Lethbridge slides past Twins

A tough first inning proved to be too much for the Glacier Twins as the Lethbridge Elks handed them a defeat during the nightcap of the second day at the Sapa-Johnsrud Tournament at Memorial Field.

The Elks didn’t waste any time asserting their dominance in the top of the first inning. Lethbridge scored five runs on four hits, with catcher Marcus Pearce launching an RBI double off the left field wall.

The Twins got on the board in the bottom of the second inning after holding Lethbridge scoreless in the top half. Tristin Steinwand and Tyler Howke each had base hits before Steinwand crossed the plate on a fielder choice hit by right fielder Jesse Walburn.

The Elks responded with more power, opening up the third inning with back-to-back doubles. Carter Witbeck hit his extra base hit to drive in Jake McDonald, whose double hit off the center field wall. Lethbridge led 7-1 at the inning’s end.

McDonald made it 9-1 with a no-doubter over the left-center field wall for a two-run homer in the top of the fourth.

“We’re starting to play defense,” Twins manager Bob Rupp said.

“We had that bad first inning where we had two errors. We don’t make those errors we can win this game. The boys hit the ball. We’re kind of back to where we were five games ago.”

The Twins threatened in the bottom of the fifth however. Colten Parker snuck a base hit down the third base line with the bases loaded to drive in two runs. Jayce Fagerland followed Parker with an RBI single, and after Howke smashed an RBI double, Glacier had a five-run inning of their own. The deficit was cut to four.

“These guys never quit. That’s kind of what they’ve done all year long,” Rupp said.

“I’m really happy with what they’re doing. We’re actually starting to move to where we need to be come conference time.”

The magic wouldn’t last long for the Twins, as Lethbridge put one more across in the sixth and held off the Twins in the seventh to win the game 11-7.

Howke’s 2 for 4 performance at the plate included a double and an RBI to lead the Twins offensively.

“When Tyler gets into the upper part of the order, he puts a lot of pressure on himself,” Rupp said.

“When we move him down, where he was at today, when he gets on he scores.  He played a great game. He hit the ball well and played great defense.”

Ty Murphy was 2 for 2 at the plate with a double and a single, while Colton Gove had a team-high two RBIs. Fagerland and Walburn had RBIs as did catcher Dakota Bridwell.

The Twins are back in action tomorrow against the Calgary Jr. Dinos for the last of the pool play before the elimination games begin. First-pitch is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.

Lethbridge Elks     502     301     0     —     11     13     0

Glacier Twins     010     050     1     —     7     8     3

WP — J. Johnston. LP — Tyler Murphy

LETHBRIDGE — Dayton Johnston 0-1, Bryce Fraser 0-1, Shawn Grandmont 0-1, Erik Davies 1-3, Nick Ankermann 1-4, Jake McDonald 3-3, Carter Witbeck 2-5, Justin Sturm 1-1, Austin Huculak 1-3, Tanner Shirakawa 2-4, Marcus Pearce 2-4, Dustin Houghton 0-4.

GLACIER — Colton Gove 1-4, Jayce fagerland 1-4, Colten Parker 0-4, Vinny Smith 1-4, Tristin Steinwand 1-4, Tyler Howke 2-4, Jesse Walburn 1-2, Dakota Bridwell 0-2, Ty Murphy 2-2, James Ratzlaff 0-1.

2B — McDonald 2, Sturm, Pearce, Witbeck, Howke, Murphy. 3B — Huculak. HR — McDonald. RBIs — McDonald 3, Witbeck, Sturm, Huculak, Shirakawa, Pearce 2, Gove 2, Fagerland, Howke, Bridwell, Walburn.

Friday’s Scores

Spokane Cannons 13, Calgary Redbirds 8

Lethbridge Elks 11, Calgary Jr. Dinos 2

Calgary Jr. Dinos 10, Calgary Redbirds 2