Longtime Alaska Baseball League associate John Lohrke was recently named president of the Alaska Goldpanners board of directors. Lohrke will also occupy the position as interim general manager. The former Soldotna resident served as president of the Oilers board of directors from 2001 through 2003 and also held the position of general manager for the former ABL team the North Pole Nicks. Former Panners GM Todd Dennis has stepped down as GM but will continue with his many other duties with the Fairbanks team.

The Oilers 2016 roster has been increased with the addition of a pair of utility players. Lassen Community College freshman right-handed pitcher-outfielder Ryan Smith is from Florence, Oregon, and catcher-infielder Jared Huber, from Spring, Texas, is a sophomore at Texas State University. Also joining the Oilers from TSU is infielder Luke Sherely, a sophomore, whose hometown is The Woodlands, Texas.

Oilers Corner is submitted by Mike Baxter, general manager of baseball operations who can be contacted at gm@oilersbaseball.com.