Mat-Su wins ABL Championship in walk-off fashion after improbable 7-run comeback

PALMER, Alaska (KTUU) - In what was one of the most dramatic finishes in Alaska Baseball League’s rich history, the Mat-Su Miners rallied from seven runs down to defeat the Anchorage Bucs 9-8 with a wild walk-off to end the 2025 ABL season.

“Man, there’s no better feeling than this!” one Mat-Su player said.

Trailing 8-7 with runners on first and second in the bottom of the ninth, Mat-Su’s James McGee hit a single into left field. Ridge Erickson, the runner at second, began to round third on his way home, before slipping and back tracking to third. At this time, Anchorage’s left fielder misplayed the ball which got away, allowing Erickson to score and sending Evan Bilter home from first for the game-winning run.

“I was just trying to get to third, then I saw it get by him, then it was off to the races from there,” Bilter, who scored the game-winning run said.

“It was actually funny, because I didn’t even see it happen at first,” McGee, who delivered the game-winning hit said. “I saw he kicked the ball and was like, ‘oh shoot, we might win this game!’”

Mat-Su players came flying out of the dugout in a frenzy as they dog piled McGee in the infield to celebrate the organization’s first ABL title since 2018.

“I got to second, looked, realized Bilter had come all the way around and was just ecstatic,” McGee added. “It happened so fast, it was kind of crazy to even celebrate because it happened so fast.”

The Bucs used a five-run fourth inning to establish a 7-0 midway through the ball game, all but creating room in the trophy case for another ABL championship.

However, the Miners continued to dig away at the deficit, scoring on a wild pitch and an RBI single before Bilter belted a two-run home run to make it a manageable 7-4 ball game.

Two innings later, RBI hits from Bilter, McGee and Carter Eberhard tied the ball game as the improbable comeback was in sight. A sacrifice fly gave Anchorage a one run lead and a slight sigh of relief in the 8th, before the Rally in the Valley was complete with the bottom of the 9th.

“Man, that was fun. I don’t think I have ever been a part of a game like that before,” Mat-Su Manager Tyler LeBrun said. “That is just an attribute to the fight that these guys have. They’ve had it all year, they never gave up, they are always trying to get back in the game and keep throwing punches. I have never been more proud of a group.”

A memorable way to end the season for the collegiate athletes after eight weeks of summer ball under the land of the Midnight Sun.

“I love this team, we’ve been through so much these past two months, it’s been an unforgettable summer.” Bilter said.

See a spelling or grammar error? Report it to web@ktuu.com