Season preview: Libby baseball set to hit diamond
Losing five of its top six pitchers, the Libby American Legion baseball team knows that developing depth on the mound could play a major role when it comes to success.
Fourth-year coach Kelly Morford, who has a strong background with developing pitchers, admitted that “pitching’s going to be our spot where we’re going to have to piece together the most.” Colton Cannon, who pitched 10 innings in last year’s Western District championship game, currently heads up the staff.
“Colton Cannon is probably our ace out there,” Morford said. “He’s been progressing really well this year.”
Southpaw Dustin Morningstar also returns on the mound for Libby. Adam Stapley and Chris Herbig will see time at pitcher as well.
“Adam Stapley has come a country mile as far as development on the mound and Chris Herbig gave us some good innings last year,” Morford said. “We’ve got those four (along with Cannon and Morningstar) and some younger guys working in there as well.”
Libby opens the season on Saturday at a tournament in Eureka. The Loggers are scheduled to play at noon against Mission Valley and will then face Glacier at 3 p.m. Games are also scheduled for Sunday.
Just as many questions surround who will be on the receiving end of the pitching staff. Matt Schad occupied space behind the plate for the past three seasons and with him gone, a pair of newcomers are fighting for the starting spot – Clay Smith and Josiah Coker.
Smith is one of two imports from Noxon and Coker is a 15-year-old just coming up.
“The main part with them is just getting them to understand how we pitch, how to call pitches and how to run a game from behind the plate,” Morford said.
Around the infield, hard-hitting Derek Willis is looking good at first base. Morningstar can jump into that position as well along with Micah Germany.
Over at second, Eric Grotjohn brings back some experience and the younger Tate Wilson is another option.
“He came a long ways last year as far as developing his footwork and his hands,” Morford said about Grotjohn. “He’s looking pretty good over there.”
Herbig played second last year but it appears that Morford will move him over to shortstop.
“He has great hands defensively and will be the anchor of our infield,” Morford said.
Cannon can play in the No. 6 hole as well along with Zach Watson.
Kelly May has done well at the plate during spring training and appears to be the leading candidate at third base. May became a starter during the playoffs last season when Derek Benefield suffered an injury. Watson and Eric Stevenson, another athlete from Noxon, are also in the mix.
Libby appears to be solid in the outfield with Morningstar, Cannon, Stapley and Stevenson all capable. Several others play into the picture as well, including Spencer Koskela, Ryan McCabe and Royce Hendrickson.
“I think overall defensively, we’ll be all right,” Morford said. “It’s just whether or not we can keep it together on the hill. If we can solidify that catching spot, we’ll be good there and up the middle and in the outfield. That’s a pretty good foundation to build on.”
Morford will have plenty of games to see his players before the Loggers get into league action. The first home appearance will be May 1 at 6 p.m. against Eureka. The Loggers will host a wood bat tournament on May 23-24 and the Big Bucks Tournament on June 19-21.
“That’s a good thing about the schedule, we play a lot of nonconference and tournament games,” Morford said. “We don’t get into the conference until mid-June. If you’ll ask me what the starting lineup will look like then, I would have no idea, so we need time to shake things out.”
Schedule
April 25, Mission Valley#, Noon
April 25, Glacier#, 3 p.m.
April 26, Eureka Tournament, TBA
May 1, Eureka, 6 p.m.
May 2, Glacier A, 3 p.m.
May 5, Glacier AA, 6:30 p.m.
May 6, Kalispell, 6:30 p.m.
May 10, at Cranbrook, B.C., 1 p.m.
May 13, at Glacier AA, 6:30 p.m.
May 17, at Eureka, 1 p.m.
May 23-24 , Area 51bats.com Wood Bat Tourney at Libby, TBA
May 30, Mission Valley, 1 p.m.
June 7, at Mission Valley, 1 p.m.
June 8, at Kalispell AA, 6 p.m.
June 10, at Glacier A, 5 p.m.
June 13, at Eureka, 1 p.m.
June 14, Kalispell A, 1 p.m.
June 16, at Mission Valley, 2 p.m.
June 19-21, Big Bucks Tournament
at Libby, TBA
June 23, at Kalispell A, 5 p.m.
June 30, Lethbridge AA, 1 p.m.
July 3, at Glacier A, 5 p.m.
July 7, Eureka, 5 p.m.
July 11, at Strathmore, Alberta, TBA
July 12, at Strathmore, Alberta, TBA
July 15, Cranbrook, B.C., 5 p.m.
July 18, Mission Valley, 1 p.m.
Note: The District Tournament is scheduled for July 23-27 at Polson. The State Tournament is scheduled for July 30-Aug. 3 at Three Forks.
# at Eureka Tournament