You might say the Glacier Twins are viewing this as a second opportunity of sorts.

The AA American Legion baseball team is the host for this year’s Montana/Alberta State Tournament, which begins today at Memorial Park. That honor gave the team an automatic spot in the eight-team field. 

If not for that, the Twins, who wrapped up a challenging regular season over the weekend with 8-6, 6-5 and 7-4 losses at Medicine Hat, Alberta, would not have qualified for the 2012 tournament. Glacier winless in Western AA play (0-25) and 6-45 overall was last in the standings.

The top four finishers in the final standings from Eastern AA advanced along with the top three from Western AA. 

 “A fresh start ... you don’t get many of those,” first-year Glacier coach Scott Murray said.

“They (players) are really excited about playing. I hope we can put some good games together. We’ll do everything we have to do to stay in this thing as long as we can.”

Glacier opens state play at 7 p.m. versus the Billings Royals (18-6 in Eastern AA play and 33-13 overall).

Tournament action begins at 9 a.m. with Great Falls vs. Bozeman. The Billings Scarlets and Missoula Mavericks follow at noon.

At 4 p.m., it’s Medicine Hat versus Helena.

The Royals and Twins met once this season at the Wood Bat Tournament in Spokane in early July. The Royals prevailed in that one 4-2.

Conner Donahue (1-11) pitched for the Twins in that contest and he will be given the start for this matchup as well.

“Our guys know that if you play good ball, you can compete with anyone,” Murray said.

“That’s what we want to do — play clean baseball and see what happens.”

Glacier’s last victory was May 28, a 10-9 road nonconference triumph over the Missoula Mavericks.

Since then, it’s been rough going.

Glacier has lost 10 games by four runs or less. Three of those were one-run affairs.

For the season, Glacier has lost 19 times by four runs or less.

“A hit here, or a (good) bounce,” Murray said of the difference between winning and losing in those outings.

“What kept us out of those close games were errors. When we play solid ball, we’re a pretty good team.”

Despite not having won in two months, Murray says his players are not discouraged.

“Win or lose, they will give their all, fight to the end,” he said.

“It’s easy to celebrate when things are going well. They’ve held through, have stuck with it through those tough times.”

 Murray said the team is playing better defensively, which he says is encouraging.

Jeremy Nielsen and Cory Davis have led the Twins’ offense.

Nielsen, hitting .310, has 39 hits in 126 at-bats, 10 doubles and two triples. His hits, doubles and triples are team highs.

He has one home run on the season, which ties him with Peter Seymour for the team lead.

Nielsen has also scored a team best 26 times this season.

Davis, hitting .300, has 36 hits in 120 at-bats. His 33 singles are a team high.

Garrett Houston, hitting .228, and Seymour, hitting .298, are the RBI leaders with 17 each.

Nielsen is next with 14. 

Davis and Carl Talsma, hitting .276, have 13 RBI each.

Glacier is hitting .237 as a team.

Pitching wise, Davis has worked the most innings (75) and pitched in 22 games. He is 0-11.

Donahue, who has worked 67 innings, has team highs with 63 strikeouts and 48 walks.

Schedule

Today

9 a.m. — Great Falls Chargers vs. Bozeman Bucks

Noon — Billings Scarlets vs. Missoula Mavericks

4 p.m. — Medicine Hat Moose Monarchs vs. Helena Senators

7 p.m. — Billings Royals vs. Glacier Twins

Final Standings

Western AA

LeagueOverall

WLWL

Medicine Hat1992712

Missoula1964425

Great Falls14113025

Kalispell1312NANA

Lethbridge1015NANA

Glacier025645

Eastern AA

LeagueOverall

WLWL

Billings Royals1863313

Bozeman1774015

Billings Scarlets14103220

Helena 11133233

Butte024NANA