The Peninsula Oilers typically bring a solid pitching staff up to Alaska, but there is definitely a difference between pitchers who are good at this level, and pitchers who have the tools to succeed at the next level. Cameron McVey is a guy who I think could qualify in both of those categories. During the [...]

According to a recent article in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as a press release on the team website, the Goldpanners are slated to return to full ABL status in 2012. The Fairbanks-based club spent 2011 as an “adjunct” member, playing a shortened exhibition schedule against several teams of the Alaska Baseball League and [...]

In 2008, Paul Goldschmidt was acknowledged to be the best overall hitter in the ABL and was the main power threat in the Bucs’ lineup. With an average of .330, 3 homers and 28 RBI’s he was definitely a force to be reckoned with. Those who saw him play up here should have felt pretty confident that Goldschmidt’s talent at swinging the lumber would carry him far.

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve updated this blog and some of you may have wondered where I ran off to. Well, after another amazing season I took what I think was a much-deserved break to get some things in my life in order and make the big jump: moving back to Alaska full [...]

The Peninsula Oilers could beat any team…any team, that is, except 1: the Santa Barbara Foresters. With a loss against them last night, they’ve brought their season to a close, and with it the NBC World Series and the Alaska Baseball League post-season. Their loss to the Foresters on Saturday came at an excruciating final [...]

With a big win tonight, the Peninsula Oilers have extended their season-series sweet of the San Diego Waves and, far more importantly, are within striking distance of the National Baseball Congress World Series championship, rebounding from a loss against the Santa Barbara Foresters. My apologies for being lax on the updates; in addition to a [...]

Here’s a whole truckload of photos from July 27th’s Oilers at Miners game. As I said in the game report, I had a combination of technical difficulties and running out of room under my ISP’s draconian monthly data cap (yes, that’s right, it’s draconian) preventing me from uploading the batch of photos a week or [...]

It’s been a while since we’ve had a look at one of the talented members of the 2011 AIA Fire, so why not keep the rotation going for another round and have a look at sophomore southpaw hurler Andrew Work? Work had hard luck this season, being the pitcher of record in a lot of losing games for the road-based Fire this year. But according to the rest of his stats and my scouting notes, he has more talent than a cursory glance may reveal.

The Peninsula Oilers took their second straight victory at the National Baseball Congress World Series yesterday, advancing in the tournament at the expense of the San Diego Force by a final score of 7-3. The team’s seven runs came on another solid all-around team effort, with every player reaching base except for Tanner Rust, who [...]

The Peninsula Oilers came out with guns blazing today, stomping the Northwest Honkers by a final score of 14-1. The game — which was delayed from Wednesday night until Thursday morning due to rain — was a five-inning mercy-rule victory for the ABL’s representatives at the National Baseball Congress World Series. All five of those [...]

On Tuesday I made it out to see the Oilers one last time when they came up to play the Miners in Palmer. The Miners ended up taking the game by a score of 5-2. At that time it was an important win for them, and one that must have stung for the Oilers, though [...]

Peninsula Oilers skipper Dennis Machado took the Gatorade shower last night, having successfully led his team to Alaska Baseball League glory, clenching the 2011 ABL league title. The win came on a 10-4 victory over the AIA Fire in the first game of a doubleheader in front of their home town fans. Characteristic of their [...]

It’s always good to see a familiar face in Alaska and Clay Cederquist certainly is one of them. Clay was a member of the 2010 Glacier Pilots club and must have loved the experience, because he’s signed on for a second go-around and spent the summer of 2011 with the Anchorage team.

Michael Suiter has been touted as Hawaii’s best baseball talent, and has been honored as the only high school player to be invited to the Alaska Baseball League this year. Drafted by Cincinnati in 2011, Suiter had the opportunity enter pro ball as a 37th around pick, but opted instead to continue his education.

The game last night between the Oilers and the Miners was another one of those where the weather was chilly, but the bats were hot. The teams combined for 12 runs on 16 hits. The weather report said 55F but I don’t believe it. The wind was blowing in from straight-away center which might have [...]