Sports story of the Year: Loggers baseball takes 4th in state
<p>It was a great season for the Libby Loggers American Legion baseball team that finished fourth in state.</p>
It wasn’t a favorable hand to be dealt. Libby, fresh off a second-place finish in the Legion Baseball Western District Tournament, was slated to face the three-time state champion Laurel Dodgers.
It didn’t appear to be a Cinderella story in the making, as the Loggers went down 9-0 in the second inning.
“To start with, we were probably a little intimidated that we were playing Laurel,” said Head Coach Kelly Morford. “But the guys never gave up, and we were able to come back and get closer.”
Four quick runs from the Dodgers placed them on top, 17-13, sending Libby to the losers bracket with an incredible amount of confidence.
This shined through in two dominating victories over the Gallatin Valley Outlaws and Great Falls Chargers, 15-4 and 19-8.
With two emphatic wins, Libby was one game away from the state championship game and yet another rematch with the Mission Valley Mariners.
Glasgow stepped in the way.
The Reds were able to stem the Logger tide 16-6, sending Libby home in fourth place.
Morford’s squad appeared shaky at many times this season, a testament as much to the quality of competition as to the inexperience of the Loggers. But even after some harsh losses, the team stayed on point.
In good news for Loggers fans and bad news for competition, every player is eligible to return next season.
“We still have to get our numbers up, pick up a few good kids from Babe Ruth,” Morford said. “But we’ve got a real shot at the state title next season.”