Lady Loggers run circles around Whitefish
<p>Mahalah Wedel grounds out to first scoring Madisen Monigold bottom of first inning vs. Whitefish 4-7-15.</p>
<p>Rachel Rebo smacks a double bottom of first inning vs. Whitefish 4-7-15.</p>
<p>Top row from left: Asst. Coach Ruth Fenn, Asst. Coach Jeremy Hageness, Mgr. McKenzie Williams, Hannah England, Rachel Rebo, Mahalah Wedel, Auria Benefield, Staci Regh, Devon Gallagher, Dayln Germany, Bailie Rosling, Coach Dean Thompson and Bat Boy Trey Thompson. Front row from left: Mgr. Jonny Cielak, Mgr. Sage Friss, Jordan Turner, Khalyn Hageness, Kyra Lauer, Bat Boy Teague Thompson, Ashley Walker, Alyssa Marshall, Kaylee Cannon, Madisen Monigold, Abby Ennenga and Bat Girl Taryn Thompson.</p>
In the first inning of Libby’s softball game against Whitefish on Wednesday at Remp Field it was clear the Bulldogs were in a dogfight they couldn’t win. The Lady Loggers blasted out of the gates to an 11-point lead after the first frame on their way to a 26-0 win. The mercy rule ended the game after five innings in the first conference game of the season for both teams.
Libby coach Dean Thompson said every win is important in a conference that has won 11 of the last 13 state championships.
“We play in such a tough conference, with this being our first conference game, any time you can get a win it’s a good thing,” Thompson said. “Our girls came through; we got all the girls some batting today and some defense.”
In the top of the first, Hannah England made quick work of Whitefish by striking out the first two batters before forcing Abby Reese to ground out.
On the other hand, Bulldogs pitcher Halle Reading endured an onslaught of hits from the quick bats of the Loggers who nearly batted through their lineup twice before the inning ended. Madisen Monigold got to second on a hit to left field to get things started, and then stole third to get into scoring position with Mahalah Wedel at the plate.
Wedel was thrown out at first after making contact, but opened the window enough for Monigold to sneak home to make the score 1-0. After getting to first on a walk, Abby Ennenga stole second. Devon Gallagher and Rachel Rebo were also walked to load the bases.
Ennenga used her quick feet to steal home before Staci Regh would be walked to reload the bases. A fly out by Dayln Germany brought Auria Benefield to the plate. Benefield ripped a shot that would not only drive in the three runners on base, but she was able to stroll across home plate for an inside-the-park grand slam.
Later in the inning Gallagher launched a deep hit over the centerfield scoreboard, driving in Ennenga in the process. Gallagher went 4-4 in the game and drove in eight runs.
Throughout the first couple of innings, the Loggers stole bases at will, some from wild pitches, other times by just being too quick for the Bulldogs catchers to respond. The Logger coaches held their players up from stealing after the first two innings so the game wouldn’t get too out of hand.
“I’m not the type of coach that’s going to run the score up,” Thompson said. “That’s kind of how we are. Maybe there’s going to be years that we’re going to be down so we want to make sure that people see that we’re not that kind of team.”
England again only faced three batters in the top of the second inning, forcing the first two batters to ground out before striking out the third.
The Loggers batted through their roster again in the second inning and by the time No. 17 Rachel Rebo was up to bat for the second time in the inning the score was 17-0.
The second baseman was bummed she didn’t get any balls hit her way, but was glad to have some good at-bats. “It was really good batting practice, so to speak,” she said. “But I would have preferred a closer game.”
Rebo said she thinks the team is playing well and may be primed to make a run at a state championship. “I think we could go all the way, we’re looking pretty good,” the senior said.
Staci Regh took the mound in the third inning.
“She did very well tonight,” Thompson said. “Games like this we can get some other pitchers in, but I have no problem throwing her in against any team.”
In the bottom of the third, a triple from Gallagher drove in Wedel and Ennenga. Gallagher was only missing a double in the game to hit for the cycle. At the end of three, Libby was up 21-0.
England and Regh combined for a no-hitter and the Logger defense was error free in the game.
“It was a good conference game for us, to kind of get us into the season,” said senior first baseman Germany. “Our defense was really good. We put the bat on the ball when we needed to and we have some girls that really know how to run the bases.”
This Saturday the Loggers play Eureka at 10 a.m. and then Timberlake, Idaho, at 2 p.m. at Remp Field.
“We always play one game at a time,” Thompson said. “Hopefully this weekend we can keep improving on our bats and our defense.”
W-fish: 0 0 0 0 0- 0 0 8
Libby: (11) 7 3 5 X- 26 16 0
Whitefish- Michaela McDowell 0-1, Bailey Smith 0-2, Abby Reese 0-2, McKenzie Carl 0-2, Cody Draband 0-2, Cassidy Bry 0-2, Lilly Stefman 0-2, Lauren McDonald 0-1
Libby- Madisen Monigold 1-5, Mahalah Wedel 1-2, Jordan Turner 1-1, Abbey Ennenga 3-3, Alyssa Marshall 0-0, Devon Gallagher 4-4, Rachel Rebo 2-3, Haylee Cannon 0-0, Staci Regh 1-3, Dayln Germany 0-2, Khalyn Hageness 0-1, Auria Benefield 1-5, Hannah England 2-2
2B: Rebo, Turner, Ennenga; 3B: Gallagher, Regh; HR: Gallagher 2; RBI: Gallagher 8, Monigold 2, Wedel, Benefield, Ennenga 3, Regh 4, England