Twins fall just short at state

The Glacier Twins A squad fell just short of a bid to win a state championship, losing 9-7 to the defending champion Bitterroot Red Sox in the Montana/Alberta American Legion Class A state baseball championship on Monday at Centene Stadium in Great Falls.

The Twins loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning, needing just a ball out of the infield to extend the game. They got that, but a shot from James Sampson-Keck was tracked down by the Bitterroot right fielder ending the game.

Glacier kept a clean sheet in the top of the ninth to give itself one more chance to extend the game and loaded the bases with two outs on singles from Ryan Veneman and Tristin Steinwand and a walk from Max Smyley. Sampson-Keck’s attempt to clear the bases caught too much air, however, ending the rally.

Steinwand was 5 for 6 in the game with a double and Ryan Veneman was 5 for 5 with two triples and two RBIs.

Glacier beat Laurel 8-2 earlier in the day in the third-place game, scoring five runs in the eighth inning to stretch out what was a close game early.

The Twins opened the tourney last week with an 8-2 win over Laurel, then beat Livingston 18-6. But Bitterroot beat the Twins 15-2 in the semifinals. But the Twins made it back into the championship round by beating Billings 19-5.

Bitterroot 013 401 000 — 9 15 3

Glacier 012 030 010 — 7 18 3

Jon Ringer, Kyle Norman (6), Tylor Nixon (8) and Austin Ray. Colten Parker, Jonny Sapa (3), Vinny Smith (9) and Tyler Murphy.

BITTERROOT — Austin Ray 3-5, Nate Loranger 1-4, Tylor Nixon 2-5, Jon Ringer 1-5, Justin Horvath 2-5, Joe Johnson 3-4, Kyle Norman 1-3, Chase Conner 0-1, Hunter Omlid 1-5, Tanner Goligoski 1-5.

GLACIER — Tristin Steinwand 5-6, Max Smyley 2-3, James Sampson-Keck 0-6, Vinny Smith 2-5, Jesse Walburn 1-5, A.J. Wetsch 2-4, Derek Kastella 0-5, Ryan Veneman 5-5, Tyler Murphy 1-5.