Twins rally past Lakers for state berth
The Glacier Twins clawed their way in to the American Legion Baseball state tournament, rallying past rival Kalispell 11-10 on Sunday to clinch the berth in loser-out action at the Western A tournament in Florence.
The win earned Glacier (36-22 overall) a spot in their third-straight district title game, and with it a ticket to state this weekend in Great Falls.
“Getting to state, that was the goal all season long,” Twins coach Bob Rupp said.
Smart small ball and spectacular defense led Glacier in the win, Rupp said.
“Kalispell is playing very well — they’re scrappers and never quit,” Rupp said. “They played us tough all year long. But we did the little things — bunted and ran the bases well.”
Kalispell ran out to a 4-0 lead after one frame. Glacier knotted the score in the third inning, then posted a three-run fifth take a 7-4 advantage. The Lakers wouldn’t go away, however, scoring six runs in the seventh to regain a 10-7 lead.
Glacier responded with four runs and went deep in the bullpen to hold the Lakers for the remainder.
“We went through a lot of arms, but we got there,” Rupp said.
He commended outfielders James Sampson-Keck, AJ Wetch and Jesse Walburn for keeping Glacier in it with defensive plays.
“They made diving catches and threw guys out at home plate,” Rupp said. “It was fun to watch.”
Tristin Steinwand finished 3 for 5 at the dish with a homer and two RBI. Sampson-Keck had four hits and scored three times.
“Vinny Smith and Tristin came alive for us with their bats all tournament,” Rupp said.
With the win, Glacier moved on to face the Bitterroot Red Sox in the championship Sunday where they were steamrolled 23-2.
“We didn’t have anything left,” Rupp said of his team after battling Kalispell. “We were out of pitching completely. The good thing is the game didn’t mean much.”
The Red Sox advance to state as the top seed and Glacier will go as a No. 2 seed.
Glacier last won state in 2014. They have finished second at districts three consecutive seasons.
The state tournament kicks off Thursday in Great Falls. Glacier will host the top seed from the east in the opening round.
“It will be a battle and we’ll just have to play baseball,” Rupp said. “We’ll be right in the mix of things.”
Western A District Tournament
Sunday
At Florence
Championship game
Glacier Twins 000 001 1 — 2 8 4
Bitterroot Red Sox 945 500 x — 23 16 1
Ryan Veneman, Skylar Warner (2), Max Smyley (3), Tom Hellwig (5) and Nathan Hader; Kyle Norman, Garrick Richardson (7) and Austin Ray. W – Norman. L – Veneman.
GLACIER — Tristin Steinwand 1-4, A.J. Wetsch 2-4, James Sampson-Keck 0-3, Jonny Sapa 0-1, Jesse Walburn 3-3, Smyley 0-1, Terek Bistodeau 0-1, Veneman 0-1, Warner 0-2, Hellwig 1-3, Jared Reynolds 0-3, Hader 1-3.
BITTERROOT — Ray 2-4, Matt Brown 1-2, Nate Loranger 2-4, Tylor Nixon 3-5, Jon Ringer 0-5, Justin Horvath 1-1, Joe Johnson 1-1, Camron Rothie 1-1, Hunter Omlid 3-4, Chase Conner 1-4, K. Crossman 1-3, Norman 1-1.
2B—Walburn, Wetsch; Nixon (2), Horvath,Conner; 3B—Omlid; HR—Ray; RBIs—Hellwig; Ray (4), Brown, Loranger, Nixon (3), Horvath, Johnson, Omlid (5), Conner, Cossman (2).
Loser out
Kalispell Lakers 400 000 600 — 10 13 2
Glacier Twins 004 030 40x — 11 15 2
Drew Scherrer, Brady Peiffer (4), Sam Elliott (5) and na; AJ Wetsch, Jesse Walburn (7), Colten Parker (7), Vinny Smith (8) and na. W – Parker. L – Elliott.
KALISPELL — Ryan Symmes 2-5, Keaden Morisaki 0-2, Peiffer 1-2, Randy Stultz 1-5, Eric Seaman 2-5, Elliott 1-5, Jaycob Serrano 0-2, Clayton Jaques 2-4, Jaryon Venturini 2-4, Tyler Kitch 1-5, Drew Scherrer 0-0.
GLACIER — Colten Parker 1-5, Steinwand 3-5, Sampson-Keck 4-5, Smith 1-4, Walburn 0-3, Wetsch 2-4, Smyley 1-4, Veneman 2-4, Greyson Bistodeau 0-3.
2B—Jaques (2), Venturini; Veneman, Sampson-Keck; HR—Steinwand; RBIs—Symmes, Elliott (3), Jaques (3), Venturini (2); Steinwand (2), Smith, Walburn (2), Wetsch (3), Smyley, Veneman.
Championship semifinals
Glacier 000 100 010 — 2 6 4
Red Sox 430 101 00x — 9 13 2
Jonny Sapa, Vinny Smith (6) and Ryan Veneman. Jonathon Ringer, Tylor Nixon (8) and Austin Ray.
GLACIER — Colten Parker 2-4, Tristin Steinwand 0-4, James Sampson-Keck 2-3, Vincent Smith 1-3, Jesse Walburn 0-4, Max Smyley 0-2, Thomas Hellwig 0-1, AJ Wetsch 1-4, Ryan Veneman 0-4, Nathan Hader 0-2, Skyler Warner 0-2.
BITTERROOT RED SOX — Austin Ray 2-4, Nate Loranger 1-4, Tylor Nixon 2-5, Jonathon Ringer 1-5, Justin Horvath 3-4, Joe Johnson 2-4, Kyle Norman 1-4, Hunter Omlid 1-4, Justin Catanach 0-3, Kyle Crossman 0-1.
2B—Smith. Horvath, Ray. HR—Horvath. RBIs—Nixon, Ringer 2, Horvath 4, Omlid.