TOP PROSPECTS: Miners earn ABL top honors

PALMER — Garrison Schwartz has been one of the most consistent players for the Mat-Su Miners at the plate and in the field this summer. As Mat-Su’s closer, Jordan Floyd has been just about perfect on the mound.

Both have been named Top Prospects in the Alaska Baseball League.

Schwartz, who has appeared in 42 of Mat-Su’s 45 total games this season, led the team with 45 hits, as of Aug. 1. He has at least one hit in 30 of his 42 games player. A dozen of those hits are for extra bases. Schwartz, a University of Grand Canyon left-handed outfielder, has scored 29 runs and driven in 20 others. Schwartz has also swiped six bases, and has not committed an error in the field.

Floyd, the top closer in the ABL this summer, has a league-best 10 saves through Aug. 1. Floyd boasts a 1-1 mark with a 0.40 earned run average in 20 appearances. The Kansas State product has 25 strikeouts, against only nine walks, in 22 innings pitched. The 6-foot-2 lefthander has allowed only one earned run and eight hits this summer. Seven of those eight hits were singles.

Schwartz and Floyd were among eight Miners to earn first-team All-Alaska Baseball League honors. Jake Scudder (first base), Levi Jordan (second base), Schwartz (outfield), Michael Donadio (designated hitter), Justin Vernia (starting pitcher), Gage Burland (relief pitcher), Floyd (closer) and Jacob Hughey (utility player) were each named to the first team.

Miners head coach Ben Taylor, who set the organization record for career wins in July, was named the ABL Coach of the Year.

Donadio (outfield) and Hughey (starting pitcher) each earned second-team honors for the Miners.

As of Monday, Mat-Su held a league-best 25-17 record in the five-team ABL. The Miners held a 2.5-game lead over the Peninsula Oilers (22-19). The Miners were the first team in the league to clinch one of the ABL’s four postseason berths, and clinched home field advantage during the first round with a 7-4 victory over the Anchorage Glacier Pilots on Sunday.

Mat-Su returned to action Tuesday night to face the Chugiak Chinooks at Lee Jordan Field in Chugiak. Results were unavailable prior to presstime. The Miners end the regular season Wednesday at 6 p.m. against the Oilers at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer.

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

2016 All-Alaska

Baseball League

Player of the Year — Steven Sensley, Bucs

Silver Slugger — Steven Sensley, Bucs

Coach of the Year — Ben Taylor, Miners

Top hitting prospect — Garrison Schwartz, Miners

Top pitching prospect — Jordan Floyd, Miners

Gold glove — Alan Trejo, Bucs

First team:

Catcher — Jonathan Washam, Oilers; First base — Jake Scudder, Miners; Second base — Levi Jordan Miners; Shorstop — Alan Trejo, Bucs; Third base — Alex Seifert, Oilers; Outfield — Steven Sensley, Bucs; Hunter Vasau, Chinooks; Garrison Schwartz, Miners; Designated hitter — Michael Donadio, Miners; Starting pitcher — Billy Oxford, Oilers; Justin Vernia, Miners; Weston Rivers, Pilots; Justin Mulvaney, Bucs; Connor Lungwitz, Pilots; Relief pitcher — Ryan Lillie, Oilers; Gage Burland, Miners; Closer — Jordan Floyd, Miners; Utility player — Jacob Hughley, Miners

Second team:

Catcher — Tyler Walters, Pilots; First base — Seth DeWitt, Oilers; Second base — Will Bass, Chinooks; Shortstop — Trey Dawson, Oilers; Third base — Tim Millard, Chinooks; Outfield — Darius Hill, Oilers; Joe Gillette, Pilots; Michael Donadio, Miners; Designated hitter — Seth DeWitt, Oilers; Starting pitcher — Brody Harris, Chinooks; Jacob Hughey, Miners; Relief pitcher — Timothy Hodgrafer, Pilots; Preston White, Chinooks; Closer — Wyatt Mills, Bucs; Utility player — McCarthy Tatum, Bucs.