Loggers get back on the winning track with victory over Sox
<p>Micah Germany at the plate vs. Strathmore Reds July 9.</p>
After two hard losses to close out a weekend tournament in Lewiston, Idaho, the Libby Loggers bounced back to advance their baseball conference record to 13-5 after defeating the Bitterroot Red Sox Wednesday night in Hamilton.
Winning pitcher Will Reichel allowed three hits by the Sox in six innings, Cameron Burkes relieved him allowing only one hit and no runs in the seventh to close out the night with a 10-run advantage over the Red Sox.
The Loggers (30-18 overall) proceeded slowly before scoring seven runs in the third and fourth innings. Shortstop Jared Winslow hit a to send Reichel across home plate and received the same generosity from a double by first baseman Oliver Grupenhoff, who attacked the same hole in mid-right field. Winslow accounted for three of the Loggers’ 10 runs.
Winslow and Grupenhoff were among four Logger players with two RBIs for the night, joined by catcher Micah Germany and center fielder Andrew Haggerty.
Third baseman Luke Haggerty, Germany and Grupenhoff each batted 3-for-5, and Andrew Haggerty batted 2-for-4 against the losing pitcher, Tanner Lehr.
The Loggers were quiet at the plate during the fifth inning, but returned in the sixth for another run by Winslow. Libby scored four more in the seventh inning to nail the Bitterroot’s coffin for the night.
The Loggers put up a solid defensive effort led by Reichel, barring the Sox from scoring until the fourth inning where they would accumulate their only two runs from center fielder Cody Lane and first baseman Kyle Norman, both unearned. The Sox gained only four hits and were walked to base seven times.
Winslow tagged Red Sox right fielder Tanner Lehr on second before a toss to first, outing first baseman Kyle Norman in a double play in the fifth inning.
The Red Sox finished the seventh inning without a score to rebut the far lead of the Loggers, ending the game with a score of 12-2.
Libby played the Bitterroot Bucs on Thursday afternoon in Florence, after press deadline. The Loggers will play the Glacier Twins on Sundau at home for their last conference game before district tournaments on Thursday in Eureka. With a good potential seed in the tournament, the Loggers hope to advance to American Legion baseball play in early August for the state tourney in Helena.