Twins go winless in California
For the Hungry Horse News
The Glacier Twins didn't come home with any wins on their recent California trip, but they did bring back a nifty memento from a Major League baseball game.
They saw two professional games, including the Washington Nationals' narrow 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels last Wednesday. The lone run came on Brian Schneider's solo homer to right in the sixth inning. The homer ball headed right for two Glacier players who were sitting in the front row of the right field bleachers.
Jesse Paulson and Doug Cuffe both attempted to catch the ball in flight but to no avail.
"The ball went into both their hands but they dropped it," Glacier coach Jack Helber said. "Then they scrambled for it and got the ball."
Dropping the ball was perhaps the story during the Twins' final loss at California-an 8-6 heart-breaker at the hands of Chino last Sunday. Glacier led 5-0 at one point but three Twins errors in the fifth inning allowed Chino to rally for the victory. The Twins finished the trip 0-7.
"That last game was disappointing because it was looking pretty good for us after we went ahead 5-0," Helber noted. "We were hoping to get out of California with at least one win. But we did face some pretty good teams."
Glacier gave Chino too many opportunities to climb back in the fifth. An error in the infield, outfield and another from an errant pick-off attempt led to Chino's four-run inning. Chino added four runs in the sixth to snag the victory.
"You can't give good teams more than three outs," Helber said of Glacier's error-filled inning turning the tide for Chino.
Glacier wasted a solid pitching effort from Justin Cooper, who held Chino scoreless much of the game.
The Twins went ahead early with a four-run fourth that featured a two-run double off the bat of Morgan Phelps. Also, Brad Bell squeezed in a run and Billy Marcial doubled home Phelps for a 5-0 lead. Glacier outhit Chino 10-8
For the most part, Glacier's bats didn't make much noise in California. However, the Twins scored a trip-best seven runs during a 10-7 loss to Upland earlier in the week. Upland touched Bell for six runs in the first three innings for a large lead, but Glacier did battle back with the bats.
Marcial paced the Twins' attack by going 3-for-4 with a double and two singles, while Nic Caron went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.
Glacier also looked solid during a pitcher's duel against St. George, Utah. In that game, Marcial pitched six straight scoreless innings, but St. George scored four times in the seventh for the win.
Marcial struck out six and didn't walk anybody in going the distance. However, two Glacier infield errors in the seventh paved the way for St. George.
"That was too bad because Billy pitched such a great game," Helber said of the errors.
Glacier also suffered 9-3 losses to Rancho Cucamonga and Rancho Verde. Jarred Krueger and Paulson both had two hits against Rancho Cucamonga.
"We weren't too pleased about going 0-7," Helber said. "But I think we learned what we have to do be able to win a ball game."
The Glacier Twins Class A team is taking part in the 16th Annual Eddie Gallo Memorial Ten-Team Class A American Legion Baseball Tournament this week.
Play began yesterday and features teams from all around the region. Along with the Libby Loggers, Kalispell Lakers, Pullman, Wash. Posse, Spokane, Wash. Dodgers, Glasgow Reds, Kootenai Valley Rangers, Laurel Dodgers, Mission Valley Mariners and Mead Panthers of Spokane are all participating and play will continue on until this Saturday.
There will be 19 games played at Memorial Park in Whitefish and seven games at Sapa-Johnsrud Field here in Columbia Falls.
The games start at 9 a.m. and the last game begins at 8 p.m. daily.
There are full concessions, giveaways and raffle drawings.
The Twins play this afternoon at 1 p.m. against Kalispell at Sapa-Johnsrud Field and again at 8 p.m. against the Spokane Dodgers.
Friday, they play at 5:15 p.m. against Libby in Whitefish, with the championship round scheduled for Saturday.
The Twins are separated into two classifications, with the Class AA members making the trip to California and the Class A taking part in this tournament.
The Class A players have long been used as a feeder system to reload the Class AA team year after year.