The American Legion Twins AA team lost 2-1 to Lower Columbia of Washington on Friday in the opening day of the Bill Miller/Lance Coz Wood Bat Tournament at the Kenai Little League fields.
The tournament is in honor of Coz, who died in September 2020 at 73. He was pivotal in starting the Twins program in 1973 and served as general manager and head coach until his death.
The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Braden Smith singled, Charlie Chamberlain walked and Atticus Gibson singled to score Smith.
After that, Lower Columbia shut down the Twins and made its way back into the game.
Trenton Ohnemus went five innings for the Twins, giving up an unearned run on two hits while walking one and striking out five.
Colby Sturman took the loss, giving up a run in two innings on two hits and two walks.
Chamberlain, Jayden Stuyvesant, Levi Mickelson and Derrick Jones added hits for the Twins.
Earlier in the day, Lower Columbia had notched a 12-4 victory over Bartlett AA.
The first game of the day was the Twins A team against the Bartlett A team.
The Twins A team moved to 9-1 with a 20-0 victory in four innings.
Michael Davidson and Jett Brophy combined on the shutout, each going two innings and allowing a hit.
Sturman was 2 for 2 with three runs and three RBIs, Daniel Steffensen was 3 for 4 with three runs, Gabe Joanis was 3 for 5 with three runs and two RBIs, Matthew Schilling had three runs and two RBIs, Jacob Joanis was 3 for 4 with three RBIs, Kalani Beddow and Keoni Beddow were 2 for 3, Malakai BeDunnah had two RBIs, Wyatt Gagnon was 2 for 3 with three RBIs, and Davidson had two runs and two RBIs.
The tournament continues Saturday at Kenai Little League fields. Bartlett AA plays Twins A at 11:30 a.m., Bartlett AA plays Twins AA at 1 p.m., and Lower Columbia plays Kenai AA at 4 p.m.
