Twins ready for AA slate

First-year AA Glacier Twins coach Ryan Hadfield has learned plenty about his team during the first month of the American Legion baseball season. He's about to discover a whole lot more.

The Twins open Western AA play at 1 p.m. today with a doubleheader against defending conference champion Missoula at Memorial Park.

The Mavericks (20-7 overall) are off to a 2-0 start in conference play after sweeping the Kalispell Lakers on Saturday. They have tradition and experience on their side, having played nearly twice as many games as Glacier (8-6) this season.

"I understand that they're kind of the top dogs historically, or at least for the last couple decades," Hadfield said, "but I'm glad that we get to face them this early in the year because it is a good barometer of where we're at."

After a 4-2 start, the Twins went 2-2 in consecutive Flathead Valley tournaments, including last week's A and AA Invitational Wood Bat Tournament in Whitefish.

According to Hadfield, the Twins got everything they'd hoped for out of their opening month.

"We got to see everybody that's going to throw for us this summer pitch, and we have a pretty good idea of their capabilities right now," he said.

"There's still a few positions up for grabs, but we have a pretty good idea of most positions."

Scott Yogodzinski (3-1) and Kyle Yogodzinski (1-0) figure to start today's games, while Josh Schott (3-1), Scott Palmer (0-1), Wes Beougher and Michael Hader (0-1, two saves) could see mound action. Zane Ridings is out with a strained rotator cuff.

"Our pitching has been the one constant, and I hope we maintain that," Hadfield said.

"We're on an upswing right now with our hitting. We hit it pretty well throughout the (wood bat) tournament, and going back to aluminum is going to give our guys some confidence, I think."

The Twins scored 18 runs in four wood-bat games.

"Bridger Beach is leading the team in RBIs," Hadfield said.

"It hurts to have Zane out, because he's actually hitting pretty good.

"Wayde Martinson is hovering right around .290 and has come up with some really clutch hits.

"Scott Yogodzinski is hitting over .300 with quite a few RBIs, and we're hoping more soon to come.

"Ryan Caron's had a little hot streak of late, and we're hoping he continues that. He hits in the 2 hole for us, and we're hoping he can do what he needs to do to move runners along or drive them in."

With just 14 healthy players on Glacier's roster, there has been plenty of playing time to go around. That may change starting today.

"Basically, during a conference game we feel no obligation to get guys playing time," Hadfield said.

"We're going to go with the guys that we feel on that day give us the best chance to win."