Legion Twins drop pair of games on opening day of Wood Bat tourney

The American Legion Twins lost their first two games in the Bill Miller Big Fish Wood Bat Tournament on Tuesday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.

The Twins take on East of Anchorage today at 9 a.m. at Seymour Park. The semifinal games at Seymour Park will feature Napoleon (Ohio) against Team Avenue Academy (California) at noon and Castroville (Texas) against Service at 3 p.m.

The Twins dropped a 10-7 decision to Team Avenue Academy before falling 4-0 to Castroville.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

In other games Thursday, it was Service 9, East 2; Napoleon 10, Service 0; Castroville 16, East 1; and Castroville 9, Team Avenue Academy 5.

In the final game of the evening, Castroville kept a perfect season alive by topping the Twins.

The Texas squad formed right before coming to Alaska and took the Todd Ryan Memorial Tournament in Wasilla on Sunday.

The two Tuesday victories moved Castroville to 6-0, while the Twins are now 9-9 overall.

Texas head coach Nick Alvarado said his team originally had trouble forming because of players backing out at the last minute, but credited general manager Jerome Iltis with using his Legion experience to get a team together and send it to Alaska.

“We’ve got great kids,” Alvarado said. “It’s been amazing. They’ve been really coachable and receptive to change.

“Luck of the draw, we’ve been able to get some kids that have meshed well.”

Alvarado said all but one of his players made the postseason in the Texas high school season, and four played for the 3A state title. The biggest schools in Texas play 6A ball, while the smallest are at 1A.

Starting pitcher Rico Trevino is one of those that played for the state title, and he shut the Twins down on two hits over the first five innings. Heath Clary finished it off with two scoreless, hitless innings of relief.

Wesley Moss, who scored from second base when Valley didn’t turn a double play to win the Todd Ryan tourney in extra innings, kept up his base-running heroics against the Twins. He was 3 for 4 with three stolen bases, two runs and an RBI.

“He’s electric,” Alvarado said. “It’s fun to watch. He has no fear and he does not like red lights.”

Leadoff hitter Kobrey Garcia finished 1 for 3 with a run, RBI and stolen base, while Frank Bosmans had two RBIs and Noe Garza had a double and a run.

Twins coach Gary Oliver said his club just ran into a solid team.

“Our team did a good job,” Oliver said. “4-0 against this team is nothing to hang your head about.”

Oliver particularly was impressed with the way shortstop Ethan Valdez and second baseman Garcia took away hits up the middle.

Joey Becher pitched the first 4 2-3 innings and gave up four runs on six hits. Tommy Bowe kept Castroville scoreless and hitless over the final 2 1-3.

“We played good defense,” Oliver said. “We made one error and we turned a double play against them.”

Castroville is back in Alaska and repeated its Todd Ryan title from 2012. However, Texas would like to change the runner-ups it had at the Bill Miller and BP Invitational tourneys.

“The people here in Alaska treat us nicely,” Alvarado said. “Texas guys can be rambunctious, but we’ve gotten a great reception our two times here.

“The coaches and organizers do a great job.”

In the loss to Team Avenue Academy, the Twins were down 10-2 entering the bottom of the seventh before putting together a five-run rally.

Jullian Vasquez started for California and went six innings, giving up two runs — one earned — on three hits. Once Vasquez came out, the Twins were able to rally.

“We just got going too late,” Oliver said.

Vasquez helped his own cause by going 2 for 2 with three runs, while Preston Scott had two hits and Jose Castruita had two runs.

For the Twins, Kenny Griffin and Tyler Covey each scored two runs.

On the hill, Matthew Daugherty gave up three runs in four innings, JJ Sonnen gave up four runs in an inning, and Justice Miller yielded three runs in two innings.

More in Sports

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Hard luck at the fishing hole

The action wasn’t as hot as in the past, but neither was the run.

Seward's Fred Moore stands at the base of Mount Marathon in Seward, Alaska, on Monday, June 24, 2019. Moore will run in his 50th consecutive Mount Marathon race on July 4. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
‘It’s been a good run’

Seward’s Moore explains his decision to end his Mount Marathon streak at 54

Matthew Schilling of the American Legion Post 20 Twins slides safely past Eagle River catcher Jack Mullen on Monday, July 7, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Monday: Twins keep rolling with sweep of Eagle River

The American Legion Post 20 Twins swept Eagle River on Monday at… Continue reading

Sharon Tyone, Dan Aaronson and Jessica Small make the "real life slot machine" work at the Oilers All-Star Family Field Day on Saturday, July 5, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Oilers return to field for All-Star Family Field Day

It was only for a day, but the Peninsula Oilers were able… Continue reading

David Norris, 34, of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, wins the men's race at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Norris goes 6 for 6 in Mount Marathon men’s race; Moore’s streak ends at 54 races

One streak lived while another streak ended during a brilliantly sunny men’s… Continue reading

Anchorage's Klaire Rhodes, 27, wins the women's race at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Rhodes defends women’s Mount Marathon crown

With Seward stuffed with people for 97th running of the Mount Marathon… Continue reading

The juniors start at the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2025, in Seward, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Anchorage’s Zuber, Flagstad capture junior Mount Marathon races

Kenai’s Boonstra takes 2nd in junior girls race

tease
Thursday: Twins finish strong road trip by sweeping South

The visiting American Legion Post 20 Twins picked up 10-0 and 18-5… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Fair weather expected for 4th of July weekend

Keep a heads-up approach when in traffic during the holiday — you don’t know who you’ll run into.

tease
Post 20 Twins enact mercy rule on Eagle River

The visiting American Legion Post 20 Twins defeated Eagle River 11-0 in… Continue reading

tease
Tri Nikiski draws 79 participants

The ninth annual Tri Nikiski was held Saturday starting from the Nikiski… Continue reading

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in