Chinooks finish season, split with Miners
Tim Barto-Chinooks
Game 38 Summary
Rain postponements resulted in the Chinooks having to play yet another doubleheader, this time in Palmer against the Mat-Su Miners. If Chugiak-Eagle River swept both games they would just sneak into the playoffs.
Lefthander Nolan Livsey started on the hill for the Fish and threw well, giving up only one run through five innings of work. Gavin Alveti followed in relief, giving up no runs in the two innings he pitched. Being part of a doubleheader, each game is scheduled for an abbreviated seven innings instead of the usual nine.
Offensively, the Chinooks managed only five hits, but made them count. Keaton Laidley tripled home Jacob Hayes in the fourth inning to put the Chinooks on the board. He scored when Oliver Degenhardt hit a sacrifice fly. Hayes' run came after he walked, and two other Chinooks – Brady Groves and Jayden Hill – came home after drawing walks in the fifth inning. Those four runs would be more than enough to secure the win and keep the postseason hopes alive.
Final score: Chinooks 4, Miners 1
Game 39 Summary
Anchorage native Aiden Ray started for the Chinooks in the second game of Friday's doubleheader, and went two and one-third innings, giving up two runs on only two hits. A hit batsman, a walk, and infield error put the Miners up two to nothing in the third. One more run came home to score to make it three to zero. Peyton Niemann came on in relief, surrendering only two runs through three and two-thirds. The Chinooks' staff allowed only five hits to the Miners.
Unfortunately, the Fish were not able to string together too many hits through the first six innings. The big, missed opportunity was leaving the bases loaded in the sixth without scoring a run. They battled back against a Miner reliever who was throwing Eephus pitches, but came up short after scoring two runs in the seventh and final frame. Oliver Degenhardt drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Kade Smith scored on a wild pitch. The Chinooks outhit the Miners eight to five but fell two runs shy of winning the game and advancing to the postseason.
Final score: Chinooks 2, Miners 4
That closes the book on the 2024 Chinooks season, as the team finished with a 12 and 27 league record (13 and 29 overall). Skipper Tim Cole was proud of his boys, taking solace in how they dove into the Bible during discipleship classes and bonded like few other college level teammates ever get to experience. Four players made the decision to be baptized during the last week of the season: Jordan Jaffe, RJ Rickabaugh, Adyn Collins, and Nolan Livsey. So, while the on-field record was less than hoped for, the off-field experience was fantastic and made for a great summer.
Next up for the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks, Opening Day-2025!
