The American Legion Twins swept North Pole in league play in Anchorage on Friday.
The Twins won the first game 11-1 by imposing the mercy rule in six innings before scoring a walk-off, 5-4 victory in the second game.
The Twins move to 8-4 in the league and 11-7 overall and are in second place in the American Division. North Pole drops to 1-7 in the league and 3-8 overall.
Austin Asp came up big for the Twins in the first game on the mound and at the plate. Asp pitched four innings and gave up five hits and a run while walking one and striking out four. Harrison Metz finished up with a scoreless inning.
“He had a heck of a game,” said Twins assistant Joe Karlik, who was filling in for head coach Robb Quelland. “He threw well and we made plays behind him.”
Asp also led the Twins at the plate, finishing 3 for 4 with two runs. Jeremy Kupferschmid had a hit, two RBIs and two runs, while Logan Smith had a hit and a pair of RBIs. Metz, Paul Steffensen, Jacob Boze, Andrew Carver and Harold Ochea added hits.
“We made them make plays and hit the ball hard,” Karlik said. “We also had some good fortune on balls bouncing our way, as well.”
Karlik said North Pole did a nice job of bouncing back in the second game, leading 4-2 after three innings.
Kupferschmid got the start for the Twins and struggled with control, giving up four runs — three earned — on a hit and five walks in 2 2-3 innings. But Metz came in and held North Pole scoreless, allowing the Twins to rally.
Post 20 scored in the fourth and sixth innings to tie the game, then rallied for the win in the bottom of the seventh. The Twins loaded the bases with one away on singles by Metz and Steffensen and a walk by Smith.
Andrew Carver then grounded to third and North Pole recorded the force out at home, but a wild throw from the catcher to first base on the double-play attempt allowed Steffensen to score.
Karlik said the sweep happened because the Twins made the plays in front of them and got timely hits, which didn’t happen in losing league games to Service and Ketchikan on Thursday.
The Twins now host the Bill Miller Big Fish Wood Bat Tournament from Tuesday through Thursday. Tuesday at Coral Seymour Memorial Park, Bartlett plays East at 9 a.m., Lone Peak (Utah) Post 19 plays Excelsior (Minnesota) Post 259 at noon, Excelsior plays the Twins at 3 p.m. and Lone Peak plays the Twins at 6 p.m. At the Kenai Little League field, East plays Columbia (Tennessee) Post 19 at 2 p.m. and Columbia plays Bartlett at 5 p.m.
