Some Off Day Thoughts

Last night the Miners defeated the Pilots to improve to 5-1 in ABL this season. The Miners again got an outstanding pitching performance by Steven Bruce (Fr./Oklahoma). Bruce only pitched 15.1 innings this season with the Sooners, but has been incredibly sharp since joining the Miners. So far this season Bruce has tossed 18.1 innings of scoreless baseball, including last night's effort of seven scoreless.

Offensively, the Miners continued their hot hitting. Last night the Miners pounded out 13 hits, including three each by Cam Kneeland (Jr./Mass.-Lowell) and Ryan Ford (Middle Tennessee St.). Kneeland and Ford each had solid numbers in their college seasons, but really started off slow in the ABL. The two combined for just one hit all season prior to Saturday's game. However, it was only a matter of time before they each broke out of their slumps. With them now hitting, opposing pitchers will be hard pressed to find holes in the Miners lineup.

Last night also marked the debuts for RHP Brandon Hedrick (Jr./Union College) and catcher Mason Guymon (Jr./Carson-Newman). Each of them entered the game in the 9th, with Hedrick closing the door on a potential Pilots rally to give the Miners the victory.

The Miners get to enjoy an off day today, thanks in part to the league having an odd number of clubs in 2011. The Pilots on the other hand have to take on the Bucs tonight in Anchorage.

For the Pilots, they certainly are falling out of the race rather quickly. Despite the addition of Keenyn Walker (So./Central Arizona) last night, the Pilots failed to score a run. After the game manager Yogi Cox let his displeasure be known, as the team held an on-field meeting that lasted close to thirty-minutes. With the ABL season shortened to 36 games this year, the Pilots must get on track quickly. However, the Miners will look to remain rolling Thursday night in game three of this five-game set.

ABL Standings

• Peninsula Oilers 2-0
• Mat-Su Miners 5-1
• AIA Fire 4-4
• Anchorage Bucs 2-2
• Anchorage Pilots 0-6

Tomorrow's Game: Mat-Su Miners vs. Anchorage Glacier Pilots.

First Pitch: 7:00pm at Hermon Brothers Field.

Media: Matt Dudas and Michael Broskowski call the action beginning at 6:50 with the Mat-Su Miners Pre-Game Show. You can hear the game locally on Q99.7, or on www.matsuminers.org.