Versatile attack key for Miners

PALMER — With 26 wins and a share of the Alaska Baseball League title in 2007, there wasn’t a lot the Mat-Su Miners could be upset about last season.

But as good as last season was for the local ABL club, there’s certainly room for improvement, especially if you look at the team’s .242 cumulative batting average from a year ago.

This season, as the Miners aim to repeat as league champions, the Mat-Su coaching staff hopes the team can put together some more fan-friendly offensive numbers, rather than just solely relying on the work of the pitching staff.

“We’ll continue to pitch well and hopefully improve our offense,” first-year head coach Conor Bird said on Monday. “I think we’ve added a little more offense (this year). We’ve got some guys who can swing the bats.”

Among the hitters on the 2008 roster is Washington sophomore Ty Rasmussen, who is making a return trip to the Mat-Su Valley. Rasmussen’s first summer in Palmer was cut short due to a wrist injury, but that was after the Bonney Lake, Wash., native absolutely exploded in his ABL debut.

In the 2007 season opener, Rasmussen was 4-for-5 with four runs scored and nine RBI in a 20-1 nonleague win over Three Rivers. Rasmussen doubled twice and sent a pair of long balls —including a grand slam — over the Hermon Brothers Field fence in that win, but played just nine times after that.

“He was on his way to becoming a Miner legend last summer,” Bird said of Rasmussen. “It’ll be fun to see him healthy.”

Bird feels Rasmussen is a prime example of one of the Miners’ biggest strengths this season — versatility. Listed as an outfielder, Rasmussen can also play first base and he spent his entire sophomore season at Washington as a designated hitter.

Although Rasmussen wasn’t used in the field during the college season, Bird said the Miners hope to take advantage of all his skills.

“I like his athleticism,” Bird said.

The Miners versatility is spread throughout the roster, Bird said. Mat-Su has a catcher, Wes Dorell, who can also be inserted at first or the designated hitter spot. The Miners also have players who can be used at any position in the infield and others who can play any position in the outfield.

Rasmussen is one of five outfielders on the squad, joined by St. Mary’s sophomore Kyle Jensen, California Poly San Luis Obispo sophomore D.J. Gentile, Jackson State sophomore Cortez Cole and Northern Illinois junior Pat Minogue.

Bird said both Cole and Minogue are center fielders by trade, while Gentile can play all three outfield spots.

Cole and Minogue are among five Mat-Su players who recorded 10 or more stolen bases during the college season, and Cole — in particular — could prove to be a dangerous player at the top of the Mat-Su lineup. The Jackson State outfielder hit .332 and scored 51 runs during his sophomore season. He also hit five home runs and collected 51 RBI.

Cole has also seen time at catcher.

The Miners also have Jensen, who originally intended to pitch during the ABL season. But that was before the pitcher-turned-outfielder enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in which he hit .421 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI.

The versatility extends into the infield with the likes of Northern Illinois sophomore Jordin Hood, who will primarily play third, but can also be used in both the corner outfield spots, Bird said.

Hood hit .321 with 38 runs scored and 43 RBI as a sophomore.

Blake Newalu, an incoming freshman at San Diego, can play across the infield.

The Miners also have San Jose State junior John Shaffer, Nevada sophomore Kevin Rodland, Oregon State freshman John Tommasini and Washington freshman Troy Scott.

Bird said most of the infielders can play multiple positions.

“We do have some versatility with guys,” Bird said. “We can move guys to different spots and shuffle the lineup.”

Behind the plate, the Miners will have Dorrell and Moorpark Community College sophomore Steve Domecus, who was recently selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 389th round of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft.

“I’m happy with our ball club,” Bird said. “I’m excited to see what happens.”

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