When the Southeast Performance Pump Midget AAA Twins played well on the weekend, they did very well, beating the Parkland Expos 8-3 and 9-3 Saturday in Yorkton and beating the Regina Wolfpack 12-2 Sunday at Lynn Prime Field.
They did lose one game on the weekend, a 11-0 decision to the Wolfpack but without a doubt, the Twins seem to be able to put runs on the board in most games in the Saskatchewan Premier Baseball League.
“That's a really big help right now ,” said Twins coach Blaine Kovach. “That's going to get us up in the standings a little bit I think. The better and higher up, the better seeding for provincials. That's what we're really going for.”
The team overall is playing better than they were a few weeks ago, Kovach said.
Saturday, the team played even with the Expos in the first game until a seven run explosion in the sixth inning. Due to walks and errors, the Twins needed only three hits – all singles – in the whole game to collect their nine runs. Brett Lyons went six and a third innings in the win, striking out five and walking three on the mound.
Then in the second game, Luke Niemegeers and Even McClarty each hit RBI doubles to help the Twins' offence. Alex Kerr went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Rhett Nikolejsin went all seven innings on the mound for the win, striking out six and allowing 10 hits.
Sunday, in their 11-0 loss early in the afternoon they were no-hit over five innings by Brian So, who walked four in the game. The closest the Twins got to a run that inning was when So walked three and Hunter Perkins came up with two out and flew out to shortstop.
But in the later game, things changed a bit.
“Maybe just a good stern talking to is what changed it,” said Kovach. “They came out swinging a little bit better this time around and that's what changed it. Luke (Niemegeers) came out as our starting pitcher, kept them off balance and did as well as he could.”
The Twins also played with a lot more patience at the plate, counting eight walks in their 12-2 victory.
“We took advantage of their walks and that's the thing we haven't been doing lately,” said Kovach. “We've been chasing those pitches that they've been walking people with so it's been nice to see them turn the switch a little bit and use that to our advantage for once.”
Sunday, the Twins' winning run was scored when Brett MacMurchy hit a triple and came home on a wild pitch while Walker Happ was at the plate.
The Twins play only a few more games in the season before the provincials hit, July 21-23 in Estevan.
“We've got to keep on doing the little things,” Kovach said. “It seems to be the little things that keep on slipping by us every once in a while. But it's a progression upward, which is what we'll be doing for sure.”
Their next games are on Canada Day, when they play a doubleheader at the Saskatoon Dbacks and the following day when they have a doubleheader at the Saskatoon Cubs.
