Legion Loggers take care of Glacier AA
Paul Sievers/The Western News Dustin Morningstar, caught here in the middle of his wind-up, kept Glacier AA batters guessing much of the evening on Tuesday. Morningstar got the win in the Loggers’ 13-8 triumph. Ryan Stapley and Chris Herbig pitched in relief roles.
Intermittent rain did nothing to put a damper on Libby’s hit parade Tuesday night against Glacier AA. The Loggers busted out for six runs over the first two innings en route to a 13-8 win at Lee Gehring Field.
Derek Willis cleared the bases in the opening inning with a three-RBI triple. By the end of the second, the Loggers had built a 6-1 lead.
“That was a big turnaround from Friday,” Morford said in reference to the Loggers’ one run in a loss to Eureka. “Our approach was much better at the plate.”
The visiting Twins scored single runs in the second, third and fourth innings but could not completely break through against Libby’s Dustin Morningstar.
“He threw strikes pretty well and got it going into the late innings,” said Morford, who also pitched Adam Stapley and Chris Herbig in relief roles over the final three innings.
The Loggers nearly ended the game on the 10-run mercy rule in the bottom of the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, the Twins got out of the jam with two strikeouts to end the inning. Glacier managed a few more runs in the late going but never threatened to climb out of the deep hole.
Willis had four hits for the Legion Loggers, including the 3-bagger and four ribbies. Morningstar helped his own cause with a pair of hits. Clay Smith also had two hits.
Fans witnessed some fireworks in the game when Glacier’s manager was ejected for a verbal tirade against one of the umpires. The play involved the coach’s perception of a collision that had occurred between Glacier’s catcher and Libby’s Eric Stevenson.
Libby (2-3) was scheduled to play again at home on Wednesday night in a game after deadline. The Loggers next take the field on Sunday at Cranbrook, British Columbia.