Glacier Twins take second at state tourney

The Glacier Twins had the defending champion Bitterroot Red Sox on the ropes, bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth Monday in the Montana/Alberta American Legion Class A state baseball championship at Great Falls. All the Twins needed was a base hit to keep hope alive for a second state title in three years.

With two outs, James Sampson-Keck put bat to the ball, but Bitterroot’s right fielder snagged the shot to secure a 9-7 victory for the Sox.

“James just got under it a little bit,” Twins head coach Bob Rupp said. “The boys left everything on the line. We had a chance to do it at the end, but that’s baseball.”

The championship game was a seesaw battled from the first frame and a dramatic shift from the previous meetings between the two clubs. Bitterroot had romped over Glacier 23-2 just a week prior in the Western A District championship.

Bitterroot took an early 1-0 lead Monday, but Glacier responded in the second to tie it up.

Bitterroot scored three more runs in the top of the third, then Glacier answered again with two runs.

The Red Sox added to their 4-3 lead with four runs in the fourth inning. Glacier came back with three runs in the fifth, then the Red Sox pushed across another run in the sixth to take a 9-6 lead.

The Twins narrowed the lead in the eighth, cutting it to 9-7 to give Glacier a fighting chance in the final frame.

Missed opportunities hurt Glacier on offense. The Twins had a runner in scoring position in every inning but the seventh, outhit the Red Sox with 18 hits to Bitterroot’s 16, but left 14 runners on base in the game.

“Our boys came out aggressive,” Rupp said. “We had our chances. If a ball bounces a different way, who knows. The Red Sox are a good team and are well coached.”

Tristin Steinwand was 5 for 6 in the game with a double and Ryan Veneman was 5 for 5 with two triples and two RBIs. Pitchers in the title game were Colten Parker, Jonny Sapa and Vinny Smith.

Glacier beat Laurel 8-2 earlier in the day in the third-place game to earn a spot in the championship. Tyler Murphy and Max Smyley each had two RBI for Glacier.

At the end of the tournament, Glacier first baseman Smith was named most valuable offensive player and earned All-District and All-State recognition. Murphy and Sampson-Keck also earned All-District honors.

Rupp commended the Twins players who are moving on from the program after the season, with a few eying opportunities to play collegiate ball, including Colten Parker, AJ Wetsch, Murphy and Smith.

“They built this program up,” Rupp said of his veteran players. “They came out and battled for us. We’re excited for the future and it looks like next year will be another good year.”

Glacier ended the season 38-23 overall.

Bitterroot 013 401 000 — 9 15 3

Glacier 012 030 010 — 7 18 3

Jon Ringer, Kyle Norman (6), Tylor Nixon (8) and Austin Ray. Colten Parker, Jonny Sapa (3), Vinny Smith (9) and Tyler Murphy.

BITTERROOT — Austin Ray 3-5, Nate Loranger 1-4, Tylor Nixon 2-5, Jon Ringer 1-5, Justin Horvath 2-5, Joe Johnson 3-4, Kyle Norman 1-3, Chase Conner 0-1, Hunter Omlid 1-5, Tanner Goligoski 1-5.

GLACIER — Tristin Steinwand 5-6, Max Smyley 2-3, James Sampson-Keck 0-6, Vinny Smith 2-5, Jesse Walburn 1-5, A.J. Wetsch 2-4, Derek Kastella 0-5, Ryan Veneman 5-5, Tyler Murphy 1-5.

2B—Ray, Omlid. Walburn, Steinwand. 3B—Ray. Veneman 2. RBIs—Nixon, Ringer 2, Horvath, Johnson 2, Norman, Omlid 2. Smith, Walburn, Wetsch 2, Veneman 2, Murphy.

Glacier 100 101 050 — 8 16 1

Laurel 000 011 000 — 2 6 2

Tyler Murphy, Vinny Smith (5) and Ryan Veneman. Carson Hoke, Chase Feller (6), Cameron Schriver (8) and Mason O’Donnell.

LAUREL — Carson Hoke 0-4, Mason O’Donnell 1-5, Dawson Cortese 1-3, Chase Feller 0-2, Karson Zeller 0-1, Trevor Meier 0-4, Braden McIlvain 1-3, Carson West 0-4, Kanyin Moran 3-4, Deklan Harper 0-1, Brandon Gordon 0-1.

GLACIER — Tristin Steinwand 3-6, Max Smyley 1-5, James Sampson-Keck 2-6, Vinny Smith 1-4, Jesse Walburn 1-5, A.J. Wetsch 3-5, Derek Kastella 2-4, Ryan Veneman 2-4, Tyler Murphy 1-3.

2B—Sampson-Keck, Smith, Wetsch, Kastella 2, Moran. 3B—McIlvain. RBIs—Steinwand 2, Smyley 2, Sampson-Keck, Walburn, Murphy 2. Feller, Moran.