Twins get started with 1-1 split against Miners AA

Coby Clark-Dickenson delivers to the plate in the Twins home opener against the Butte Miners AA on Saturday at Memorial Field. (Daniel McKay/Whitefish Pilot)

Ryan Veneman connects on a Butte pitch during Saturday’s 8-3 win at Memorial Field.

by Daniel McKay
Whitefish Pilot | May 15, 2018 5:56 PM

Ryan Veneman connects on a Butte pitch during Saturdays 8-3 win at Memorial Field.

Baseball is back in Whitefish, as the Glacier Twins got their season started with a two-game series split against the Butte Miners AA club on Saturday.

The Twins took the first game 8-3 before falling in the second 6-1.

In game one, Jack Schwaiger, Tom Hellwig (2), Coby Clark-Dickenson, Matt Morrison, Quintin Schriver and Caleb Meehan (2) all crossed the plate for Glacier.

Both Meehan and Terek Bistodeau notched a pair of hits in the win.

Clark-Dickenson got the win on the mound for the Twins, giving up two hits but notching six strikeouts in his five innings.

Hellwig scored the lone run in a dry game two. Ryan Veneman got the L on the mound with just over two innings pitched.

Head coach Scott Murray said for the first two games, he’s happy with what he saw on the field.

“We’re pretty excited, finally got our first two games in,” he said. “I thought we looked really good defensively. Clark-Dickenson threw well. We kind of struggled with too many walks, but that’ll come around.”

This year’s Twins squad returns a number of key players from last year’s team, including Veneman, Clark-Dickenson, Dan Seymour and Hellwig.

“Our core is pretty strong to start with,” Murray said. “I think we’re on track.”

Building on the first two games, Murray said a two-day batting camp and some pitching work is on the agenda for his team this week before they head down to Florence to take on the Bitterroot Bucs on Saturday.

“We’re going to work heavy on the bullpens on location. I think if we can tighten up there, I think we’re going to be alright,” he said. “Then we’ve got a conference game this weekend against the Bucs, so we need to get it done early.”

Murray says he’s confident in the potential of his team this season.

He’s not shy about his and his players’ aspirations for this year either.

“Our goal is always to win state. If we don’t, we’re disappointed,” he said. “That’s our goal, and I really think with the talent we have, and these guys are so coach-able, that we’re planning on going to state, winning state, and anything less we’re going to be disappointed in.”