Swinging toward state: Libby softball on hot start

Players on the Libby Lady Logger softball team are not bashful when discussing their goal.

“We’re here to win,” pitcher Hannah England said. “We’ve talked about our potential for years. Now we’re ready to win. No more talk.”

After going 9-11 overall last season, the Lady Loggers went undefeated through seven games this season before falling to conference rival Polson Thursday night.

Coach Dean Thompson, who earned his 200th win during a 10-0 win against Idaho’s Timberlake earlier this year, called his team’s April 17 win against Columbia Falls a breakthrough game. Hosting the state’s reigning third-place team, Libby came from behind to win, 10-6.

“The girls played loose,” Thompson said. “Our enthusiasm is really carrying us.”

So are the team’s bats. Junior catcher Devon Gallagher lead a team that scored at least 10 runs in it’s first seven games with a .739 batting average, two home runs and 15 RBI. But that scoring streak ended when the Loggers lost 8-2 in Polson.

Combine a potent offense with England’s four shutouts, and Libby looks capable of claiming a fifth state championship in school history.

“When you play Logger softball, the goal is to win a state title,” Thompson said.

Libby won its most recent state trophy in 2008. According to the girls themselves, their shared upbringing through athletics makes this title contender unique.

“My dad coached a lot of us since third grade,” England said of her father, Jon England, who, along with Libby High Athletic Director and fellow softball dad, Jim Germany, coached Babe Ruth softball. “We feel like sisters.”

England has dominated opponents this season with a six-pitch mix that includes a fastball, changeup, dropball, curveball, riseball and screwball. The screwball, which runs away from right-handed batters after leaving England’s left hand, is a recent addition.

“I’ve worked on it since my freshman year,” England said. “I really started getting a hold of the pitch this year.”

England had most of her repertoire working when she beat Columbia Fall’s All-State pitcher Ashley Trueblood.

“She’s a great pitcher,” England said of Trueblood. “That was our win of the year. But we have a lot ahead of us. I know we have the potential to win state. Our biggest challenge is getting out of our conference.”

The top three teams in last year’s state tournament — Columbia Falls, Polson and Frenchtown — were three teams that came from Libby’s Northwestern A conference.

“We’ve been talking about winning state since summer ball,” junior first baseman Dayln Germany said. “A lot of us feel close to Coach. He spends the time to go one-on-one with us. He’s helped me stay calm at the plate.”

One of several players on the team who also plays volleyball and basketball, Germany said softball’s relaxed pace and combination of individual and team plays makes it her favorite sport.

Libby starts seven juniors. Two seniors, Kelsey Klin and Brooke Rosling, also lead the team.

The Lady Loggers follow Thompson’s positive, energetic attitude. Thompson calls longtime Assistant Coach Jeremy Hageness a “great friend” and Hageness’ dog, Elway, serves as the team’s best friend, barking support during offensive rallies. Watching Thompson demonstrate batting principles to sophomore Jordan Turner as Elway lounges in the dugout, practice takes on a family feel.

“Coach always talks about getting your hips through in your swing,” centerfielder Klin said only seconds before Thompson implores Turner to rotate her hips. “Ha-ha, see. He’s always saying it.”

Thompson is known to sing to his girls before games.

“He’ll dance on the field and sing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ before we play,” Germany said.

Klin agreed her coach is easy to play for.

“He wants to win and have fun doing it,” Klin, who plans to walk on to the softball team at Great Falls University next year, said. “We’re not young anymore.”

Such an approach works well with a veteran team fully aware of their strengths and weaknesses.

“Dayln falls on her face a lot,” Gallagher said of her teammate. “She was running to first base last year and tripped on the bag.”

Gallagher describes Germany’s landing as “the scorpion,” because her face was flat on the ground while her legs arched backward toward her head.

“She does that in every sport, but she is a powerful hitter and we definitely need her on the team,” Gallagher said.

Having grown up together, the girls say they are comfortable enough to fight, just like blood sisters. Although they have had little to bicker about this season, Thompson sees a difficult road ahead for his team.

“We have the toughest conference in the state, but we wouldn’t have it any other way,” Thompson said. “We face the best pitchers every year. That gets us ready for the state tournament.”

Libby will leave this weekend with a better indication of where they stand among the state’s best teams.  After the loss to Polson (10-2), the Lady Loggers enter Saturday’s Frenchtown Invitational with perennial Central A contender Belgrade (3-1) and Southwestern A leader Hamilton (5-1) on the schedule.

“It’s good to start well,” Gallagher said. “I know my teammates can succeed. It’s fun winning. We just gotta stay positive. We’ve been together for so long, we know we can win state.”