Alaska Sports Hall of Fame

After injuries slowed down his production in professional baseball the previous two years, Alaska’s Matt Way was full of optimism at the start of the 2012 season.

He had plenty to celebrate after the season, too.

Way, of Sitka High fame, helped the Long Island Ducks win the Atlantic League title after they beat the Lancaster Barnstormers 5-4 in the deciding game of the best-of-5 series.

The 6-foot-2 southpaw was a starter for most of the season but saw an inning of scoreless relief work in Game 5.

In four playoff appearances with the Ducks, Way went 2-0 with 2.87 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 15.2 innings.

Way was an all-star in Texas with the Laredo Lemurs of the American Association. After the season he was signed by the Ducks for their playoff push in the Atlantic League.

In 25 starts overall, he went 14-8 with a 3.63 ERA and 151 Ks in 163.2 innings.

Now he’s headed to Australia to play winter ball and surf.