The days are getting longer, things are starting to thaw out a little bit, and can you believe it? It’s only about four months until ABL season gets into the swing. Junior colleges have started playing ball way down south, and although things seem to be frozen solid up here in Alaska, the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks have started to put together their new website — and their new team.
The new site — CERChinooks.com — is online and looks pretty sharp. It’s a pretty good looking site and has a lot of potential, I think. So be sure to add that to your bookmarks if you’re the type (like me) who has to be all over the latest news from all the clubs in the league.
Andrew Work is slated to return for the Chinooks in 2012.
There’s a lot of info on the site but perhaps the most interesting right now is the roster. It’s a little sparse right now — about 15 men deep — and any roster released in February is likely to turn over a handful of players before June. But the club is bringing back a lot of AIA Fire guys from last year: JJ Turbin, Scott Kalamar, Tyler Shryock, and Andrew Work. And then there’s this old-timer — David Mitroff — who came up with the team in 2010 as a backstop, now listed as a pitcher. Also noteworthy is Drew Turbin; I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess it’s JJ’s little bro, and a freshman at Yavapai.
I’m getting pretty stoked about the upcoming season for this team, but if you need something else to get excited about, how about the price of admission? It’s free. But please keep in mind that this team is a nonprofit organization, just putting down roots in a new home, and trying to build a presence. If you want to support the team financially as well as morally you can buy a season ticket, which includes a reserved seat and a cool portable stadium chair, for just $150. Check out the website for details.
I know all the other teams have good stuff in the works, although they’re holding their cards a little closer to their chests at this point. We’ll keep an eye on their sites and report back with any big news. Baseball is just around the corner, ABL fans, so don’t panic.
Jesse Jack is a life-long Alaskan (except for a stint in Montana) who studies Civil Engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage from August through May, and lives at the ballpark during June and July. 
