The 2023 Peninsula Oilers season ended on Thursday night at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer with a 6-2 loss to the Mat-Su Miners in game three of the first round of the Alaska Baseball League playoffs.
After a come-from-behind victory against the Miners Wednesday night to force a winner-take-all game three of the Oilers opening round series, the O’s threatened in the top of the first.
Following two errors by Mat-Su second baseman Nolan Tucker and an infield single by Leighton Helfrick, Miners left-hander Ethan Lyke induced an inning-ending double play against Michael Elko to keep the game scoreless.
Oilers starter Mose Hayes, who recorded a save on the mound in game two opened the night with four scoreless innings.
In the fifth inning, the Miners’ Alex Thurston laced a one-out double against Hayes to give Mat-Su its first runner in scoring position. After a Hayes wild pitch, Emilio Barreras drove in the evening’s first run on an RBI ground out.
In the bottom of the sixth the Miners unloaded for three runs off Hayes on two hits, a Kaden Carpenter RBI triple and a Nolan Tucker RBI double en route to a 4-0 lead.
Hayes, the third-year Oiler departed after six innings on the mound. The Homer, AK native allowed four runs on six hits. He walked three and struck out one batter in a losing effort.
The Oilers lineup ambushed Lyke in the top of the seventh for their only two runs on five hits. Bases loaded RBI singles by Cole Nachreilner and Owen McElfatrick broughr the score to 4-2 Miners. Lyke, similar to the first inning escaped further damage with an inning ending double play with Theo Forshey at the plate.
Lyke finished with a season-best eight innings tossed. The ABL first-team honoree allowed two runs on nine hits while striking out four and walking two.
The Miners drove in the game’s final two runs against Oilers reliever and ABL MVP Nick Costello in the eight inning.
A Sebastian Tomerlin sacrifice flyout and an Alex Thurston two-out RBI single doubled the Miners lead to 6-2.
In the ninth inning, Miners reliever Mario Bejarano retired the side in order. With two outs, Brett Grupe grounded out to Mat-Su third baseman Kaleb Hannahs to end the game and the Oilers season.
Since ABL realignment in 2016 when the league went from a six to a five-team field, every team who’s defeated the Oilers in the playoffs has won the Top of the World Series.
The Alaska Baseball League regular season champion Miners meet the two-time defending ABL champion Anchorage Glacier Pilots Friday night in Palmer in a rematch of last season’s ABL Top of the World Series.
