Twins finish season with eye on future
The Glacier Twins wrapped up their Legion baseball season last weekend with a pair of conference losses to the Medicine Hat Moose Monarchs. The Twins were topped 12-6 in the opener and 11-7 in the nightcap. They finished league play with one win in 19 tries.
Despite finishing in the basement of the AA Alberta/Montana Western conference, the Twins showed sparks of being a team to contend with in the future, coach Lindsay Fansler said.
"The goal this season was to become better as a team," Fansler said. "I can't say enough about their effort, even throughout tough losing streaks. No one gave up."
Bright spots from the year, according to Fansler, were the team's 10-8 tournament record, the big win over Chino, Calif., at the Sapa-Johnsrud tourney, and the potential he sees in the returning roster.
Carl Talsma came on strong this year and proved to be a valuable asset with his glove at third base — and even more so at the plate. The incoming senior at Whitefish High School consistently made contact in clutch scenarios and showed he has enough power to be a home run threat.
Dustin VonFeldt was likely the most intimidating batter in the Twins' lineup, scrappy Jeremy Nielson was "invaluable" as a utility player, and Geoff Streeter came up with some big hits as a designated hitter. Catcher Cody Elek came up with some clutch hits, too, including a memorable game-winner against Belgrade early in the season.
In the field, Kyler Blades and Wade Martinson played lock-down defense, while Kris Gross came on as a solid defender in the outfield.
"Gross had a real rough start to the season," Fansler said. "For him to persevere, it showed everyone you don't quit. If you keep working hard, you will have some success. He earned his starting spot."
Veterans Kyle Knox, Trevor Miller and Kyle Yogodzinski led the Twins on the mound. This was the final season for the three starters.
"They put us in a position to win," Fansler said. "I can't say enough about their contribution to the team. They're all good character guys. They've been through a lot, with three coaches in four years, so for them to buy in to the system and be leaders, that helped me out a lot."
Miller is set to play collegiate baseball in Miles City. Knox plays Division III baseball at Crown College in Minnesota.
Fansler noted that with three starters leaving, there are some big shoes to fill on the mound next season. He pointed to Zach Maassen, Devyn Rocker and Connor Donahue as possible starters in 2011.
In game one against Medicine Hat, Cody Hill knocked an RBI-single to cap off a four-run first inning for the Twins. Down 6-5 in the third, VonFeldt hit a lead-off single, and Knox executed a perfect hit-and-run that moved VonFeldt to third. He scored on a double steal during the next at-bat to tie up the game.
The Moose Monarchs went on to post two runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings to put the game out of reach.
Game two was an offensive battle with the two clubs trading big hits.
Medicine Hat's Joel Lutz and Kyle Fruson hit back-to-back home runs in the third inning to open up a 6-2 lead.
Talsma would answer with a homer of his own to deep center field in the bottom of the third. In the fourth, Nielson ripped a 2-RBI double to right field that scored both Gross and Knox to make the score 7-5.
Elek led off the bottom of the fifth with a double to right. VonFeldt then crushed a deep fly that moved Elek to third. Miller followed with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Elek for a 7-6 ballgame.
Medicine Hat added four runs in the sixth and seventh as the Twins' pitchers struggled to find the zone.
Miller capped off the Twins' season with a towering home run to center on the first pitch of the seventh inning.