Last year Glacier Twins coach Bob Rupp had all his players write down what their season expectations were.

“All of them had go to state,” he said.

“They achieved that.”

And much more.

Glacier won its first state championship since 1986 and advanced to the American Legion Class A regional baseball tournament in Anchorage, Alaska, where it finished third. Glacier finished the season with a 39-24 record.

“Last year our expectations were to improve (on 2013) and get better,” Rupp said.

“It worked out really well.

“Last year was a great season,” he added.

“The boys came together at the end like you hope all boys do. The district tournament in Kalispell is when we started playing well. Everything was clicking.”

Glacier came into the Western District tournament as the fourth seed with a 10-9 league mark. The Twins went on to finish second at the district and advanced to state.

Glacier won its first two games at state, lost in the semifinals, but rebounded to win the next two to claim the championship.

Glacier then went 2-2 in regional play.

Rupp, now in his third year directing the program and Class A’s Coach of the Year in 2014, and the Twins enter this campaign with even loftier goals with plenty of experience to back those dreams up. Glacier lost only one starter — left fielder Colton Gove — who is currently in the Navy SEAL program. He was an all-district and all-state player.

“We’re way ahead of schedule,” Rupp said of this year compared to last.

“The boys are doing well.”

The weather has also helped with preseason workouts, allowing the team to have practiced on the field for nearly a month.

Glacier opens the season with doubleheaders today (2 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.) versus the Calgary RedBirds. Eleven of Glacier’s first 13 games are at Memorial Field.

AJ Wetsch, the Twins’ top ace from last year and state tournament MVP, will pitch the first game today.

Austin Robins will start the second game.

“Our pitchers were really good,” Rupp said last year.

“They really stepped up and did the job. I got the same group back.”

That group also includes Jonny Sapa, Vinny Smith, the state and regional batting champion, Colten Parker and Jesse Walburn.

Rupp says the infield will be “very good” with Jace Fagerland at shortstop, Tristin Steinwand at second, Parker and Robins bouncing back and fourth between the mound and third and Smith and Wetsch sharing duties at first.

Tyler Murphy is back behind the plate.

Sean Hoerner, who played with the Twins’ B team last year and saw limited duty with the A squad later in the season, is expected to start in left field. Kyler Howke is penciled in at center with Jesse Walburn over in right.

A couple younger players with the A squad this year who will contribute more as time goes on are Bryce Fagerland, a pitcher and outfielder; James Simpson, a catcher; and Greyson Bistodeau, an infielder and pitcher.

“They are excited, having fun,” Rupp said of his current crew.

“They are already starting to jell.”