By Robb Fenton
The Lloydminster Twins stepped up when it counted.
Entering a tough stretch of four games and sitting at 7-0, the Twins are now 11-0 after four key wins against tough opponents which has them sitting comfortably on top of the standings.
“It feels really good, especially the win in Wilkie, it kind of capped it all off,” Twins veteran Troy Winterhalt said. “These four games we were trying to make a statement and winning those games as a team, we won some games different ways.”
Winterhalt said the biggest thing his team showed was the ability to come through in the clutch and when it mattered.
In every game, the Twins came up with hits when they needed them, outs when they needed them and even pulled off a few double plays to get themselves out of jams.
“The game against Unity it was pitching and defence. It was 4-2 and we didn’t really hit the ball too well. We ran ourselves out of some innings and gave up some out.”
“All facets of the game, we proved to ourselves we can win the games in more than one way,” he said.
The Twins beat the Unity Cardinals 4-2, North Battleford Beavers 9-6, Meadow Lake White Sox 3-2 and their rivals, the Wilkie Brewers 12-7 for their four wins in less than a week.
The Twins used the bats in two games and pitching and defence in the other two, as they scored a total of 28 runs, while surrendering 17.
“We’re doing the little things right when we get the chance. The biggest key is always the pitching and defence. When you have pitching you have a chance to win the game,” Winterhalt said. “That’s been the key to our success over the years and it’s no exception this year.”
The chemistry the Twins have shown this season and specifically in the past four games is a big reason they are still undefeated.
“We always seem to have the nine or 10 guys that are consistently there. We have the same boys out every night and we’re getting a lot of good cohesion going and guys know what they are out there for and what they have to do to help the team,” Winterhalt explained. “Everybody plays their part. Things are working out really well right now.”
While the toughest set of games are behind them and the Twins came away with all four wins, they won’t take a break or let up.
With three games to go and just less than two weeks left in the season, the Twins have their next goal in sight.
“Now that we got through the tough stretch of the season, we can’t sit back. We have to keep focussed. We have three more games left and we’re not out of the woods yet to finish first,” Winterhalt said. “We have to win two out of the next three games to get first depending on what the Juniors do.”
Two wins in the next three games and finishing the season strong is the focus of the Twins and that begins tonight as the Twins host the Edam Blue Sox at Legion Ball Park at 6:30 p.m.
“That’s out next goal, win two out of three and we’ll have home field advantage in the playoffs, which is a big thing every year,” he said.