Bucs Edge Out Miners

On June 8th, 2024 there were 2 parades in Palmer, Alaska. The first was the Colony Days parade down Alaska Street, the second was a parade of runs between the Mat-Su Miners and the Anchorage Bucs at Hermon Brothers Field.

It was the first time that these 2 teams had met this season. They were originally slated to meet on ABL Opening Day on Wednesday, but Mother Nature had other plans in the form of a day-long shower. The wait was absolutely worth it though as those in attendance bore witness to a classic.

The game started off quietly enough as Rocco Bernadina, Chad Gurnea, and the defenses controlled play in the 1st Inning, outside of a Run scored by Ryker Schow which started the party for the Miners. In the 2nd, things would ramp up as the Bucs started the scoring with an RBI from Zane Kelly of Anchorage to help the Bucs to a 1-1 tie. In the 3rd, the Bucs would add to it with an Austin Lamb SAC Fly which brought in Cole Carlon to bring it to 2-1. It was clear that Mat-Su would need to match the Bucs' fire.

In the 4th, Brandyn Durand would get the show restarted for the Miners with an RBI Single which brought in Schow for his 2nd Run and tied the game. Then the flood began as Logan Vaughn delivered a 2-run Single that would nearly clear the bases and give Mat-Su a 4-2 lead. Then arguably the top batter for Mat-Su, Drake Kerr, would be able to deliver yet another 2 RBI Single that would give the Miners a dominant 6-2 advantage. However, Anchorage would not be easily deterred.

It started meekly enough for the Bucs as Tommy Eisenstat would score on an Error in the Top of the 5th to bring it to a 3 Run game. Then came the 6th Inning. It decided the Miners' first two games and it decided their 3rd game as well, only this time it would help the other team. The Bucs went on a rampage starting with a Dylan Maltby Run to bring it to a 2-Run game. Then back-to-back-to-back RBI Singles from Eisenstat, Will Burns, and Andrew Lamb would help the Bucs to find a Treasure Chest in the form of a 7-6 lead. Finally, Burns would score on a Wild Pitch to finish out a 5 Run top of the 6th for Anchorage.

Things would only keep rolling for Anchorage in the 7th as Zane Kelly delivered a Home Run heard 'round the valley with a Solo Shot that would give the Bucs a 9-6 lead. Throughout the entire time, Rylan Haider and Adam Enyart of the Bucs pitching staff were able to control and restrain the Mat-Su offense. The Miners had to hit gold and fast.

In the 8th Inning, the Mat-Su offense came alive when Austin Kirkwood was brought in as the new pitcher for the Bucs. It seemed that the offense came alive at that point with Brandyn Durand getting the scoring started with an RBI Double that would score Ryker Schow yet again to bring it to a 9-7 game. Then Kellen Strohmeyer and Chase Wilcox would deliver a pair of SAC plays to tie the game up at 9 in a dramatic bottom-of-the-8th comeback.

The 9th Inning would be the final exclamation point in a dramatic outing. Only one team could come through and this time it was the team from the "crossroads of the world." Again it was Zane Kelly who proved decisive as he would deliver an earth-shattering RBI Single that would bring the lead back on the Pirate Ship for a 10-9 Anchorage advantage. Mat-Su would do what they could against new pitcher Brodie Purcell. Drake Kerr would get on base with a Hit-by-Pitch and would make his way to 2nd Base, but ultimately it would not be enough to overcome the Bucs defense as the game reached its end on a Ryker Schow pop-up to 2nd.

Mat-Su suffered their first loss of the year and now have to go back to the drawing board with little time to waste. They will meet the Peninsula Oilers in Sunday Afternoon action tomorrow at 2:00 PM. This time the Miners will hope to avoid walking the plank.