Dallas Pierren threw a no-hitter for the American Legion Twins on Sunday in the first game of a doubleheader against East in Anchorage.
The Twins won the first game — the league contest — 12-0 in a seven-inning game shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule.
“He was in the zone today,” Twins head coach Hector Rivera said. “Everything was working for him.”
The game was important because the Twins are chasing a spot in the American Legion state tournament.
The top three teams in the National Division make state. The Twins are now tied for third in the National Division with Bartlett, with both having 8-5 records. If the Twins don’t make the top three in the division, they can still get into state by claiming one of the two spots that go to the remaining teams with the best records.
The Twins have five league games remaining.
“He knew how important this game was with what we are facing the rest of the week,” Rivera said of Pierren. “He showed up and took care of business.”
Lance Coz, the longtime general manager for the Twins, said this was the first no-hitter for the local nine since Mike Smith in the late 1990s. Coz said there have been less than five no-hitters in the squad’s history.
Pierren, who needed just 65 pitches to get through five innings, nearly had a perfect game. His only blemish was a two-out walk in the third inning.
Pierren struck out seven, and got four outs on ground balls and four outs on fly balls.
“His curveball was really nasty and his fastball was on,” Rivera said. “He was dominating with his fastball, and his curveball was getting everybody. He fooled everybody.”
Rivera said it still took a team effort to top East, which went with its top pitcher.
The Twins had nine hits, with Josh Darrow going 2 for 3, Tommy Bowe going 2 for 4, and Justin Wisnewski going 2 for 3.
The Twins were up 6-0 heading into the fifth inning, but scored six runs in that frame, taking advantage of five walks and a hit by pitch.
The Twins lost the second game — the nonleague contest — 9-7 in seven innings.
“Everybody got a chance to play,” Rivera said. “I think we saw some good things, and others that were not that good.
“Overall, it was a good day.”
Calvin Hills got the start and yielded six runs — three earned — in 2 2-3 innings. JJ Sonnen gave up an earned run in 3 1-3 innings, while Darrow gave up two unearned runs in one inning.
At the plate, Darrow was 1 for 3, Justice Miller was 2 for 4, Klayton Justice was 2 for 3, and Cody Quelland was 1 for 3.
The Twins host a 12:30 p.m. doubleheader against West on Thursday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai.
