The American Legion Post 20 Twins returned to .500 in the league with a 4-2 victory over host Palmer on Sunday.
That victory capped a weekend in which the Twins also split with Wasilla, which won the high school state championship this season and is 6-0 in the league and 8-1 overall so far this summer.
Thw Twins move to 2-2 in the league and 3-4 overall, while Palmer falls to 3-3 and 3-4. Post 20 is tied for fourth in the American Division, while Palmer sits in third.
“It’s coming together,” Twins coach Robb Quelland said. “We’ve been literally on the field as a team exactly one week, and it takes time to move the pieces around and find what’s working.”
One thing working right now is the pitching. The Twins gave up just five runs in the doubleheader against Wasilla and the hurlers shined again Sunday.
Mose Hayes got the win, working five innings and giving up just one hit and two runs while walking three and striking out three. Seth Adkins pitched the final two innings, giving up a hit and no runs while walking none and striking out two.
“I’m confident that we have five solid pitchers right now and three more that are working to get to that level,” Quelland said.
The Twins, who led 3-1 after three innings, have not been hitting the cover off the ball, but have been finding ways to score runs.
Post 20 had five hits Sunday — two from Harrison Metz and one apiece from David Michael, Mose Hayes and Seth Adkins. But the Twins also found a way to walk eight times.
“It’s just our inexperience showing,” Quelland said of the low hit total. “We went from guys throwing in the mid-80s yesterday to the mid-60s today.
“It’s a pitching dominant league and we’ve taught them that they have to be selective.”
Brayden Methven took the loss for Palmer, going 3 1-3 innings and giving up three hits and three runs — one earned — while walking five and striking out four.
Quelland also continues to be pleased with the defense, which committed two errors Sunday with players constantly moving positions.
“We’re definitely not the team where everybody plays the same position every game,” Quelland said. “One of our players played four positions in one game.”
The Twins are at home for the weekend, playing a noon doubleheader with Service on Saturday and a noon doubleheader with Dimond on Sunday.
