Many Happy Returns
By Don Dennis
General Manager, Alaska Goldpanners
8/25/2002
Time for the old General Manager to catch up with the internet technology and produce the first Goldpanner internet column.
Columns are nothing new for me, in fact they are old. A newspaper career that began in 1959 provided much opportunity for noting the accomplishments of others, offering comments and opinions. However, that chapter in life closed for me in 1979 after serving as President of the Alaska Journal of Commerce--that following nearly 18 years on daily newspapers from my adopted hometown of Pueblo, CO, to Fairbanks, my hometown since 1967. The initial aim here will be to keep Goldpanner faithful informed of goings on in and around the team as well as plans for the future. I also see it as a means of passing along information on the whereabouts and doings of those associated with the program during its 43 years of operation.
The 2002 World Series Championship gives us a good place to start. It was 1972--30 years before--when the Panners finally broke the bridesmaid jinx and won its first of now 6 NBC titles, more than any other program in the NBC's 65 years. The Panners, of course, have won some other national titles--twice the U.S. Open and in 1991 the National Shootout in Amarillo--and many International Championships, beginning with the World Title in 1966. At the close of the recent tournament the Wichita Eagle's fine sportswriter Bob Lutz had a column covering the Panners ratio of success when attending the tournament. Not competing in Wichita for so many years is fodder for future ramblings.
The 2002 title ushers in a new era. It was accomplished by a new generation of leadership and players, many of whom were not born when Fairbanks last won at Wichita in 1980. A new field manager, Ed Cheff of Lewis-Clark State in Idaho, set the competitive tone while Todd Dennis' PannerVision and the necessary army of volunteers marked the administrative side. Vitally important is the constant and generous backing of the Fairbanks community through financial support. The sale of outfield billboard signs and booster packages both hit all-time highs in 2002. In-park attendance was up and stadium sales reflected that from top to bottom while the sale of Goldpanner souvenirs and memorabilia made gigantic jumps, again because of the internet work of Todd. PannerVision and its related commercial aspect is the revenue base of the future.
Not enough could be written about several aspects of the 2002 season. First, the accomplishments of Fairbanks product Sean Timmons and the high bar he has established for local players in the future. How about the sensational season put together by high schooler Scott Robinson of San Diego? The season-long efforts of the combined starting pitchers. The record-setting relief work of unheralded Zak Basch of Hofstra College on Long Island, NY. The " closer" job done by Arizona State's Ryan Schroyer, who did not allow a run all season--earned or unearned. In fact, he never allowed an " inherited" runner to score. The tremendous play of second baseman Ryan Haag in the NBC Series and his richly deserved naming to the NBC All-America Team. The inspired play of Blake Gill, the utility player picked up from Mat-Su, who was named Most Valuable Player of the National Tournament. The job done by Cheff and his staff of Rob Hippi, Denny Barrett and early-on Tyler Cheff. The Panners won it all despite going through five (5) shortstops and finished the final four games of the NBC Tournament with Gill as an out-of-position shortstop, arguably the most important position on the field.
Timmons' career with the Goldpanners is probably finished--after six seasons. But, what a story. Fresh out of Lathrop High he first appeared in a Goldpanner uniform and most likely would like to forget that first try. But, he returned a couple of years later bigger and stronger, and in the process of becoming a pitcher. By the end of his collegiate days at Armstrong Atlantic in Atlanta he had become pretty good. He was a sometimes starter for the Goldpanners, was pitching in the local Fairbanks Adult Amateur Baseball League, and helping coach high school and American Legion age players. Three years ago he became a regular member of the starting rotation and two years ago worked himself to the number three spot in rotation. This past year he posted the best numbers among the Goldpanner starters on a National Championship team and posted two wins in the NBC. His 8-0 record and ERA near 1.60 is the new target of Fairbanks youngsters. Previously, the Panners had received contributions from several local hurlers but never on the threshold of Timmons. Most notable among those would be Ward Merdes in 1983, Davy Baldwin in 1993, and Ty Whitt in 1997. All in the Goldpanners organization are anxious for the next Sean Timmons to come along.
Scott Robinson provides storybook material. He played in an exhibition game with the Panners while visiting Fairbanks in 1993 with his father, Bruce. Bruce, who became a Fairbanks resident in the 1980s following his major league career, played on four Goldpanners teams (1972-1975) and was a member of the 1972 team which brought Fairbanks its first NBC title. The Robinson family now has four NBC titles and one second place in five tries. Scott not only led the Goldpanners in hitting but was the best RBI guy on the team. He had huge two-run doubles in both of the Panners wins over Anchorage at Wichita. In 2001 Scott played the final 11 games with the Panners and in so doing became the first high school junior ever to start a game for the team. A handful have played after their senior season. Among them are Rod Boone, Darryl Arenstein. Bruce Robinson, Kurt Wittmayer, Travis Lee, Larry Reynolds, and Cole Liniak. Scott's summer is on a par with that put up by Travis Lee, now of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Goldpanners have seen many pitchers advance to the major leagues but never has a starting staff been as reliable as in 2002. Five deep it always felt like the pitching would keep us in the game--Mike Moat of San Diego State, Marc Kaiser of Arizona, J.P. Gagne of Notre Dame, and Clay Johnson of Washington were the guys to join Timmons in that effort. The sixth guy, usually Justin Azze of Orange Coast, may have the best upside of the group but was a little inexperienced for the level of play (i.e. he walked too many hitters).
