Twins feeling confident heading into season opener

Despite losing seven of last year’s starters, the Glacier Twins A coach says he’s confident the team has the talent for some high-level baseball this summer.

“They look good — our talent level is good,” Coach Scott Murray said. “We’re pretty hopeful, we’ve got guys to fill those shoes, but of course we haven’t played a game yet.”

The Twins started practicing in the middle of February at Bar W Guest Ranch west of Whitefish and will kick off their season April 29 in Helena against the Senators.

Murray was named head coach in December after Bob Rupp stepped down after three years of leading the team. Murray previously served as a head coach for the Twins and spent the last three seasons as the A team’s pitching coach.

Murray said 23 kids tried out for the team this year. Returning players like Ryan Veneman, James Sampson-Keck, Tyler Murphy, Derek Kastella and Greyson Bistodeau will be key for the team, he said.

The pitching rotation this year will rely on Veneman, Murphy, Bistodeau and his younger brother Terek, along with a new pitcher, Coby Clark.

“We’re deep in pitching,” Murray said. “And that’s a good thing too, since this year we have pitch counts. Teams are going to need to have a lot of pitching to get through the season.”

New pitch count rules will determine the number of rest days a pitcher needs based on the number of pitches thrown in each game.

After Helena, the Twins will head up to Lethbridge to take on the Elks AA on May 6-7 before taking on the Bitterroot Bucs for their home opener on May 13.

The home Ed Gallo tournament will be on June 22-25 and the Sapa/Johnsrud tournament will be July 6-9.

After falling in a close state championship game against the Bitterroot Red Sox last August, Murray said his team’s goal is to be right back on that field in Great Falls at the end of the season.

“Our goal every year is to complete in that state tournament. So that’s definitely top priority for us,” he said.

However, the bigger goal is to have a good time on the way there.

“For me it’s about enjoying the game of baseball and having some class when we’re out there playing and letting the rest work itself out. They give us their summer, so we’ve got to let them have some fun,” he said.

For a full roster and schedule, visit www.glaciertwinsbaseball.org.