Twins open season against Mavericks

The Glacier Twins A and B baseball teams took to the diamond April 25 with a level of enthusiasm and spirit that gives first-year coach Bob Rupp a reason to believe in the organization.

“We’re going to be fun to watch,” Rupp said after the annual Black and White scrimmage in Whitefish. “I’m liking the enthusiasm from both teams.”

Glacier Twins board members decided after last year’s disappointing season to drop the team down to the “A” level where they’re more likely to be competitive. Rupp said it was the right decision for the organization.

“We’re going to be very competitive,” Rupp said. “We’ll be one of the teams to be reckoned with.”

Strengths will be all-around speed on the bases and hitting. Rupp calls their style “aggressive small ball.”

“We want to put the ball in play,” he said. “We’re stressing two-strike hitting. We want them up there swinging the bat and being aggressive.”

Rupp also likes the veteran leadership and the chemistry in the infield.

“They’re already gelling together,” he said. “Once they get going, it will be really fun to watch.”

On the mound, Peter Seymour, Hugh Ramlow and Brandon Maassen will anchor the rotation.

As an “A” team, the Twins play in a division with Kalispell, Eureka, Mission Valley, Kootenai Valley, Libby, Cranbrook, Missoula, Hamilton, Frenchtown and Sandpoint, Idaho.

Former “A” team coach Lindsay Fansler is back with the organization and will lead the “B” club. Assistant coaches are Seth Carr, Lee Niersthimer, Kyler Blades and Jeremy Nielsen.

The Twins A team opened the season Saturday by splitting a doubleheader in Missoula with the Mavericks.

Seymour tallied four RBIs on three hits, and Shane Marcial had three RBIs on three hits to lead the team to a 14-10 win in game two. Missoula rallied from an 8-0 deficit to win the opener 12-9.