Libby softball advances to state tournament
<p>Devon Gallagher cheers her team on from third base after her RBI scoring the fifth and final run in the bottom of the seventh with two out vs. Polson.</p>
<p>Post game jube after defeating Columbia Falls assuring a state playoff berth with Hannah England, left, Dayln Germany, Devon Gallagher, Rachel Rebo and Kelsey Klin.</p>
<p>Devon Gallagher base hit bottom of the fourth sends Mahalah Wedel to second vs. Polson</p>
With a trip to the state tournament already secured, the Libby Lady Loggers (4-4, 16-5) softball team struggled to get going at home, losing 7-5 to Polson on Friday.
Libby pitcher Hannah England battled her command against Polson’s leadoff hitter, Jaylin Kenney, surrendering a line-drive double to left before settling down with a strikeout and a pair of pop outs.
Libby presented the game’s first scoring threat in the bottom of the second when centerfielder Kelsey Klin reached base on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on a pair of steals. A ground out by first baseman Dayln Germany ended the inning and left Libby off the board.
Germany added injury to insult in the top of the third when she rolled her ankle while avoiding catcher Devon Gallagher on a popup that bounced in and out of Gallagher’s catcher’s mitt. Germany tried to tough it out, but was clearly in pain and later left the game.
Another Libby scoring opportunity came and went in the bottom of the third when Polson (6-2, 16-3) converted a 6-3-5 double play. Senior Brooke Rosling laced a one-out double to right field just as the sun began peeking out from the passing rain clouds, and the Loggers looked poised to break the scoreless tie. The breaks continued to go Polson’s way, however, when freshman leadoff batter Madisen Monigold hit a groundball to short. After throwing Monigold out at first, Polson doubled up Rosling as she tried to advance to third on the throw from short.
England’s control got her in trouble in the fourth. Polson pitcher Jessica Bagnell led off with a single on a 3-1 count and a Kaelen Wall infield single set the table for a two-run double by Hannah Potter. Heading into the bottom of the fourth, Libby trailed 4-0.
The Lady Loggers threatened again when Mahalah Wedel reached on an error and Devon Gallagher recorded one of her four hits with a single to right. A rip off the bat of Kelsey Klin looked certain to get Libby on the board before Polson’s left fielder made a diving catch to rob Klin of extra bases.
The game appeared to be getting out of hand going into the bottom of the sixth when Polson claimed a 7-0 lead, but Libby rallied to score two runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh. While the comeback attempt fell short, Libby Coach Dean Thompson was pleased with his girls’ efforts.
“We played well, and we had more hits than they did,” Thompson said, noting his team’s nine hits to Polson’s seven. “We had to beat them by six runs to get second in conference. It didn’t happen, but the girls are excited to get to state.”
Libby will travel Thursday to Polson to play Butte Central at 1 p.m. in the first game of the double-elimination state tournament. Should the Lady Loggers win, they will advance to play Belgrade (15-8) at 5 p.m. Thursday. The tournament is scheduled until Saturday.
Libby beat Butte Central, 4-0, early in the season, but Thompson said his Lady Loggers will face an improved, young pitcher. Libby also beat Belgrade, 9-7, last month. In that game Libby jumped to an early 9-4 lead before holding off a late Belgrade rally.
Polson: 0 0 0 4 1 2 0 — 7 6 5
Libby: 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 — 5 9 3
POLSON — Kenney 3-3, Jaiden Toth 0-4, Bagnell 1-2, Kaelen Wall 0-4, Hannah Potter 1-3, Taylor Brackey 1-4, Kyrie Bitterman 0-2, Sarah Rausch 0-1, Ashley Benson 0-4, Lydia Dupuis 0-3.
LIBBY — Madisen Monigold 0-4, England 0-3, Regh 1-1, Mahalah Wedel 1-4, Gallagher 4-4, Kelsey Klin 1-4, Auria Benefield 0-2, Taryne Lusher 0-1, Dayln Germany 0-1, Abbey Ennenga 1-2, Rachel Rebo 0-3, Brooke Rosling 1-2.
2B—Kenney (2), Potter; Wedel, Rosling; RBIs—Toth, Potter (2), Wall, Brackey (2); Wedel (2), Gallagher.
Libby 2, Columbia Falls 1
At Columbia Falls, the Libby Lady Loggers softball team qualified for the state tournament Thursday with a 2-1 victory.
The winning knock was nothing exciting, an eighth inning sacrifice fly to left off the bat of Dayln Germany, but the team’s reaction was euphoric. The at-bats that led to Germany’s RBI exemplified the poise the veteran team possesses.
After allowing a 1-0 lead to slip away in the sixth, Libby opened the eighth with a Mahalah Wedel single, one of Libby’s five hits. Catcher Devon Gallagher followed with a single of her own, and centerfielder Kelsey Klin walked to load the bases. While Wildkats All-State pitcher Ashley Trueblood struck out 12 batters, she was unable to avoid Germany’s bat when a strikeout was the greatest need.
Libby pitcher Hannah England slammed the door in the bottom of the eighth to send her team to state. England finished with 10 strikeouts.
Libby: 010 000 01 – 2 5 3
Col. Falls: 000 001 00 – 1 6 4
LIBBY – Madisen Monigold 1-4, Hannah England 0-4, Mahalah Wedel 1-4, Devon Gallagher 1-3, Kelsey Klin 1-2, Auria Benefield 0-4, Dayln Germany 1-4, Rachel Rebo 0-4, Staci Regh 0-3.
COLUMBIA FALLS – Tiffany Hummer 1-4, Winter Kemppainen 1-4, Peyton Kehr 1-3, Breanna Friar 0-4, Ashley Trueblood 1-3, Carlee Brown 0-3, Madi Fetters 0-2, Alysha Cantu 0-1, Amanda Morrison 0-2, Samantha Collins 1-1, Courtney Murray 1-2.
RBIs – Germany; Trueblood.