Loggers show end-of-season force

The Loggers Legion baseball team played tight defense and rode the hot bat of Oliver Grupenhoff as they slammed the Sandpoint Lakers 15-3 on Sunday at Lee Gehring Field in Libby. 

Grupenhoff tallied a game-high five RBIs as he went 3-for-4 at the plate. He batted in two runs in the first inning to give the Loggers a lead that they kept the rest of the game. He later topped off his performance with a home run in his last at-bat in the sixth inning. 

After the first inning, the Loggers led 5-1. The Lakers helped their opponents to a big start by committing two errors in the first frame.  The Lakers ended with five total errors, while the Loggers played an error-free game.  

The Loggers racked up 11 hits by the end of the sixth inning, and the Lakers hit seven.

Collin Johnson had a double and two RBI’s, and Cameron Burkes snagged two RBIs.

The crowd roared when Grupenhoff, who was on fire during the whole game, hit a home run over the left field fence in the bottom of what turned out to be a big sixth inning for the Loggers. The team rallied for eight runs to stretch their lead to 15-3 heading into the final inning. 

Coach Kelly Morford said the team has played more cohesively lately.

“Overall, we played solid defense this game, which has been a huge problem for us,” Morford said. “Then, of course, Oliver had that big home run. That was fun to watch.”

To round out the last home game of the season as fans trickled out, Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration” rang through the field. The Loggers certainly had a lot to celebrate about, going into the next few games.

During the game, three Loggers — Matt Willis, Will Reichel and Burkes—were honored for their last season. Each player had a few moments to take in the spotlight, for which each took off his cap. 

The three honored players graduated in 2013, but for Libby’s American Legion team, players can stay on the roster until they are 19.

Morford said there are new players already ready and waiting.

“We already have some younger kids to get on the team,” Morford said. “When these guys are gone, your hope is to stock the team with new young talent. But there won’t be other players quite like them. We’ll miss them.”

The Loggers will enter the playoffs at the district tournament in Kalispell from July 23 to 27. The state tournament will be held in Lewistown from July 30 to Aug. 3.