Big inning lifts Kenai Twins

WASILLA — The Kenai Twins drew eight walks during a lopsided win over the Alaska Road Warriors.

Was patience the key?

Kenai coach Al Hull had a different answer.

“We finally came out and played aggressive,” Hull said after the Twins’ 10-0 drubbing of the Alaska Road Warriors at McManus Field in Wasilla Sunday afternoon. “We want to play aggressive. I think our kids finally came out and played the kind of ball they can play.”

Kenai used a nine-run second inning to post the win over the Valley-based American Legion team and rebound from a tough loss to Service on Saturday. Hull said Sunday’s win was a complete turnaround from what the Kenai coaches saw during a 3-1 loss to the Cougars the day before.

“We’re going to be aggressive,” Hull said. “We’re going to be aggressive at the plate. We’re going to be aggressive on the bases. And they were (Sunday).”

They nearly went through their entire lineup twice during the marathon top half of the second inning. In 15 at bats, the Twins drew six walks, collected five hits and scored nine runs. A Kenai batter was also hit by a pitch during the inning.

Kenai’s Max Hegge was 2 for 2 with two RBI and a run during the second. Mitchell Thompson walked twice and scored twice during the inning.

The Road Warriors were forced to use three pitchers during the second inning. After a relatively easy first, Alaska starter Damon Hammer retired only one Kenai hitter in the second. Reliever Ian Stormont was brought in with only one out.

Josiah Covey and Mitchell Thompson drew consecutive walks to start the second inning, and Covey quickly scored on a Hegge single to give the Twins the 1-0 lead.

Shane Miller drew another walk to load the bases, and Ethan Oliver knocked a ball into left field to score two runs. Jake Darrow followed with a run-scoring double, and Brian Rowe ended Hamer’s day on the mound with another walk.

Already up against their second arm of the afternoon, the Twins continued to attack in the second. A.J. Hull singled to drive in another run, and Hull later scored on a Covey ground out.

Late in the inning, Hegge gave Kenai a 9-0 lead with his second run-scoring single of the inning.

“We just got after it,” Al Hull said.

With plenty of offensive support, Kenai starter A.J. Hull worked quickly on the mound, throwing a five-inning mercy rule shutout.

“A.J. pitched a hell of a game today,” Al Hull said. “He had them off balance. He had everything working.”

Hull allowed only two Road Warrior hits. He walked three and hit another batter, but threw only 68 pitches in the win.

David Newman led the Road Warriors with a pair of walks.

Kenai improved to 9-4 overall and 5-2 in league play with the win. The Road Warriors dropped to 6-3.

The Road Warriors return to the field Wednesday, facing Eagle River at Loretta French Field. Kenai meets Dimond in a doubleheader in Anchorage on Wednesday.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com, follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports and find him by search Valley Sports Huddle on Facebook.