Glacier splits doubleheader with Stallions, barely miss playoffs

By DAVID ERICKSON

Whitefish Pilot

The Glacier Twins AA club ended their season on a winning note Sunday, bouncing back from a shutout to beat the Great Falls Stallions, 8-4.

The Stallions got the best of the Twins earlier in the day in an 11-0 rout, but Glacier didn't let the blowout get to them.

The Twins finished the season with a 10-14 record in their conference, a huge improvement over last year's one conference win. They barely missed the cut for a trip to the state tournament in Billings next month.

"This is the same group of guys that went 1-26 last year," said Twins coach Jarod Grubb. "We battled all year, and got 10 conference wins."

Grubb had very few negative things to say about his season.

"Our road record was better than our home record, and that is indicitave of the lack of support from those closest to the team. Really, that was our biggest struggle," he said. "I'm a rookie head coach, and I guess they expected me to be perfect."

Grubb is also quick to point out that six of his players were offered chances to play baseball in college.

Weston Chambers, Roo Grubb, Justin Collom, Rusty Hill, Scott Yogodzinski, and Josh Peterson all have opportunities to play at the next level.

"I'm proud of the guys for working hard," Grubb said. "It was exciting that we were in the playoff hunt."

Great Falls 11, Glacier 0

Stallions pitcher Caleb Kovatch limited the Twins to only two hits as Great Falls took advantage of three Glacier errors in the infield. The game ended after the fifth inning due to the 10-run mercy rule.

The Stallions got three runs in the first inning, and things just got uglier from there. They also got four runs in the final fifth inning.

Dan Olinger and John Coleman, of Great Falls, led their team with two hits apiece. Taylor Ferradas had a home run.

Roo Grubb and Justin Collom each singled for Glacier's only base hits.

Great Falls 320 24 — 11 10 0

Glacier 000 00 — 0 2 3

Caleb Kovatch and Cole McPherson. Justin Collom, Zane Ridings (2), Michael Hader (5) and Brad Bell. W — Kovach. L — Collom.

GREAT FALLS (NA) — Phil Parrish 1-3, Dan Olinger 2-4, Tanner Bleskin 1-3, John Coleman 2-4, Rick Hedstrom 1-4, McPherson 1-2, Taylor Ferradas 1-3, Zach Griffith 0-2, Kyle DeBolt 1-2.

GLACIER (9-14) — Scott Palmer 0-2, Scott Yogodzinski 0-3, Roo Grubb 1-2, Bell 0-1, Josh Peterson 0-1, Ridings 0-2, Collom 1-2, Ryan Caron 0-1, Hader 0-1, Rusty Hill 0-2.

HR — GF 1 (Ferradas), Gla. 0. 2B — GF 1 (DeBolt), Gla. 0. SB — GF 2 (Parrish 2), Gla. 0.

Great Falls 4, Glacier 8

The attitude of the Twin's bench was markedly different coming into the second game of the doubleheader with Great Falls.

Glacier jumped out to an early lead after Justin Collom and Brad Bell each had bunt singles, starting off a five-run first inning.

"I told the guys they looked flat in the first game," said Grubb. "I told them they have to decide if they want to win or not. We had a chance to get into the playoffs, so we said let's get a win and see where the chips fall."

The Stallions cut into Glacier's lead with two runs in the third and fifth innings, but the Twins were determined not to let them catch up.

Pitcher/infielder Josh Peterson belted a three-run homer to left field in the sixth inning to get the Twins their 8-4 lead.

Zane Ridings gave up only seven hits to the Stallions after pitching in relief for the early game.

Great Falls 002 020 0 — 4 7 2

Glacier 500 003 x — 8 12 1

Phil Parrish and Cole McPherson. Zane Ridings, Brad Nielsen (5) and Nielsen and Ryan Caron (5). W — Ridings. L — Parrish.

GREAT FALLS (NA) — Parrish 1-4, Dan Olinger 1-4, Tanner Bleskin 2-3, John Coleman 1-4, Rick Hedstrom 0-1, McPherson 1-4, Taylor Ferradas 1-2, Kyle DeBolt 0-3, Will Sutherland 0-2.GLACIER (10-14) — Scott Palmer 1-3, Michael Hader 0-1, Roo Grubb 2-4, Brad Bell 2-4, Justin Collom 2-4, Weston Chambers 1-2, Ridings 0-1, Josh Peterson 1-3, Rusty Hill 0-4, Caron 1-3, Nielsen 2-3.

HR — GF 0, Gla. 1 (Peterson).