Armenta Lifts Miners over Oilers
July 5, 2016 - Alaska Baseball League (Alaska)
Mat-Su Miners News Release
PALMER, Alaska - The Fourth of July is known for extensive displays of fireworks, but a walk-off sacrifice fly from Angelo Armenta was all the firepower the Miners needed in extra innings on Monday.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the tenth, Armenta lifted a two-strike fastball to left field, scoring centerfielder Brooks Stotler and giving the Miners a 3-2 victory at Hermon Brothers Field.
"It just means we are grinders," Stotler said. "We don't give up, even if we're down. We're going to give 100 percent all the time."
The Oilers (7-9) struck in the top of the fourth, capitalizing on a throwing error from Miners catcher Andy Cosgrove to plate first baseman Seth DeWitt and gain an early 1-0 lead.
Centerfielder Darius Hill would add to the Oilers lead in the following inning, knocking a single to centerfield to score second baseman Jeffery Chapuran and give his team a two-run lead.
Miners starting pitcher Stephen Kolek went 4.1 innings in his second Alaska Baseball League start. The right-hander surrendered two runs on five hits and recorded five strikeouts.
Relief pitcher Justin Frederick made his first league appearance in the top of the fifth inning for the Miners. The right-hander went 2.2 innings on the mound, giving up one hit while fanning three batters.
"That gave us a big lift," Miners head coach Ben Taylor said. "Kolek had a high pitch count early, and we had to get him out of the game. Frederick makes his debut and for him to be able to bridge to the back end was great."
Mick Vorhof replaced Frederick in the eighth and threw two innings for the Miners. He held the Oilers hitless and recorded a strikeout in seven batters faced.
Mat-Su (12-7) responded in the bottom of the eighth, as Stotler capitalized on a throwing error from DeWitt to score the team's first run.
With two outs and runners on the corners, designated hitter Michael Donadio attempted to steal second, stopping just shy of the bag to force a pickle. In the ensuing scramble, second baseman Levi Jordan made a break for home and slid in safely before the third out was recorded to knot the game at 2-2.
After the Miners loaded the bases in the bottom of the tenth, Armenta stepped to the plate and knocked in Stotler for the extra innings victory.
"As I tagged up, I was thinking that I just needed to run as fast as I can," Stotler said. "I felt like I was racing on the track. As soon as he caught it I was gone."
Stotler led the Mat-Su offense at the plate, reaching base three times and scoring two runs. Levi Jordan, Josh Bissonette and Garrison Schwartz all added hits for the Miners.
"I think it's four nights in a row where we've used just about everybody," Taylor said. "The depth on this team is fantastic. We've got some really good players every night who aren't starting. Guys are doing a good job coming off the bench and keeping themselves ready."
Mat-Su travels to Anchorage on Wednesday to face the Glacier Pilots in a twilight doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. at Mulcahy Stadium.
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Alaska Baseball League Stories from July 5, 2016
- Armenta Lifts Miners over Oilers - Mat-Su Miners
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