Twins defeat Dimond to stay alive at state

Twins defeat Dimond to stay alive at state

The Post 20 Twins blew out Dimond 11-0 Saturday to stay alive at the American Legion state tournament at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage.

The Twins had lost their opening game of the tournament Friday to South 8-5, meaning every game for the Twins is now an elimination game.

Post 20, the No. 4 seed, now plays Juneau, the No. 2 seed, at 3 p.m. today. Juneau lost 13-5 to No. 3 Chugiak on Saturday. The Twins and Juneau have not played against each other this season.

The Twins are in good shape for today’s game thanks to a remarkably efficient dismantling of Dimond, the No. 8 seed.

Starter Mose Hayes and reliever Chris Jaime combined to shut out Dimond on just two hits and 44 pitches.

Head coach Robb Quelland said the only pitcher he does not have available headed in to today is Logan Smith, who got the start Friday against South.

“Forty-four pitches is unheard of at this level of play,” Quelland said.

The Twins quickly took control of the game by scoring two runs in the first inning and seven in the second inning. Thanks to two more in the fourth inning, the Twins were able to invoke the mercy rule after Dimond batted in the top of the fifth.

“This is a great group of young men,” Quelland said. “They’re resilient. They owned their own faults yesterday and knew what they needed to do today to come out and stay in the tournament.”

Jeremy Kupferschmid got the Twins going from his leadoff slot, finishing 3 for 4 with two runs. Quelland said Kupferschmid has been playing well lately after fatigue caught up to him late in the season.

“He’s been trying to get his game back in shape the last couple of weeks,” Quelland said of Kupferschmid. “He’s refocused this week with a great game yesterday, today and I’m sure he’ll be ready for tomorrow.”

Hayes pitched two innings and allowed just a hit while striking out two. At the plate, he was 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI. Jaime went three innings and gave up just one hit.

Davey Belger was 2 for 2 with a run, while David Michael, Smith and Jaime also added hits. Seth Adkins had two runs.

“This team has blended well,” Quelland said. “They’re playing well together. They like each other and energy is high. I think we’ll do well tomorrow.”

Post 20 had defeated South, the No. 5 seed, twice in league play, but Reid Brock helped turn the tables Friday.

Brock pitched 5 2-3 innings of scoreless relief and also had two RBIs at the plate.

Scoring in the game started quick as the Twins jumped all over South starter Jimmy Mcgovern, getting to him for five runs on three hits in 1 1-3 innings.

However, South also had success against Twins starter Logan Smith and grabbed a 6-5 lead after the top of the third.

Smith worked three innings and gave up six runs — just two earned — on three hits while walking three and striking out two.

“It was one of those games where we did not come out and play well,” Quelland said.

South was then able to get to Twins reliever Harrison Metz for two insurance runs — just one earned — in two innings of work. Harold Ochea then shut South down over the final two innings.

Metz was 2 for 4 with three RBIs for the Twins, while Smith was 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Hayes also collected two hits for the Twins.

For South, Ricky Gatter was 2 for 4 with two runs, while Josh Costello scored three times.

More in Sports

Martin Flores skis into the finish to win the 40-kilometer Double Tour while carrying an Alaska flag during the Tour of Tsalteshi at Tsalteshi Trails near Soldotna, Alaska, on Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Tour of Tsalteshi race canceled

There will still be a ski event at the Tsalteshi’s trailhead on Kalifornsky Beach Road.

Allie Ostrander is presented her award by Stacia Rustad at the Alaska High School Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 induction ceremony on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at The Lakefront Hotel in Anchorage, Alaska. (Screenshot)
Ostrander records fastest Alaska half marathon

Anchorage’s Chris Clark had the previous record with her time of 1:15:27 in 2000.

tease
Wednesday hoops: Unalaska girls, Ninilchik boys pick up conference wins

The Unalaska girls and Ninilchik boys picked up Southern Conference victories Wednesday… Continue reading

Nikiski's Lynn Deveer drives on Homer's Henry Wedvik and Einar Pederson on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Tuesday: Nikiski girls, Homer boys notch conference wins

The Nikiski girls and Homer boys basketball teams picked up Peninsula Conference… Continue reading

Soldotna’s Tania Boonstra sets out from the start on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at the Lookout Mountain Cross-Country Ski Trails in Homer, Alaska. Boonstra, a junior, earned the title of Skimeister for the third year in a row at this weekend’s regional meet. (Chloe Pleznac/Homer News)
Colony’s girls, boys sweep Region III ski meet

SoHi’s Boonstra wins 3rd straight Skimeister

tease
Saturday: Seward girls, Ninilchik boys win Homer Winter Carnival; CIA boys win NIT

The Seward girls and Ninilchik boys basketball teams won the Homer Winter… Continue reading

tease
Brown Bears trade overtime victories with Ice Dogs

The Kenai River Brown Bears split a North American Hockey League Series… Continue reading

Most Read