Twins make state tourney for 32nd straight year

Welcome back to the big show, Twins.

With a little bit of outside help, the Post 20 Twins qualified for the Legion AA state tournament this weekend to keep their outstanding postseason record of success intact. The Twins are going to state for the 32nd straight year.

The Twins officially clinched a state spot when Ketchikan lost to Kodiak 14-7 in the second game of a Tuesday doubleheader in Anchorage, officially eliminating the Kings from the postseason championship. If Ketchikan had won, the Kings would be the ones heading to the state tourney on a tiebreaker over the Twins, who finished 10-8 in league play this summer.

Ketchikan won the first game 13-8 to keep its state hopes alive, but Kodiak staged an impressive rally in Game 2 to win it 14-7. Ketchikan led 6-0 after three innings, but Kodiak answered with two massive rallies, scoring six runs to tie it in the bottom of the fifth, then plating eight runs in the sixth to take a daunting lead the Bears never gave up.

“It’s exciting,” said Twins head coach Robb Quelland. “It’s an honor to participate in the state tournament at the highest level that Alaska has to offer.”

As the eighth and final seed, Post 20 gets its tournament under way Friday night at Anchorage’s Mulcahy Field against No. 1 Juneau, which finished 17-1 in league play this year.

The state appearance also continues a remarkable run for the Twins, with the one and only miss being 1986. With the Legion Twins program starting in 1970, it makes 48 out of 49 years the Twins have played at state, although general manager Lance Coz noted that some years featured a format in which all the teams qualified. The current format has been in effect since 2014.

“Quite truthfully, this is the only year we’ve had to depend on help from our friends to make it,” Coz said, referring to Ketchikan’s loss. “We thank them for that.”

Post 20 had to battle this summer to wrangle the final qualifying bid, as a young team that was top-heavy with experienced veterans lost a chance to secure a championship tourney spot last Saturday with two league losses to Wasilla and Ketchikan.

It meant the Twins had to rely on other teams to defeat Ketchikan.

“We’re young, and we’re fortunate to get 10 wins this year,” Quelland said. “As much as we should have had it, it’s hard it get 10 wins in this league. The teams at the top have one or two losses, and that’s tough.”

As for the superlative record of postseason appearances, Quelland pointed out that most of the state’s powerhouse programs have suffered through off years that led to missed state showings, so it leaves the Twins as a shining example of consistency. The Twins have four state crowns in program history in 1991, 1995, 2012 and 2016.

“You have those up and down years, but the kids pull it together and qualify,” he said.

More in Sports

The 10-mile race begins at the Run for the River on Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Soldotna, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Run for the River draws 197 finishers

The Run for the River drew 197 finishers on Saturday in Soldotna.… Continue reading

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Old-timers cast their lines

The grizzled gentlemen have been coming down to Homer for over 35 years to ambush flats from their modest skiff in “secret holes” east of the Spit.

Benny Loyer of Palmer soars through the air racing 65 intermediate at the Alaska State Motocross Series Race 4 on Sunday, June 15, 2025, at Twin City Raceway in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
State motocross puts sport’s strong family ties on display

The strong family ties that bind motocross racing were on display at… Continue reading

tease
Sunday: Twins sweep Dimond

Post 20’s Harper throws shutout in league game

Post 20's Jayden Stuyvesant flies out to left field against West on Friday, June 13, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Friday: Twins lose league game, win nonleague game vs. West

The American Legion Post 20 Twins split a doubleheader against West Post… Continue reading

tease
Thursday: Twins split with Service

The American Legion Post 20 Twins split with Service on Thursday at… Continue reading

tease
Brown Bears select 7 in NAHL Entry Draft

The Kenai River Brown Bears selected seven players in the North American… Continue reading

tease
Monday: Twins open season with victory over Bartlett

The American Legion Post 20 Twins opened their season in Anchorage with… Continue reading

tease
Area track and field athletes compete at Brian Young Invitational

The 400-meter relay of William Klein, Brenden Jones, Lokeni Wong and Tyce… Continue reading

Most Read