Loggers split 4 in Canada

Two runs short of a sweep.

The Libby American Legion baseball team split four games in Canada Friday through Sunday of last week with both losses coming by one run each.

The Loggers opened on Friday with a 9-4 nine-inning victory over Strathmore and then defeated the same opponent again in a seven-inning contest on Saturday, 16-7. Libby then dropped its second game on Saturday to Lethbridge, 5-4, and ended the trip with a 3-2 extra-inning setback to Strathmore on Sunday.

“I think things are shaping up pretty well for us,” Libby coach Kelly Morford said about the team’s progress with the playoffs approaching. “Heading into districts, we’re swinging the bats a lot better from top to bottom.”

Clay Smith and Eric Riddle are examples of Morford’s comments with both of those players heating up at the plate.

“We’ll be playing our best ball by the district tournament and that’s encouraging,” Morford said with confidence.

In Friday’s win, Libby scored five runs in the second inning behind RBI singles from Smith, Riddle and Dustin Morningstar.

Smith and Riddle each went 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Adam Stapley got the win with a seven-hitter in 5 2/3 innings. Joe Coker relieved to pitch the final 3 1/3 innings and qualified for a save.

Chris Herbig threw a complete game in Saturday’s win over Strathmore.

Coker and Riddle each went 4-for-5 with two RBIs. Coker hit a three-run homer in the third inning and also had a pair of doubles. Colt Cannon and Herbig each had three hits.

Libby pulled away in the fifth behind an RBI single from Stapley and an RBI double by Zach Watson.

Lethbridge scored three runs in the top of the seventh on a home run and then held on to beat Libby in Saturday’s finale, 5-4.

The Loggers scored twice in the bottom of the seventh and stranded the tying run on third.

Cannon suffered the loss at pitcher. Herbig was the top hitter by going 3-for-4.

Strathmore then downed Libby on Sunday in 10 innings, 3-2, when the home team scored on a wild pitch.

Morningstar, Cannon and Smith each collected two hits. Coker suffered the loss in relief.

On Wednesday of last week, Libby exploded for 14 runs over a two-inning stretch to blast visiting Mission Valley, 16-5.

Coker connected on a solo home run to left field and Cannon drove in four runs to accompany an exceptional pitching performance turned in by Morningstar.

Libby established its dominance with five runs in the fourth and nine in the fifth.

Morningstar allowed six hits and one walk to go along with three strikeouts over his six innings of work.

At the plate, Cannon went 1-for-3 with a double and four RBIs while Morningstar and Stapley each collected two hits.

The Loggers take a 23-20 overall record into Wednesday’s home game against Cranbrook, British Columbia.