The Southeast Legacy midget AAA Twins wrapped up a doubleheader against the Swift Current Indians with consecutive road wins on June 6.
The Twins defeated Swift Current 6-4 in the first game and in the following game won 20-12.
In the first game, the Twins jumped out to a one-run lead after the first inning. By the sixth the Twins had a 4-2 lead, but the Indians tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. In the top of the seventh, the Twins showed clutch hitting, scoring two runs with two out.
Preston Hutt the Twins’ starting pitcher, pitched into the sixth, allowed four runs on five hits, and collected four strikeouts. Ryan Gaab picked up the win after he relieved Hutt.
Along with the offence, coach Blaine Kovach was also impressed with the pitching.
“Our (starting) pitcher did well, he kept us in the ballgame for a good majority of it, and we shut it down at the end,” he said.
In the second game, the Twins’ bats came alive, scoring 20 runs on 13 hits.
After scoring three runs in the first inning, they added another eight in the top half of the third to go up 11-1.
The first three batters for the Twins reached base, and it was a bases-loaded, no-out situation when Logan Dimler was up to bat.
He capitalized on the opportunity, hitting a double and picking up two runs batted in.
Later in the inning with the Twins already up 9-1, Gaab hit a double with the bases loaded and scored another two.
Swift Current responded with five of their own runs in the bottom half of the inning but couldn't keep up with the Twins’ offence the rest of the game.
Overall, Kovach was impressed with the hitting throughout the two games.
“We hit the ball very well, and we were able to score the guys that got on base,” he said.
What also impressed Kovach about the wins was some of the players had to play out of position and they still managed to limit the errors leading to the wins.
“We were short a bunch of guys and had a couple of injuries so … we managed to piece it together … and they definitely filled the role and they played the positions well,” said Kovach.
Next up for the Twins is a tournament in Williston N.D., which is going to be a challenge for them, according to Kovach.
One of the main challenges will be having to use aluminum bats. The Twins play with wooden bats, so, they will have to pitch differently and be more alert defensively, said the coach, since the ball will be coming at them much harder than it does when hit with a wooden bat.
The Twins first game is on June 11, and the tournament concludes on June 14.
