The American Legion Post 20 Twins lost to Eagle River 6-5 on Sunday in the semifinals of the Alaska 529 Midseason Classic at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.
The Twins (10-8) had stormed to a 3-0 record in pool play at the tournament, defeating Chugiak, Service and Dimond.
That got Post 20 a matchup with Eagle River (15-3), which is now 4-0 this season against the Twins.
In the other semifinal, the Napoleon (Ohio) River Bandits defeated Chugiak 7-1.
In the final, Eagle River lost 4-3 to the River Bandits.
It was the third straight year Eagle River lost in the final, and the second time in two years Eagle River lost the final to Napoleon. The Wolves are the three-time defending Alaska Legion state champs.
In a league loss to Eagle River on June 19, the Twins had a 2-0 lead until the Wolves put up nine runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Sunday, the Twins carried a 3-1 lead into the seventh, but Eagle River scored five runs — all after two were out — to take the lead.
Matthew Schilling got the start and went 6 2-3 innings, giving up two runs on three hits while walking six and striking out two.
Jacob Joanis came in and gave up four runs on four hits without recording an out, while Andrew Pieh recorded the final out on a strikeout.
The Twins took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Levi Mickelson, who was 2 for 4, scored.
In the sixth inning, the Twin went up 3-1 when Andrew Pieh led off with a triple, then Hunter Williams walked and stole second.
Trenton Ohnemus came through with a two-out single to score Pieh and Williams.
In the bottom of the seventh, Mickelson and Gabe Smith singled with one out. Pieh then walked to load the bases, and Jayden Stuyvesant was hit to push in a run.
Williams hit a sacrifice fly to cut the gap to one and leave runners on first and second.
A ground ball to the pitcher ended the rally.
The Twins take the week off before returning to Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai for a 12:30 p.m. doubleheader against Chugiak on Saturday and a 12:30 p.m. doubleheader against Bartlett on Sunday.
