Twins AA take sixth at Sapa-Johnsrud tourney

Conference showdown with Lakers this Saturday

By DAVID ERICKSON / Whitefish Pilot

In a twist of sports fate, the Glacier Twins and Kalispell Lakers, rivals in the Western AA American Legion Baseball conference, faced each other on Saturday to battle for fifth place in the annual Sapa-Johnsrud Tournament in Whitefish.

The Lakers outlasted a furious rally from the Twins to win 12-8, but they know they'll have their hands full when they meet again this Saturday at 6 p.m. at Memorial Park.

It was a classic game because, although the Twins have a fairly dismal conference record so far this year (0-12), they fought hard against Kalispell.

The Twins were down 0-8 early in the sixth inning, but they scored twice in the bottom of the frame to avoid ending the game on a mercy-rule loss. Glacier then went on a wild, back-against-the-wall tear, scoring six runs in the seventh inning to tie the game.

Wayde Martinson, Kyle Knox, Wes Beougher and Ryan Caron each drove in a run during Glacier's huge comeback. They also walked three and took advantage of two Laker errors in that frame. Martinson went 2-for-5 in the game.

Kalispell avoided the upset by scoring four runs in the final inning, but Glacier had them on the ropes.

Both of the Twins' sixth-inning runs were scored with two outs and the game on the line. Knox was the real hero, as his one-RBI double to right kept his team alive.

Adam Pisk took the loss from the mound despite pitching a stellar 3.1 innings in relief that included just three hits and three strikeouts. Scott Palmer started the game and allowed just two hits in four innings.

The game featured nine pitchers, five catchers, 18 base hits, nine errors, 11 walks and four hit-batters.

The Twins finished 2-3 in the tournament after winning their first two games. In a loss to the Calgary Blues on Friday, Glacier stranded 12 base runners and then left 10 on base the following day in a loss.

Kalispell 000 341 004 — 12 11 5

Glacier 000 002 600 — 8 7 4

GLACIER — Ryan Caron 0-3, Zane Ridings 1-3, Scott Yogodzinski 0-4, Dustin VonFeldt 0-5, Nielsen 1-1, Beach 1-3, Wayde Martinson 2-5, Pisk 1-3, Knox 1-4, Elek 0-3, Wes Beougher 0-1.