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By WILL MORROW
Peninsula Clarion

Chris Mabeus, a Soldotna High School graduate and an alumnus of the American Legion Twins baseball program, recently completed his fourth season of professional baseball with the Oakland Athletics organization.

While Mabeus finished with the Triple A Sacramento (Calif.) Rivercats, he is still chasing his dreams of pitching in the major leagues.

"Things went real well. They didn't go as well as they could have, but they went all right," Mabeus said.

Mabeus went to spring training this year with the Texas Rangers after the Rangers acquired him from Oakland in last winter's Rule 5 draft. Under draft rules, Texas had to keep Mabeus on its big league roster or offer him back to Oakland.

"I thought I had a real good shot of making that team, but with three days left in camp, they had to make a decision," Mabeus said.

Mabeus was returned to the Athletics, and started the season in Double A for about 20 games before moving up to the Rivercats. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound right-handed reliever went 7-2 with four saves and a 3.00 earned run average for Sacramento. In 51 innings of work, Mabeus struck out 61 and walked 12 while allowing 45 hits.

Mabeus was stellar in the postseason as well, helping the Rivercats defeat the Iowa Cubs in the Pacific Coast League championship series. In Game 1 of the series, Mabeus worked two innings. He got a foul pop fly and a fly-ball out to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh, then worked a 1-2-3 eighth as the Rivercats went on to win.

Mabeus came back in Game 3, picking up the win as the Rivercats swept the best-of-five series. Mabeus entered the game with two out and runners on base in the fifth inning and struck out the first batter he faced, ending the Cubs threat. He then retired the side in order in the sixth and seventh innings before being relieved to start the eighth.

Mabeus described the experience as magical. He said he followed the 2003 PCL championship series -- also won by Sacramento -- via the Internet and was hoping he would have a chance to play for manager Tony DeFrancesco.

After his spring training experience with Texas, he had also hoped he would get a shot to pitch in the big leagues this year and said he was disappointed not to get a September call-up.

"I thought there was a real good possibility of being called up in September," Mabeus said. "I don't know why, it just didn't happen.

"It was frustrating to see guys I was pitching with, with the A's and the Rangers pitch in the big leagues and have success."

Still, Mabeus said being in Triple A wasn't too shabby a way to spend his season.

"The atmosphere there is unbelievable. They lead the minor leagues in attendance every year -- it's as close to the big leagues as you can get," Mabeus said.

Mabeus said his wife, Ann, and son, Boston, also enjoyed their summer in Sacramento, explaining that as he's advanced through the system, the perks and privileges extended to his family have increased.

Mabeus said he had a chance to talk to Joey Newby, another Soldotna native, early in the season after Newby was signed by the Athletics to play with the rookie club in Arizona.

"One of our head guys from Arizona came up to Sacramento and said they'd signed somebody from Soldotna. I knew exactly who it was," Mabeus said.

Mabeus said Newby called him looking for a little advice, and Mabeus was happy to share.

"That was me three years ago," Mabeus said. "He's from my hometown, and I've known him since Little League. It's neat that such a small town as Soldotna, Alaska, has two guys in professional baseball in the same organization."

Newby went 2-3 in 14 games for the Arizona A's, compiling a 4.04 earned-run average with 46 strikeouts and 10 walks in 55 2-3 innings pitched.

Mabeus credited Twins manager Lance Coz with helping him take the first steps toward becoming a professional baseball player.

"I know that Lance works extremely hard at getting kids exposure. It's starting to pay off for guys like Marshall Boze (who made it to the majors with Milwaukee in 1996), and guys who have played college baseball," Mabeus said. "I commend him on his effort. He'd been (with the Legion team) for 20-something years when I was there. You always wonder when he's finally had enough, but he really must love the game of baseball to continue to do it."

Mabeus said he'll continue to work toward making it to the major leagues. He's planning to pitch in the Mexican winter league this year and is waiting to see if Oakland will add him to its 40-man roster. If not, he's likely to be picked up in the Rule 5 draft again.

"I think when I head down to Mexico, it will be a good chance to develop. It will give me some games and some experience heading into spring training," Mabeus said. "I'm going to work hard in the offseason and hopefully, I'll be in the right place at the right time."

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