Friday: Oilers open ABL season with Panners

The Peninsula Oilers treated a large home crowd to an opening night celebration Friday at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark by providing a mix of big hits and defensive fireworks to secure a 4-1 victory over the Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks.

At the plate, the Oilers knocked out nine hits, including four extra-base hits and a fifth one that ended up at third base.

On defense, it was the quartet of Jimmy Galusky, Jordan Washam, Bennett Oliver and Ted Boeke that sparkled in the Oilers’ infield. Second-baseman Galusky, shortstop Washam and first baseman Oliver combined to turn a pair of double plays that held Fairbanks to a lone run on the night.

“I just stayed back, stayed cool,” Galusky said. “We have some good infielders out here that we’ve recruited that have been good two nights in a row now.”

Galusky played a part on all three double plays, but perhaps his best play came in the bottom of the third while at bat. Galusky blasted a shot to the gap between right and center field, which was dropped and then kicked by Panners right fielder Quin Butler, allowing Galusky to make it to third base with a slide.

“I saw a fastball up in the zone, and I went with it,” Galusky said. “I was about halfway to second when I saw the outfielder kick it, and I decided to go to third.

“Apparently I didn’t have to dive, but I wanted to get a little dirt on my jersey.”

Louisiana State University-Shreveport senior David Diaz earned the win on the mound, tossing the first seven innings with a tidy pitch count of 84. Diaz gave up the one run on seven hits, two walks and six strikeouts. Paul Lujan recorded the save in the final inning with no hits, no walks and one strikeout.

Oilers head coach Kevin Griffin praised his team after the win, and added that Diaz is a player he was happy to see start. Diaz recently graduated from LSU, and with no immediate plans on the horizon, is using this summer with the Oilers to hopefully catch the attention of pro teams.

“He’s just playing on motivation and pride,” Griffin said. “He’s got good stuff, he’s going to be good for us.”

Boeke and Oliver both went 2 for 4 to lead the Oilers on offense. Andrew Carrillo went 3 for 4 to lead Fairbanks at the dish.

The Panners struck first in the third inning, as a single from Renae Martinez dropped into left field to score Carrillo. The inning ended on the first double play of the night, as Galusky tagged Martinez at second base and whipped it to Oliver to record the third out on Brian Lees.

In the bottom of the inning, Galusky reached third on his hit, then tied the game up when he was brought home on a balk by Fairbanks pitcher Ryan Hingst. 

Washam followed that up with a double, and scored the go-ahead run on another double by Boeke.

“They came in from day one, and they work hard,” Griffin said about the superb hitting in the third inning. “We’ve been taking (batting practice) and all that, but they get their work in, it’s not party time, and they go home and enjoy themselves.”

Oliver and Billy Wilson each added to the lead with a run apiece on a pass ball and wild pitch in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively.

“We know they can hit,” Griffin said. “They manage to stretch singles into doubles, so they play hard.”

The Oiler and Goldpanners meet again Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

 

Oilers 4, Goldpanners 1

PannersABRHBIOilersABRHBI

Rnds 2b4000Wshm ss4110

Crlo 3b4130Bke 3b4021

Nlsn ss3000Ruhm lf3010

Vrln 1b4000Flks rf3000

Mtnz dh4011Olvr 1b4120

Lees c4020Diaz dh3010

Rbts cf4000Wlfg c3010

Btlr rf3020Glky 2b3110

Shvr lf2000Wlsn cf2100

Totals29491Totals32181

Oilers00201100x—4

Panners001000000—1

IPHRERBBSO

Oilers

Diaz, W7.071126

Michel1.000000

Lujan1.010001

Panners

Hingst, L5.083315

Cardona3.011113

More in Sports

Allie Ostrander is presented her award by Stacia Rustad at the Alaska High School Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 induction ceremony on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at The Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Ostrander records fastest Alaska half marathon

Allie Ostrander, a 2015 graduate of Kenai Central High School and current… Continue reading

tease
Wednesday hoops: Unalaska girls, Ninilchik boys pick up conference wins

The Unalaska girls and Ninilchik boys picked up Southern Conference victories Wednesday… Continue reading

Nikiski's Lynn Deveer drives on Homer's Henry Wedvik and Einar Pederson on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Tuesday: Nikiski girls, Homer boys notch conference wins

The Nikiski girls and Homer boys basketball teams picked up Peninsula Conference… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Tania Boonstra sets out from the start on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at the Lookout Mountain Cross-Country Ski Trails in Homer, Alaska. Boonstra, a junior, earned the title of Skimeister for the third year in a row at this weekend’s regional meet. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Colony’s girls, boys sweep Region III ski meet

SoHi’s Boonstra wins 3rd straight Skimeister

tease
Saturday: Seward girls, Ninilchik boys win Homer Winter Carnival; CIA boys win NIT

The Seward girls and Ninilchik boys basketball teams won the Homer Winter… Continue reading

tease
Brown Bears trade overtime victories with Ice Dogs

The Kenai River Brown Bears split a North American Hockey League Series… Continue reading

tease
Friday hoops: Nikiski girls, Kenai boys get conference wins

The host Kenai Central and Nikiski basketball teams split Peninsula Conference games… Continue reading

Most Read