Jaquez looking to shine in 'the Last Frontier'

By Charles Whisnand

Appeal Sports Editor

Tyson Jaquez didn't waste any time taking advantage of this chance to showcase what he can do.

After losing one of its players to an injury the Mat-Su Miners of the Alaskan Baseball League needed someone to fill that spot on the roster and they reached out to Jaquez to meet the need.

"I got the first flight that I could," said Jaquez during an interview while he was on that flight Friday night.

Jaquez should have arrived in time to be available to play in today's game for the Miners.

"It's really nice to get an opportunity like this," he said.

Jaquez, who had an outstanding freshmen year for Western Nevada College before playing the past two years at the University of Nevada, had spent the last two summers playing with the Nevada Bighorns and he said the experience of playing with the Bighorns has been helpful.

"The Bighorns have given me an opportunity to stay on top of my game," he said.

Along with the Cape Cod League, the Alaskan Baseball League is considered one of the nation's top summer college leagues. Both leagues use wood bats and both leagues send numerous players to the professional ranks.

"It's a chance to prove myself," Jaquez said. "It's just another chance to get noticed."

There are now four players from Nevada playing this summer in the Cape Cod and Alaskan Leagues. Jaquez joins Kevin Rodland with the Miners.

Shaun Kort and Dayton's Matt Bowman are playing with the Orleans Cardinals in the Cape Cod League. Bowman is having an excellent summer with the Cardinals, hitting .320 with one home run and seven RBI in a league where a .280 average is considered outstanding.

There are six teams in the Alaskan League who play each other in league games and other visiting clubs in nonleague games. The Miners are 13-9 overall and 9-8 in league and have about 15 games left through th first of August.

Jaquez will be used as a catcher for the Miners and is coming off an outstanding junior season with Nevada, hitting .292 with nine homers and 26 RBI.

Jaquez made the adjustment to catcher this season and received the majority of playing time at the position while splitting time with Travis Simas.

There has been talk that Jaquez could return to his natural position of third base where he played at WNC and take over for the departed Jason Rodriguez next season.

But Jaquez said he expects stay at catcher along with Simas, who will also return next season.

"I'm pretty sure I'm still going to be catching," Jaquez said.

His main concern, though, is just to be in the lineup.

"I'll play anywhere," Jaquez said. "As long as I'm in the lineup I don't care where I'm going to play."

He said his goal in Alaska is "just to have fun. That's the biggest concern."