Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Twins center fielder Paul Steffensen takes a pitch Friday against Juneau at the American Legion Alaska State Tournament at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage. Steffensen was named MVP of the tournament.

Photo by Joey Klecka/Peninsula Clarion Twins center fielder Paul Steffensen takes a pitch Friday against Juneau at the American Legion Alaska State Tournament at Mulcahy Stadium in Anchorage. Steffensen was named MVP of the tournament.

Twins start play at Northwest Regionals on Wednesday

Two and a barbecue.

According to Lance Coz, the general manager of the American Legion Twins for 44 years now, that is what most people expect of the Alaska representative at the American Legion Northwest Regional Tournament.

As in, play two games, attend a barbecue, and go back home.

The Twins have been Outside four times previously — after state titles in 1991, 1995 and 2012 and after a state runner-up in 2015 — and each time have failed to win a game.

Coming off Saturday’s 8-7 state championship victory over Service, the Twins (32-8 overall) will look to change that history when they play the Kennewick Outlaws, the Washington state champion, Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. ADT in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Broadcast and streaming information is available at postsixbaseball.com/nwr2016.

Twins coach Robb Quelland likes his team’s chances of getting a win.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“I think we have a good chance, due to our pitching more than anything else,” Quelland said. “Our pitching should hold up for at least a game or two.”

Quelland said Gavin Petterson, Joey Becher and Matthew Daugherty all have been solid starters on the mound this season.

The reasons Alaska teams struggle at the tournament are many. Alaska is a cold-weather state with a relatively small population base.

Then there is the element of travel. Cheyenne is at 6,063 feet of elevation and the temperature is expected to be in the 90s.

“You’re basically facing a bunch of Tennessees down there,” Coz said.

The American Legion squad from Columbia, Tennessee, toured Alaska this summer. The Twins lost all three games — 3-0, 3-2 and 7-1.

“It was nice getting that experience against Tennessee,” Quelland said. “We didn’t win any, but those were all close games.”

Another thing that plays in the Twins favor is that all 13 players will be able to make the trip. In the past, the Twins have always lost valuable players to football or other commitments.

Among the players making the trip will be Paul Steffensen, who was named the MVP of the state tournament after hitting .444 with nine RBIs in five games.

He had highlight plays in center field, and a memorable inside-the-park grand slam.

This is Steffensen’s first year of Legion ball, but he is clearly on the rise.

“He’s an amazing young man,” Quelland said. “He’s the unsung hero of our team, and if you’d ever get a chance to talk to him, you’d never know he is the star of Alaska.”

Regardless of what happens, Coz has learned to make it a celebration of a successful season. He said the pressure by American Legion is to get losing teams out of town as quick as possible, but Coz has learned to work a few days of enjoyment into the trip.

That should give the Twins a chance to savor winning state this year after finishing second last year.

There were four players from this year’s team — Josh Darrow, Tyler Covey, Justice Miller and Daugherty — with siblings on the team in 2012 — Jake Darrow, Josiah Covey, Shane Miller and Mitchel Daugherty.

“It was always talked about — going up against that 2012 team,” Quelland said.

Although Quelland said the team is only aging out four, the coach added that many players won’t be back because they are talented enough to have opportunities elsewhere. So the time is now to savor the moment.

But Quelland added that the future is still bright. The Twins junior varsity team this year lost just two games this year, including a 12-3 loss to Chugiak on Sunday in the state championship.

More in Sports

Nick Varney
Reeling ‘Em In: Kudos to anglers who adhere to fishing regulations

Line launchers mimicking the scofflaw’s method is one of the reasons fish get spooked and quit biting.

Jared Hutchings leads the Mini Stock pack on the way to victory in the feature Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the Mini Stock Dirty 30 at Twin City Raceway in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Hutchings captures Mini Stock Dirty 30 at Twin City Raceway

Editor’s note: This story corrects the results of Mini Stock Heat 2.… Continue reading

Kenai's Jason Parks runs to a win in the men's marathon at the Kenai River Marathon on Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Assistant coach Krista Arthur plus the 3,200-meter relay of Sasha Brott, Annie Burns, Sophia Jedlicki and Katie DeBardelaben at Nike Outdoor Nationals at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, from June 19 to 22, 2025. (Photo provided)
Soldotna medals in 3 events, sets 2 school records at Nike Outdoor Nationals

The Soldotna track and field team nabbed medals in three events and… Continue reading

Pitcher Jax Lee is congratulated by catcher Conner Mitchuson after Madisonville (Kentucky) Post 6 won the championship game of the Lance Coz Wood Bat Tournament on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kentucky squad tops Twins for Coz title

Madisonville (Kentucky) Post 6 defeated the Post 20 Twins 2-0 in the… Continue reading

Runners take a Kenai beach access road during the Kenai Summer Solstice Fun Run in Kenai, Alaska, on Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Kenai Chamber tries to grow Solstice Fun Run

The event, with 5- and 10-kilometer options, drew 47 runners.

tease
Twins, Kentucky squad to play for Coz Wood Bat title on Sunday

The American Legion Post 20 Twins and Madisonville (Kentucky) Post 6 will… Continue reading

Clyde Clemens of the Post 20 Twins swings through a hit pitch Friday, June 20, 2025, in the Lance Coz Wood Bat Tournament at Coral Seymour Memorial Park in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)
Wood Bat tourney carries on legacy of Coz

From 1975 until his death in 2020, former Twins manager and head… Continue reading

tease
Results posted for Celebrate Life! 5K

ABC Life Choices held the Celebrate Life! 5-kilometer run Saturday, June 14,… Continue reading

Most Read