Anchorage Daily News

Brint Hardy, the speedy hitting machine for Athletes In Action, was named the Alaska Baseball League Player of the Year on Monday, while Pilots manager Bob Miller won coach of the year and Pilots shortstop Joe Scott earned the gold glove award.

Through Sunday's game, Hardy, an outfielder from the University of Alabama- Birmingham, was leading AIA in most hitting categories, batting .392 with four home runs, 21 RBIs and a slugging percentage of .545. He's also exceptionally fast, with 22 steals in 23 attempts.

Miller, meanwhile, has engineered a worst-to-first turnaround for the Pilots. A year after finishing 17-27, the Pilots are flourishing under Miller, who is on his second stint as Pilots manager.

The Pilots were 29-11 after winning Monday afternoon's game against AIA, and they have Wichita in their sights. Wichita, Kan., is where the National Baseball Congress World Series is held, and Miller led the Pilots to the 2001 championship and a 2002 runner-up finish.

Miller, who heads the baseball program at Cuesta Community College in San Luis Obispo, Calif., had a 100-67 career ABL record entering this season.

"They're coming from different programs, they have different philosophies in place," Miller said of his players before the Pilots season got started. "The main thing we do in the summertime is allow them to do what they were taught at their program.

"(Then) when we get them all together, (we) get them to give us the best effort they can on a nightly basis."

Scott, the nimble shortstop, has a .940 fielding percentage with 53 put outs and 120 assists.

ABL All-Star First Team

First Base -- Joey Terdoslavich, Piliots;

Second Base -- Evan Wells, Bucs;

Shortstop -- Joe Scott, Pilots;

Third Base -- Raoul Torrez, Goldpanners

Catcher -- Tobias Streich, AIA

Starting Pitchers -- Jason Erickson, Miners; Christian Bergman, Bucs; Paul Bargas, Bucs; Joe Gardner, Oilers; Ross Humes, Oilers.

Relief Pitching -- Michael Rocha, Miners; Zach Quate, Pilots; Eric Best, Pilots; Ross Humes, Oilers.

Designated Hitter -- Paul Goldschmidt, Bucs.

Utility Player -- Matt Newman, Goldpanners.

Player of the Year -- Brint Hardy, AIA.

Top Prospect -- Nick Ciolli, Goldpanners.

Gold Glove -- Joe Scott, Pilots.

Silver Slugger -- Brint Hardy, AIA.

Coach of the Year -- Bob Miller, Pilots.

ABL All-Star Second Team

First Base -- Paul Goldschmidt, Bucs.

Second Base -- Bryan Haar, Pilots.

Shortstop -- Jonathon Merritt, AIA.

Third Base -- Blake Newalu, Miners, and Matt Harughty, Pilots (tie).

Catcher -- Francis Larson, Oilers.

Outfield -- Ty Rasmussen, Miners; Jonathon Jones, Pilots; Thomas Myers, Goldpanners.

Starting Pitching -- Steven Fischback, Miners; Tyler Henry, Pilots; Matt Newman, Goldpanners.

Relief Pitching -- Kyle Brule, Goldpanners; Brandon Berl, Oilers.

Designated Hitter -- Kevin Winn, AIA.

Utility Player -- Kevin Winn, AIA.

Player of the Year -- Joe Gardner, Oilers, and Christian Bergman, Bucs.

Top Prospect -- Five-way tie.

Gold Glove -- Blake Newalu, Miners.

Silver Slugger -- Paul Goldschmidt, Bucs.

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