Twins win nail-biter vs. rival Lakers

Glacier 11, Kalispell 10

By DAVID ERICKSON

Whitefish Pilot

The way the Glacier Twins bench erupted after Rusty Hill's golden single, you might have thought it was their biggest win of the season.

With the monkey finally off their back, the Twins were still cheering 10 minutes after the game ended.

Although the Glacier Twins and the Kalispell Lakers have played each other dozens of times, their games still leave everyone on the edge of their seat.

Tuesday night at Memorial Field in Whitefish was no different, as Hill stepped to the plate as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the ninth with two outs, two runners on base, and his team down by one point to their Western AA Legion Baseball conference foes. Coming in to the game, the Lakers had beaten the Twins four times this season.

Hill belted a bouncing single down the first base line, right over the head of the first baseman, and as runner Brad Bell came sliding into home from third base, the Twins went wild.

"That's why we call him 'Clutch T,'" said coach Jarod Grubb. "It doesn't surprise me at all."

After his team had settled down after the win, Grubb gathered his young players together and let them know he expects that kind play all the time.

"Deep down inside, each one of you, there's a .400 hitter, or a no-hit pitcher, you just got to find your own state champion," he said. "We found it tonight — good find guys."

The team ended the evening cheering "state," referring to their improved playoff hopes. The Twins are now 8-11 in conference action. The Lakers fell to 6-16.

Hill wasn't the only clutch performer of the evening. Things were looking grim for Glacier in the seventh inning as Kalispell drove home six runs off a couple hits to take a 10-6 lead. A series of defensive errors by the Twins contributed.

"They were more of bone-headed mistakes than errors," Grubb said. "We all get a little bone-headed from time to time."

Josh Peterson started the rally by driving a double to the center field fence in the eighth to get two runners on base, and Roo Grubb sent one home with a single. However, the Twins got caught trying to steal second to end the inning, and Kalispell had one more chance to widen their lead.

Michael Hader came to the mound to relieve Justin Collom, and at first he looked like he was going to let the dam break loose. Kalispell got the bases loaded after two singles and a walk, but Hader miraculously escaped the jam with a strikeout and two fly-outs.

Kalispell left the bases loaded three times while stranding 15 runners on the night, while Glacier stranded only three. Glacier barely out hit the Lakers 11-10.

The Twins took on the Great Falls Electrics on Wednesday afternoon at Memorial Park in Whitefish in a conference doubleheader.

Glacier 9, Medicine Hat 16

Glacier 0, Medicine Hat 13

The Glacier Twins didn't have much luck Sunday against a determined Medicine Hat club on July 22. The Monarchs swept the American Legion AA doubleheader, defeating Glacier 16-9 and 13-0.

The Monarchs out hit the Twins 18-11 in the first game. The Twins managed 11 hits in the second game but failed to turn those into points on the board.

The Monarchs have won seven straight games, including this doubleheader.

Game 1

Medicine Hat 342 040 3 — 16 18 3

Glacier 104 022 0 — 9 11 0

Katlin Nunweiler, Riley Arnott (4), Dave Culham (7) and Brandon Lanz; Scott Yogodzinski, Brad Nielsen (5) and Nielsen, Brad Bell (5). W — Nunweiler. L — Yogodzinski.

Medicine Hat — Travis Ogdan 4-5, Dustin Thompson 3-5, Lee Fruson 2-4, Brandon Anhorn 1-5, Austin Fruson 2-5, Mitchell Frey 1-2, Tyson Ford 2-3, Lanz 2-5, Cullen Bradshaw 0-5, Kyle Pelke 1-2.

Glacier — Scott Palmer 0-3, Zane Ridings 0-2, Roo Grubb 2-3, Yogodzinski 2-4, Bell 2-3, Weston Chambers 0-3, Rusty Hill 1-3, Josh Peterson 1-3, Ryan Caron 1-3, Justin Collom 0-0, Nielsen 2-4.

2B—Ogdan (2), Thompson, Lanz; Nielsen; 3B—Bell; HRs—Ogdan, A. Fruson; RBIs—NA.

Glacier 4, Lethbridge 17

Glacier 10, Lethbridge 7

The Twins went 1-1 in a doubleheader with Lethbridge on July 21 at Memorial Park. The Twins moved to 7-9 in Western AA Legion baseball action, while the Elks went to 9-9 in the conference.

In the first game, the Elks got 17 hits out of their lineup. Tyler Tamayose and Mark Clauson led Lethbridge with three hits apiece.

Glacier's Scott Yogodzinski went 2-for-3, while Brad Bell, Rusty Hill and Zane Ridings each had one hit.

In the second game, Glacier turned things around and squeaked out a 10-7 victory. Zane ridings earned the win while allowing only nine hits. Roo Grubb went 2-for-3, and Scott Yogodzinski and Brad Bell went 1-for-3.