Playoffs set and ready to go!

by Lauren Petri

August 1st

Last night the Mat-Su Miners swept the doubleheader against the Anchorage Glacier Pilots to end the regular season and took first place. The Miners' pitching was outstanding throughout both games. Drew Christo pitched five no-hit innings, striking out seven and walking three. Will Rizzo closed out the game, striking out one and walking two. With two outs in the seventh, the Pilots earned their first hit in Troy Harding, but nothing would come of it. In game two, hometown kid Landon Guggenmos threw a scoreless complete game without striking anyone out, or walking anyone, and only allowed two hits. Growing up going to Miners games, this was surely a moment he will never forget. Offensively, Alex Vergara went 4 for 6 with two doubles, two home runs, two walks, and two strikeouts, having identical at bats in both games. The Pilots were also able to save their pitching for the playoffs with Tommy Beam pitching a complete game, and Joe Inglesias pitching six innings of the second game.

The first seed Miners, ending the season 23-16, will take on the fourth seed Peninsula Oilers, who ended the season 18-20, at Hermon Brothers Field in a best of three series starting today. The Miners were 5-4 against the Oilers in the regular season. The second seed Pilots, ending the season 22-18, will take on third seed Anchorage Bucs, who ended the season 21-19, at their shared home of Mulcahy Stadium, with the Pilots as the home team, in a best of three series starting today. The Pilots were 9-1 against the Bucs in the regular season.

The Top of the World Championship will take place at the higher seeded club’s field in a best of three series starting Friday, August 4th.