soon. Maybe after college,” Ziter said.

Ziter has put together stellar numbers during his senior season for the Knights. He’s a catcher by trade who can also pitch and play in the outfield. This summer, he’ll spend his second season playing in a competitive developmental league in northern Washington.

“He goes outside during the summer to play ball. Most kids don’t get to do that,” Christopher said. “I’ve known him for about five years. I felt pretty comfortable asking him.”

Christopher said the Miners will be missing about a dozen players when the season opens on Monday. He needed help in the outfield and a few extra arms to fill out a thin pitching staff.

There will be no guarantees about playing time, Christopher said, but Ziter should see action. Regardless of how much time on the diamond he sees or where he plays, Ziter is ready.

“I’ll go in there and give it my all,” Ziter said. “My goal is to show them I can play at that level.”

Ziter will now leave Friday, in time to hit the field with the Krush on Saturday in Washington. The Miners also teamed with Alaska Airlines to make changes to Ziter’s travel itinerary with no charge to Ziter.

Palmer head baseball coach Dave Combs, a former Moose standout and collegiate pitcher at George Fox University, and Christopher’s son Keith, another former Palmer player, will also suit up for the Miners during the first week of the season.

Pete Christopher said Keith Christopher and Combs have been throwing bullpen sessions during the evening to prepare for their stint with the Miners.

The Miners general manager said it’s important that players have no misconceived notions about their place on the Mat-Su roster.

“They don’t expect to be around all summer. That just ain’t going to happen,” Christopher said. “(The Miners) are Division I kids. I don’t want to give anybody any false hope.”

The Miners begin their 46-game regular season with three seven-inning exhibition games against the Anchorage Glacier Pilots. Mat-Su hosts Anchorage on Monday and Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Miners will play the Pilots at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage on Tuesday.

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