6/12/10 Odds & Ends - Actually playing baseball edition

Mark Joukoff will be on the sidelines for the
next couple weeks.
Photo: AnchorageBucs.com

Holy cow, it's actually here. Alaska Baseball is happening for real. And what a start. The Oilers are pacing the league with a 3-0 record (didn't I tell you they'd be better this year?), there have been a ton of tight games and pitching duels, and I can't get enough. I'm obsessed. So here's the dish on this week's odds & ends:

- Let's start it off with a little trivia. Did you know that today is the birthday of the Mat-Su Miners? The Valley Green Giants -- precursors of the modern Miners -- played their very first game on this day in 1976.

- So far we've had a couple ABL draftees sign pro contracts. I already reported (and scooped the world!) that Panners recruit Darian Sandford has signed (real name is Clifford) with the Royals, and that Ryan Cole (Miners, 2009) has come to terms with Houston. Houston and KC have been the most active as far as getting their players to sign. Oakland has been aggressive in coming to terms as well, but the only draft pick out of AK they have is Matt Thomson (Oilers, 2007) who was taken in the 12th round, and so far there's no indication that those two parties have come to terms. Every other team has been pretty quiet as far as signing their draft picks, but we'll continue to monitor the situation.

- We've already got at least one injury on the short season. The Bucs' Mark Joukoff was injured while taking infield practice on Monday; twisting his ankle while leaping for a high throw. He'll probably be out for about two weeks, which means he'll miss about two starts on the hill.

2010 Player Profile: Kevin Lusson, Glacier Pilots

Kevin Lusson, leading off first for the Horns
Photo Credit: Chris Kosho

Kevin Lusson
3B/OF - Anchorage Glacier Pilots
Bats: S - Throws: R
Height: 6'1" - Weight: 205lb
College: University of Texas
Year: Sophomore
Hometown: Austin, Texas

Straight outta that other state that is supposed to be big comes a new Glacier Pilots recruit for 2010: 3B/OF Kevin Lusson. He's in the midst of his sophomore season with the D1 Texas Longhorns who, in case you haven't heard, are kind of a big deal in college baseball.

Lusson has come on strong as of late, but his stats have been hampered by a slow start and, according to College Splits, a tough schedule and a pitcher-friendly park. At time of writing, Lusson's line reads .260 29RBI 8HR and an OPS of .884, but adjusted for park & schedule it's more like .298/33/9/.987.Those are the kind of numbers that the Pilots are hoping he puts up for them this year in Anchorage.