The American Legion Twins have lost control of their own destiny.
The Twins lost 11-1 to Wasilla and 7-6 to Ketchikan on Saturday in Anchorage to fail to clinch a spot in the Legion State Tournament.
The Twins finish their regular season at 10-8 in the league and 16-15 overall. Ketchikan, at 6-7 in the league and 12-11 overall, could still catch and pass the Twins in the games Ketchikan has left to play through Wednesday. Ketchikan also would win a tiebreaker with the Twins based on head-to-head play.
If the Twins do not finish in the top eight in the league standings, they would play in the Matson Invitational, which is for the bottom eight teams in the league.
“If they win out, we will play in the Matson,” Twins coach Robb Quelland said. “We are no longer in control of our own destiny.”
After losing big to Wasilla, Quelland said the Twins came out sharper against Ketchikan.
“We came out a lot more motivated,” Quelland said. “They knew what was at stake. Some mistakes cost us.”
The Twins held a 6-4 lead after the top of the fifth inning, but Ketchikan struck for a run in the bottom of the fifth for a 6-5 game.
In the bottom of the seventh, a single, double, error and sacrifice fly gave Ketchikan two runs and allowed the squad to stay alive for a state tourney berth.
David Michael had two of the Twins’ five hits, with the others going to Jeremy Kupferschmid, Austin Asp and Logan Smith. Asp and Smith each had two RBIs, while Paul Steffensen scored two runs.
Asp pitched 4 2-3 innings, giving up 10 hits and five runs — three earned — while walking one and striking out three. Steffensen worked 1 2-3 innings, giving up four hits and two runs — one earned, while walking none and striking out one.
The game against Wasilla belonged to Road Warriors starter Balas Buckmaster. He worked 5 2-3 innings, giving up just one hit while walking three and striking out 10. Nolan Murphy pitched 1 1-3 innings of hitless relief and gave up an unearned run.
“We did not come out very sharp, and Wasilla is a great team,” Quelland said.
Adam Brinster started for the Twins and went four innings, giving up three hits and three runs — one earned — while walking one and striking out two. Wasilla then hit Harrison Metz hard in 2 2-3 innings, as Metz gave up 10 hits and eight runs. Asp recorded an out on the mound with a strikeout.
Brinster had the lone hit for the Twins, while Smith had the run and Kupferschmid had the RBI.
