The third time was not the charm for the Post 20 Twins against Columbia, Tennessee.
The Twins lost 7-1 Sunday night to Tennessee Post 19 in the BP Invitational championship game at Mulcahy Field in Anchorage, giving them three losses to the Outside squad in the last five days. Tennessee beat the Twins 3-0 and 3-2 at last week’s Bill Miller Big Fish Wood Bat tournament in Kenai.
The BP championship game wrapped up a busy stretch for the Twins, who were playing their ninth game in six days, and after two days of pool play at the BP tourney, Post 20 was left with a 2-1 record and had to beat Service Post 28 Sunday morning to advance to the evening championship game. The Twins handled the Cougars 12-3.
In the title matchup, Tennessee’s Calton Easterwood tossed a complete game for Post 19, striking out 12 while giving up four hits and two walks.
Mathew Daugherty got the start for Post 20 and lasted three innings. Daugherty gave up three earned runs on five hits, while striking out one and walking two. Calvin Hills and Joey Becher each got time on the mound in relief, combining to get three strikeouts while giving up two hits.
Tennessee broke open a scoreless game in the top of the third inning with four runs. Boone Sweeney provided the power with an RBI double in the frame.
The Twins plated their lone run in the sixth frame on a balk by Easterwood that brought home Josh Darrow. Darrow originally got on base on an error, then advanced on consecutive groundouts by Paul Steffenson and Kenny Griffin.
Tennessee outhit the Twins 11 to 4, and got base hits from 10 different batters.
Earlier in the day against Service, the Twins got off to a fast start with two runs in the first inning, two in the second and four in the third, streaking out to an 8-3 lead.
The Twins outhit the Cougars 12 to 5, and both teams committed three errors each.
Post 20 will host Palmer next Saturday at noon in Kenai.
