American Legion baseball: Twins, Mariners in Lewistown for State A play
Western A District American Legion baseball tournament champion Mission Valley and runner-up Glacier will play back-to-back games today at the State A Tournament in Lewistown at Ryan Sparks Field.
Glacier (32-20-1 overall) will face Gallatin Valley at 1 p.m. Mission Valley follows with a 4 p.m. contest versus Belgrade.
“It’s pretty exciting,” Glacier coach Bob Rupp said.
“It’s been a long time since the Twins have been to state.”
The Twins played at the AA state tournament in 1996. They hosted the event that year. This is the team’s second season in A.
“It was (important to qualify for state this season),” Rupp said.
“The kids bought into the hard work we did and they are playing well.
“These guys do not give up, ever,” Rupp added.
“They just keep battling. They have the self confidence (to succeed). Good things happen when you keep battling.”
Rupp said he will go with AJ Wetsch on the mound in the opener. Wetsch has logged the third-most innings (67.2) on the staff. He is 8-2 with one save to his credit.
Wetsch has an era of 2.66. He’s third on the team in strikeouts (37) and has allowed just 17 walks.
Austin Robins (5-3) has worked the second-most innings (71). He’s second in strikeouts (52) and walks (37). He has a 3.29 ERA.
Jonny Sapa (5-2) has pitched a team-high 82.1 innings. He’s the team leader in strikeouts (59), has walked just 18 batters and allowed 96 hits. His ERA is 5.028.
“He’s actually the most rested,” Rupp said of why he selected Wetsch to pitch the first game.
“He’s a battler. We like his presence on the mound. He doesn’t let things get to him.”
Offensively, the Twins are led by Vincent Smith (.394), Jayce Fagerland (.391), Colten Parker (.360), Kyler Howke (.331), Jesse Walburn (.329), Tristan Steinwand (.327) and Colton Gove (.322).
Smith leads in RBIs (49).
Gove has scored the most runs (59) and leads the Twins in doubles (14) and walks (36) and shares the lead in triples (3) with Howke.
Fagerland has the most hits (66) with Smith right behind (65).
Defensively, the Twins have had their moments.
“We make a couple errors a game, but after that they settle down and play,” he said.
“The outfield (Gove, Howke and Walburn) played out of their minds last weekend at districts.
“I love where we are at,” Rupp added.
“We are starting to peak. We started doing that at the district tournament so we’re kind of excited about this (state tournament).”
Other than Mission Valley, the Twins have played just one other tournament team. They dropped a doubleheader to Belgrade 6-2 and 6-5 on May 3.
The State AA Tournament also begins today in Lethbridge, Alberta.
State A Tournament
at Lewistown
Ryan Sparks Field
Double Elimination
Tuesday
First Round
10 a.m. — Laurel vs. Medicine Hat
1 p.m. — Gallatin Valley vs. Glacier
4 p.m. — Mission Valley vs. Belgrade
7:30 p.m. — Vauxhall vs. Lewistown
State AA Tournament
at Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
Spitz Stadium
Double Elimination
Tuesday
First Round
9:30 a.m. — Bozeman vs. Billings Scarlets
12:30 p.m. — Medicine Hat vs. Missoula
3:30 p.m. — Helena vs. Billings Royals
7 p.m. — Lethbridge vs. Great Falls
Class AA
Final Standings
Conf.
-Royals 16-6
-Missoula 16-7
-Great Falls 16-8
-Scarlets 14-8
-Bozeman 10-11
-Lethbridge 10-14
-Medicine Hat 9-15
-Helena 8-14
Kalispell 4-20
-Advance to state tournament
State A Tournament
at Lewistown
Ryan Sparks Field
Double Elimination
Tuesday
First Round
10 a.m. — Laurel vs. Medicine Hat
1 p.m. — Gallatin Valley vs. Glacier
4 p.m. — Mission Valley vs. Belgrade
7:30 p.m. — Vauxhall vs. Lewistown