Two Alaska Legion teams took to the field, but Mother Nature ultimately prevailed Friday afternoon at a soggy Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark.
A league game between the Post 20 Twins and Post 28 Service was suspended after 2 1/2 innings of play, with the rest to be played at a later date. Twins head coach Robb Quelland said that date will be decided between the two teams.
Service led 2-0 before the decision was made to stop due to sloppy field conditions. A steady rain had fallen all morning and had not let up by the time first pitch rolled around, but both teams decided they could make it work.
“I’d have played,” Quelland said when asked about conditions. “But I think smarter heads prevailed.”
With the rain pelting down at an increasing pace, the home plate umpire called time in the bottom of the third with Twins leadoff batter Jeremy Kupferschmid facing a 2-2 count. A brief discussion between the umps and coaches resulted in a decision to call an end to the day.
The Twins were kept busy between innings putting down dry soil on the mound and batters box, but efforts were ultimately made in vain.
Post 20 entered the day 4-0 in league play and 5-2 overall, but will have to wait and see which column gets a boost.
Before the stoppage, the Twins had yet to record a base hit against Service starter Andrew Jaidinger, who had given up two walks and struck out two in his 35 pitches.
Twins starter Logan Smith fought through a rocky start that included a bases-loaded walk. Smith went 2 2/3 innings and gave up six walks and one hit, while whiffing four.
Quelland said with a wet mound, Smith appeared to be unable to fully grasp his command.
“We like to be aggressive, and our pitcher was struggling with command,” Quelland said. “And that’s a veteran pitcher.
“You just can’t get your full extension and drive when it’s like this.”
Smith walked the bases loaded with one out in the top of the third before issuing a walk to Carsen Sandau, forcing in a run by Charles Malagodi.
The bases-loaded walk forced Smith off the mound, and reliever Paul Steffensen entered to get the final out on a three-pitch strikeout.
One inning before, Service opened the scoring on a passed ball by Twins catcher Cody Quelland. Henry Helgeson led off the top of the second with a double before scoring on Quelland’s error.
The game is a rematch of the 2016 state legion championship game, which the Twins won 8-7 for their fourth state crown in club history.
Twins starter Logan Smith unleashes a pitch Friday afternoon against Service at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
Twins players and coaches drop quick dry soil on the mound at Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark, on a wet Friday afternoon in Kenai. (Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion)
