Legion Baseball: Twins top Wild in Northwest A Regional opening round

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Glacier Twins got off to a hot start in the far north, beating the Fairbanks (Alaska) Wild 8-4 in the opening round of the Northwest Class A Regional American Legion baseball tournament on Friday.

The Twins started their  game in the Last Frontier with a bang, though in reality it sounded more like a thud. Leadoff hitter Colton Gove was plunked with the first pitch of the contest and stole second in the next at bat to move into scoring position. Jayce Fagerland walked and the two runners moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt. Kyler Howke was hit by another pitch two batters later to load the bases without recording a hit.

When Glacier was finally able to connect, it made it count. Tristin Steinwand hit a line single up the middle to score two runs and Jesse Walburn hit a single in the next at bat to score two more and give the Twins a 4-0 lead after the top half of the opening inning.

Glacier pitching would do the rest. AJ Wetsch pitched to contact and his defense backed him up, as he allowed just five hits and three earned runs through five innings. Jonny Sapa, who came on in relief, had two strikeouts in four scoreless innings to close the game.

Walburn was big at the plate for the Twins, going 2 for 4 and hitting a two-run double in the third to score the winning runs. Vincent Smith was 2 for 4 with a double and a triple, plating the last two runs of the contest in the seventh and ninth innings.

Glacier advanced with the win to play the Pocatello (Idaho) Razorbacks at 3:15 p.m. today in the second round. The Razorbacks edged Juneau (Alaska) 3-2 in their opening round contest.

Other winners were the Cody (Wyo.) Cubs, topping North Medford (Ore.) 12-1 and Northern (Hyrum) Utah beating the Dimond Lynx (Anchorage, Alaska) 9-1. Play continues at 9 a.m. today and the tournament runs through Tuesday.

Glacier    402    000    101    —    8    7    3

Fairbanks    110    020    000    —    4    8    3

AJ Wetsch, Jonny Sapa (6) and Dakota Bridwell. Terrell Ford, Tyler Christmann (7) and Camron Walker.

GLACIER — Colton Gove 0-2, Jayce Fagerland 1-4, Colten Parker 0-3, Vincent Smith 2-4, Kyler Howke 0-2, Tristin Steinwand 1-5, Jesse Walburn 2-4, Austin Robins 0-4, Dakota Bridwell 1-4.

FAIRBANKS — Michael Fitzpatrick 0-4, Jason Donald 1-5, Tyler Christmann 0-3, Terrell Ford 2-3, Carmon Teel 2-4, Adam Norton 0-3, Benjamin Hall 0-4, Camron Walker 0-3, Jose Sanchez 3-4.

2B—Walburn, Smith. 3B—Smith. RBI—Smith 2, Steinwand 2, Walburn 3; Ford, Sanchez.