Veteran Middle Infielder Makes Mad Midnight Dash

For Arik VanZandt, playing another season of baseball in Fairbanks is more than extra practice time during his summer vacation. It’s a chance to reestablish himself and prove to Alaskans that he is major league material.

"I felt that my play last year was not satisfactory or up to my potential," he said. "I wanted to come back and show the team what I can do."

What he did do is hit .372 with three home runs for second place Stanford University in the 1999-2000 season, and he helped take his team to the college world series in Omaha, Neb., this June.

He joined the Goldpanners on June 21, after the college championships were over, immediately taking over third base.   Quite immediately in fact, as he drove directly to Growden from the airport in time to be substituted into the Midnight Sun Game.  "Getting to town in time for the Midnight Sun Game was a must" said 'VZ,' as he is called by teammates.

VanZandt chose to refine his skills here because he considers the Alaska Baseball League to be "one of the top leagues for summer" play. The challenge of travelling and of playing every day are what make it tough, he said.

What makes it attractive to him, though, is the atmosphere created by the matching of ballplayers with host families for the summer.

"We’re away from our families 10 months out of the year," VanZandt said. "[Being with a family] is a good setting."

As a veteran Goldpanner, VanZandt will be one of the leaders of the team, encouraging the new kids on the block to work hard and remain strong as a whole. He believes that this summer’s strong pitching staff will be the backbone of a team that must play every day for lack of extra players.

With star pitcher on the mound and a hardworking team to work with, VanZandt will not only be proving himself to Alaskans, but to himself—and he’ll be off and running to a stellar baseball career.

Michelle Eastty