The starters were reliable and good, but the bullpen was great. Four guys combined to offer a variety of strong suites. All of which made for one of the best relief crews ever--and the Panners have had some great relief pitchers over the team's history. Zak Basch sets an all-time low ERA for relievers working a minumum number of innings. He worked in long situations in 2002 after being mostly a short guy the year before. In two years he was successful on all but two visits to the mound and both of those were in 2001 when he simply had to stay out there longer than was prudent just because there was no one else. Zak is deserving of additional mention and it will be done in future writings.
Kevin Welch of Lewis-Clark State was strong and ate up innings for most of the season while the aforementioned Schroyer just closed the door each time he went to the mound. Schroyer was one of the most valuable guys the Goldpanners have had in the team's history and largely just because he was sitting on the bench waiting for his time. No team could afford to let the game reach Schroyer-time. The unsung hero of the pen is Scott Robertson of Cal State-Northridge. Scott was consistent from the opening bell to the end. He could hold teams awaiting a potential Panner rally, or he could shut them down if needed. The guy provided as many clutch strikeouts (i.e. damaging runs in scoring position) as can be remembered. One might have to go all the way back to 1971 when a slight lefty from Clemson named Rusty Gerhardt could enter the game and stifle a rally with a ground ball. Rusty, who made the big leagues, was normally a starter but could be called upon for a save, and did so often on one of the most powerful Panner teams ever.
Ryan Haag had an average season in Alaska but he stepped it up several notches in Wichita. He played his first two years at Cal State Northridge but I hear he is following Coach Batesole (Glacier Pilots '84) to Fresno State this fall. It is my opinion that Ryan turned the tournament around for the Goldpanners in the first Pilots game (lose and you're out situation for the Panners). He came to the plate in the seventh inning with the team trailing 6-1 and a couple of runners aboard. His at-bat lasted a long time, including a half-dozen foul balls. He then laced a drive in the gap to score two but he kept right on moving and wound up at second with a double. He later scored and Scott Robinson was balked home to make it 6-5 going to the eighth. Robinson then doubled home a pair in the eighth to keep the Panners alive, something that wouldn't have been possible without Haag's world class at-bat in the seventh.
Anytime you go all the way it is necessary that the coaching staff do a great job and that was easily the case for the Panners in '02. One of the biggest hurdles was that of handling the shortstop position. Right out of the chute a very good looking shortstop from Lewis-Clark, Jay Knowlton, broke a bone in his foot. Grant Rogers of Linfield, OR, College was on-hand to fill the role and a late arriver was Brett Garrard of Ohio State. Garrard never got untracked either offensively or defensively and actually left the team on his own about July 15. In the meantime Brendan Ryan, also of Lewis-Clark, had been brought in to shore up the infield, filling the spot left vacant by the injury to Knowlton. Ryan and Rogers teamed to fill the spot in fine fashion as the Panners made their pennant run. However, both would be injured--Ryan during the Bucs' Invitational Tournament in Anchorage and Rogers during an at-bat early in the Wichita proceedings. Step forward No. 5. None other than Blake Gill of Louisiana State. Blake was selected in the Alaska draft by the Panners primarily to take the No. 3 slot in the batting order. And, his versatility was a bonus. That versatility, however, did not include shortstop. He was forced to move there after the third game at the NBC and did a great job. It seemed he benefited from being a good athlete, and the true bounces from the Wichita turf. Whatever, he was named the tournament's best player. A side observation on Blake. He was cut out to be a Goldpanner. I have witnessed many pickups over the years and never before have I seen a guy become integrated the way it happened for Gill. By the third game of the tournament it seemed as though he had been with the team throughout the season. A tribute to Blake and the other Goldpanner players who welcomed him aboard.
Certainly 2002 is a season full of memories. Final statistics and most valuable player awards will be coming our way on September 1. The Alaska League has a meeting on Sept. 5 in Anchorage and that will be the subject of the next GM notebook. I will discuss the Pilots' so-called "co-championship" and all of the things that are wrong with that assertion. The Goldpanners have a Wichita fund-raising raffle set for 5 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the Merdes Training Center at Growden Park. Proceeds are being used to offset the cost of the national championship quest. In round numbers--it cost $32,500 for the trip. Prize money was $16,000. The raffle and operating gains from the season will pay the balance.
By Don Dennis
General Relativity
8/25/2002
