Sapa tosses no-hitter in first outing

Jonny Sapa’s season debut on the mound for the Glacier Twins will be one to remember.

The Legion Baseball ace tossed a no-hitter Wednesday against Mission Valley in his first outing of the year. Sapa has been sidelined for most of the spring with an ankle injury.

Sapa retired 16 of the last 17 batters he faced to compete a six-strikeout, zero-walk no-hitter in the Twins’ 2-1 win against the Mariners at Memorial Park.

“Everything he was throwing — his fastball, his curve — it was all around the plate,” Twins head coach Bob Rupp said. “He was very commanding, everything he threw was working and the guys played good defense behind him.”

“For him to pull it all together like that in his first time back is special. No-hitters don’t happen very often.”

Rupp said it will be nice to have the right-hander back in the regular rotation.

Glacier went on to sweep the Mariners with an 11-3 victory in the nightcap.

“It’s kind of a rivalry of ours,” Rupp said of playing Mission Valley. “We look up to playing those guys. These wins got us rolling.”

Glacier (18-10, 8-2) capped the week with a third place finish at the Boys of Summer Invitational in Belgrade. The Twins edged Boise 4-2 in the consolation final.

James Sampson-Keck led the offense with three hits.

“He’s just lighting it up for us as the No. 3 batter,” Rupp said.

Sapa pitched a complete game, allowing nine hits and fanning three batters.

“Sapa, again, pitched really well,” Rupp said. “We countered their offense by hitting the ball really well.”

The coach also pointed to Tristin Steinwand and Max Smyley for their work at the dish.

“They’re battling at the plate and making their at-bats profitable.”

Glacier hosts the Ed Gallo wood bat tournament this weekend at Memorial Field. Ten teams are slated to compete in the annual event.

“It’s a good tradition for the Twins,” Rupp said. “The competition will be good.”

M. Valley 010 000 0 — 1 0 1

Glacier 010 100 x — 2 2 3

Julian Jones and Warren Wood (MV). Jonny Sapa and Tyler Murphy (G). W — Sapa. L — Jones.

MISSION VALLEY — Kade Schutzman 0-3, Jacob Harrod 0-3, Walter Wood 0-3, Anthony Jones 0-3, J. Jones 0-3, War. Wood 0-3, Nyqolas Gillingham 0-3, Tyson Petticrew 0-2, Bransen Krebs 0-2.

GLACIER — Colten Parker 0-2, Tristin Steinwand 0-3, James Sampson 0-2, Vinnie Smith 1-3, Jesse Walburn 1-3, Max Smyley 0-3, Derek Kastella 0-1, A.J. Wetsch 0-2, Murphy 0-0.

HR — Walburn (G). RBIs — Petticrew (MV); Walburn, Smyley (G).

M. Valley 002 010 0 — 3 11 5

Glacier 101 135 x — 11 13 0

Tyson Petticrew, Kade Schutzman (6) and Warren Wood (MV). Terek Bistodeau, Ryan Veneman (3) and Tyler Murphy (G). W — Veneman. L — Petticrew.

MISSION VALLEY — Schutzman 0-3, Jacob Harrod 0-4, Walter Wood 2-4, Anthony Jones 3-4, Julian Jones 1-3, War. Wood 1-3, Nyqolas Gillingham 1-3, Karsen Krebs 1-3, Bransen Krebs 2-2.

GLACIER — Colten Parker 4-5, Tristin Steinwand 1-3, James Sampson 2-5, Vinnie Smith 1-3, Jesse Walburn 1-3, Max Smyley 2-4, Veneman 0-4, Derek Kastella 0-3, Murphy 2-3.

2B — B. Krebs (MV); Murphy, Smith (G). RBIs — Wal. Wood (MV); Murphy 3, Parker 2, Smith 2, Kastella (G).