Libby baseball and softball gearing up for spring

With spring right around the corner, Libby's softball and baseball teams are preparing to hit the field.

“We officially start practice Monday, but we've been having open gyms,” said Libby High School's softball coach, Dean Thompson.

Both the softball team and the Legion baseball team have been participating in playing catch, pitching, and using a batting cage inside.

Thompson said he was pleased with the high turnout this year, adding they usually don't make cuts for the varsity and junior varsity teams.

“We've got at least 30 girls at the moment and we will make cuts the first or second week of practice to keep it at 24 to 27 girls,” he said.

With eight starters returning, Thompson said the team is in good shape, which took 6th in state last year and 2nd in state the year before.

“We didn't lose many off our team,” he said. “There is a good strong nucleus of our girls who are coming back, and for positions we do have open, we have some good young girls coming up.”

Thompson said there are some excellent freshmen this year who will be challenging the seniors for their positions.

Legion Baseball Coach Kelly Morford was also pleased with the number of kids who signed up for Libby's Legion baseball team.

“We had 18 sign up, which is the maximum number we can carry,” he said. “That was the most interest we've had in some time.”

With 11 players returning, Morford is optimistic their overall record will keep improving.

“We've had this core group of kids since they were 16,” he said. “If the hard work is going to come through for us, it's going to be this year - it'll be the year of reckoning for us.”

Their first home game is Friday, May 9 at Lee Gehring Field in Libby.

Montana, Alabama and South Dakota are the only states that don't have high school sponsored baseball.

Morford, also a Libby High School teacher, said there has been some talk about incorporating baseball as a high school sport, but due to Title 9, a female sport would also need to be introduced at the same time.

Many high schools offer letters for cheerleading, which could be a viable solution if Montana decides to go that route.

Until then, the Legion sponsored baseball team is an opportunity for high school athletes to try out their skills.

The team has to help raise the money, which they do through sign-up fees, raffle tickets, (advertising) signs in the outfield, concessions and ticket sales.

This season boasts more home games than ever before - 13 plus a three-day tournament June 20-22.

With teams attending from as far away as Washington, Idaho and Canada, the Big Bucks tournament gives away prize money to the top three winners: 1st place - $500, 2nd place - $300, and 3rd place - $100.

With two different classifications - A and AA, if Libby were to win state, they would go on to compete in a regional tournament - with only AA having the option to advance to a world series match.

Official practice begins March 31 outside, with the little league kids' camp, Libby Loggers vs. Stars of Tomorrow Camp, to be held on April 12th.

At $25/kid or $20 for more than one kid, the participants get coaching and a tshirt while playing at the Lee Gehring Field in Libby.

“It's a fundraiser for us and gets the kids to interact in our program - ages little league to babe ruth,” said Morford.

Chiropractor Dr. Scott Foss has been president of Legion baseball since 2003, and said it has been in Libby for a long time.

Foss hires coaches and oversee the operation.

“Mainly my big job is mowing the field,” he said. “To make sure it looks nice.

I do it because it did so much for me,” he added. “I played legion ball here in Libby, then went off to college to play it and got a degree with it.”

Foss went on to play in the minor leagues and played baseball while he was in chiropractic school.

To attend games, a family season pass runs $40, an individual pass $25, and a senior citizen or student pass is $15.

Anyone with questions about the legion baseball program should call Morford at 291-1564.