Before this week, Legion AA Twins coach Robb Quelland tasked Post 20 with the goal of finishing the week with a .500 legion record.
Mission accomplished.
The Twins demolished East 14-0 Saturday afternoon at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, then took care of Delta Junction 11-0 in a nonleague contest to finish the day.
“We’re starting to gain confidence,” said Twins coach Robb Quelland. “The boys are finally focused, and we’re at a critical point of the season.”
The Twins (5-5 league, 12-10 overall) will be facing a stiff challenge next weekend in Fairbanks, when they take on Post 11 on Friday night and Post 30 on Saturday. Both Fairbanks teams are just ahead of the Twins in the Legion AA standings — Post 30 at 6-4 and Post 11 at 6-3.
The Twins threw two complete games Saturday, the first one coming courtesy of Joey Becher, who went all six innings and gave up one hit, five walks and struck out 10.
Post 20 started quick with two runs in the first inning. JJ Sonnen started with a leadoff walk, Josh Darrow advanced him with a double, and a single by Kenny Griffin brought Sonnen home. Michael Swoboda hit into fielder’s choice that scored Darrow for a 2-0 lead.
The Twins scored two more in the fourth, three in the fifth and finished the game early with seven runs in the sixth.
Darrow ended up 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBI, Sonnen was 1 for 2 with three runs, Justice Miller went 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBI and Griffin added two RBI.
“If we’ve said it once, we’ve said to a hundred times, we’re not concerned too much with our pitching,” Quelland said. “But our hitting has been lacking.”
Saturday, the Twins put a stop to that with nine hits.
In the win over Delta, the Twins notched four runs in the second inning, batting around the lineup to ease to the victory.
Homer’s Kyle Johnson earned the win on the mound with five innings of work, giving up two hits, three strikeouts and one walk.
Tommy Bowe and Calvin Hills both led the day at the plate, going 2 for 3, while Sonnen went 2 for 4.
Before their road trip to Fairbanks, the Twins will play at home against West starting noon Tuesday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park.
