The Peninsula Oilers split an Alaska Baseball League doubleheader with the Mat-Su Miners on Monday at Hermon Brothers Field in Palmer, winning the first game 0-0 in sudden death, then losing the second game 3-0.
Just getting on the field was a victory for the Oilers after having a Saturday doubleheader with the Miners postponed due to rain and a Sunday game with the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks at Lee Jordan Field in Chugiak postponed due to rain.
The Oilers now finish the regular season with a 10-game stretch at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.
First comes a five-game series with the Anchorage Glacier Pilots starting Thursday at 6 p.m. The series continues Friday, Saturday and Monday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Miners lead the league at 17-12, while the Glacier Pilots are a game back at 15-12, the Anchorage Bucs are 1.5 games back at 16-14, the Oilers are 4.5 games back at 12-16 and the Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks are 5.5 games back at 11-17.
The opening game of Monday’s doubleheader was defined by rain even though showers did not fall during the game.
Because the Oilers at Miners couldn’t play due to rain July 6 at Seymour Park, the Oilers were the home team.
That meant that when pitchers dominated the first eight innings of the game, the Oilers, as the home team, got to choose whether to play offense or defense in the sudden-death ninth.
In the ABL, when a game is tied after an extra inning, the home team chooses offense or defense. In an ABL doubleheader, each game is scheduled for seven innings.
The offensive team then gets to start with a runner on first. If the offensive team scores, the offensive team wins with no chance for the defensive team to reply. If the defensive team doesn’t allow a run, the defensive team wins without a chance to reply.
The pressure was on Homer High and American Legion Twins product Mose Hayes on the mound in the ninth. The Oilers were 0-1 in sudden-death games heading into Monday.
With Kaden Carpenter on first, Hayes began the ninth by striking out Braydon Rogers.
Due to catcher obstruction, Sebastian Tomerlin went to first and Carpenter went to second.
Hayes got Alex Thurston to pop out to shortstop and Kaleb Hannahs to pop out to first base for the victory.
Hayes went four scoreless innings for the win, giving up two hits and no walks while striking out four.
Arnad Mulamekic pitched the first five innings for the Oilers, giving up two hits and two walks while striking out four.
The Oilers had five hits, with Leighton Helfrick leading the way with a 2 for 3 effort.
In the second game, the Oilers were shut out on four hits.
Ryne Palmer took the loss, going five innings and giving up three runs on five hits while walking two and striking out three.
Sam Silversmith had an inning of scoreless and hitless relief, striking out one.
