Miners Win in Sudden Death Against the Bucs

After defeating the Anchorage Bucs for the first time in 2024, the Mat-Su Miners went back to the scene of the crime 2 days later to go double or nothing against the top team in the ABL. This game however would prove to be no ordinary meeting on the diamond but would evolve into something truly legendary. As far as the 2024 ABL Season goes, this may have been the game of the year.

Pitching had been the key factor in Mat-Su's Monday victory, so having the right man starting on the mound would be crucial in this clash of the titans. Pitching Coach Steve Hecker decided to call on the services of Tucker Timmerman, who came in with a 0.53 ERA and a command rivaled by few. In this game, that ability would prove necessary to keep his team afloat. In the 1st Inning, the Miners would put Chase Wilcox on base with a Hit-by-Pitch. While this would prove to be fruitless in terms of scoring a run, it would be a sign of more to come.

The Bucs would also be held scoreless in the 1st Inning with 3 straight groundouts. After a quiet 2nd Inning, Drake Kerr would deliver a Single in the top of the 3rd to get on base for the first time in the game. However, after looking to steal 2nd Base, Kerr was thrown out after sliding over and off the bag. Rain was a problem all game long and the slippery turf infield at Mulcahy Stadium made it hard to avoid sliding too far. This transpired with Kerr and cost the Miners a runner.

The Bucs also failed in the 3rd, while Chase Wilcox would single in the 4th but once again be kept away from a run. This game was reaching a virtual stalemate entering the 5th, but the Bucs would not be quiet forever. In the bottom of the 5th, Brody Briggs and Josh Hankins would reach base on Singles. This is where the Miners Defense needed to execute as well as they could. However, one thing that the Miners had been great within this game was their situational awareness and they would prove it once again with a Timmerman Strikeout and a groundout forced to Chase Wilcox. Mat-Su had answered the call this time, but it would not be the last time.

In the 6th, Mat-Su would once again come up empty while the Bucs would give the Miners their biggest scare of the game. The Bucs put 2 runners in scoring position in Ryan Callahan and Tommy Eisenstat and put Tucker Timmerman in as tough a position as he had been in. However, he would become "Captain Clutch" once again with an inning-ending strikeout on Josh Hankins. It was one of the biggest K's of the season and would give Timmerman his 5th Strikeout of the game at the most important time.

The 7th saw Mat-Su once again be frustrated on offense while the Bucs put pressure on new pitcher Luke Smith. However, the Miners Defense would bail out their pitcher with an unbelievable 5-3 Double play from Dom Patrizi to Chase Wilcox to end the Inning in dramatic fashion. After a quiet 8th, the bottom of the 9th saw the Miners bring Ryan Harrahill to the mound the Bucs get a walk from Zane Kelly but get nothing further, leading to the 3rd Miners game to go to Extra Innings in 2024. The Miners would get the first crack in the 10th, but could only muster a Ryker Schow single before being taken out in the top frame. The Bucs had a prime chance for a walkoff and to break Mat-Su hearts once again. It seemed as though the game was well on its way to that as the Bucs would put 2 runners in scoring positions with just 1 out and then load the bases with 2 outs to put Ryan Harrahill on the backfoot. However, much like the rest of his team throughout the game, he would respond in the 10th Inning by forcing a Brody Briggs Groundout to bring the game to "Sudden Death."

This game represented the 3rd time that Miners had gone to the "Sudden Death" Inning in 2024. The previous 2 saw Mat-Su lose on the road to the Peninsula Oilers and Anchorage Glacier Pilots. Home teams get the ability to choose who plays offense and defense in this inning and the Bucs chose to take the mound with the score still at 0-0. However, the Miners would have one luxury with a runner starting on 1st base, and the best bunter in the ABL 1st up to bat. Drake Kerr would indeed lay down a bunt to lead off and bring the runner, Nick Bisaccia to 2nd base. Finally, the game came back to the man who had first gotten on base for the Miners, Chase Wilcox. In this pivotal moment, he would bring things full circle and deliver a road walk off with an RBI Double to score Bisaccia and win the game for Mat-Su by a final score of 1-0. Considering the dramatic conclusion and competitive fire from both teams all the way through, it is hard to find any other game quite like this in the ABL this year.

Any adjective that could be used at this point would be unable to accurately describe just how important this win is for Mat-Su. The important thing to remember is that Mat-Su took the top team in the ABL and handed them back-to-back home losses for the first time this season, and the Miners are back over .500. If a team is going to establish a championship standard in a given year, wins like this are what it takes to get over the top.

Perhaps this is the game that the Miners revealed that they have not just championship fire, but a championship inferno burning deep inside. All they have to do now is stay en fuego.

Dylan Simmons, 2024 Broadcaster
Mat-Su Miners