Lady Loggers merciless in home tourney

The Lady Loggers continued their winning ways with a pair of victories over Eureka and Timberlake, Idaho, at Remp Field Saturday. Devon Gallagher blasted home runs in each game and solid pitching and defense brought both games to an end before the seventh inning due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Against Eureka, the Tigers were able to load the bases in the first inning with two batters hit by pitches and one base hit. However, senior pitcher Hannah England dug in and struck out the side to end the threat.

The Loggers got off to a fast start with RBI singles for Mahalah Wedel and Ashley Walker and RBI doubles for Abby Ennenga and Gallagher to give Libby four runs in the first inning.

Eureka struck back in the second inning, with Erynn Thiers hitting a single to drive in two runs, but that would be the only offense the Tigers would mount in the game.

In the second, a double by Madisen Monigold pushed England to third before a sacrifice fly by Wedel brought her to home plate. Next, Ennenga was thrown out at first but drove in Monigold in the process.

Gallagher followed and took the first pitch delivered by Eureka’s Stacy Cooper for a long ride over the center field fence to bring the Loggers’ lead to 7-2 at the end of the second inning.

The next two innings Eureka was three up and three down on the offensive end.

Libby added five runs in the fourth inning by way of a shot to left field by Rachel Rebo that scored Gallagher and RBI doubles by Auria Benefield and Hannah England.

With the score 13-2 going into the fifth the Tigers needed to put some points on the board to stave off the loss. A double by Stacy Cooper was followed by three strikeouts by England to bring the game to an end.

“It’s still pretty early in the season, but any kinks or issues haven’t come about yet,” England said. “Hopefully they don’t. We’re just going to keep working hard.”

In the second game of the day, Libby faced Timberlake, Idaho, who boasted a strong pitcher in Brittany Hibdon. “We haven’t seen that caliber of pitching yet this season, but we stayed patient and I’m not sure if we even struck out,” Libby head coach Dean Thompson said.

Hibdon was able to hold the Loggers’ bats at bay for the first two innings, but England did the same for Libby.

The scoreless tie was broken in the bottom of the third by the Loggers. With two batters reaching base on walks, a beautiful bunt by Ennenga and an errant throw by the third baseman allowed for two Lady Loggers to cross home.

A double from Gallagher brought home Ennenga and a shot to center field by Staci Regh was enough for Gallagher to make it around the diamond, bringing the score to 4-0 at the end of the third inning.

Between a pair of strikeouts from England in the fourth inning was a tremendous defensive play by Rebo. The second baseman made a diving stop on a well-hit grounder and threw to first base while seated to get the out.

“What an incredible play at second,” Thompson said. “I tell you what, ESPN Top-10 play is what I’m saying.”

Rebo also registered a double in the fourth inning that brought two runners home.

With the score 7-0 going into the sixth, a triple to right field by Monigold was followed by a single by Wedel to bring Monigold home. Then Gallagher stepped to the plate.

Down 0-2 on the pitch count, Gallagher walloped the next pitch out of the park driving in one runner and bringing the game to an end by putting the Loggers up 10-0.

“I’ve been practicing non-stop,” said Gallagher. “I even go after practice and hit for an hour afterwards. Getting to know I can hit like that brings a lot of confidence to me.”

“We came out here knowing we were going to win. Every game is important, every game is like our divisionals,” Gallagher said.

Thompson was pleased with the offensive and defensive play of his team. “I was really happy with the performance, we just keep getting better and better and that’s what we want to do every week,” he said.

The Loggers travel to Columbia Falls for a game this Thursday. “That will be a good test,” Thompson said. “They have a good pitcher in Ashley Trueblood so we have three hard days of practice to get ready for them,” Thompson said.

Game 1

Eureka 020 00 — 2 4 4

Libby   431 5x — 13 12 0

Laura Williams and Stacy Cooper; Hannah England and Devon Gallagher. W — England, 3-0. L — Williams.

EUREKA — Erynn Thier 1-2, Cooper 2-3, Evynn Anderson 0-1, Nichole Anderson 0-3, Rylee Morgan 0-3, Williams 0-2, Charity Parsons 0-2, Haley Lindgren 1-2, Ashlyn Waldo 0-1.

LIBBY — Madisen Monigold 1-3, Mahalah Wedel 2-3, Abby Ennenga 1-2, Gallagher 2-2, Rachel Rebo 1-3, Ashley Walker 1-1, Staci Regh 1-1, Dayln Germany 1-3, Auria Benefield 0-3, England 2-2.

2B—Cooper; Gallagher, Wedel, Ennenga; HR-Gallagher; RBIs—Thier (2); Gallagher (2), Rebo, Wedel (3), Ennenga (2), Walker, England.

Game 2

T-lake 000 000 — 0 4 4

Libby 004 303 — 10 11 0

B. Hibdon and M. Rocheleau; England and Gallagher. W — England, 4-0. L — Hibdon.

TIMBERLAKE — J. Kular 0-3, J. Mallet 1-3, S. Starr 2-3, K. Malloy 0-3, H. McGrath 0-2, Rocheleau 0-2, Hibdon 0-2, S. Salois 0-2, L. Kelley 1-2.

LIBBY — Monigold 1-3, Wedel 2-3, Ennenga 2-4, Gallagher 3-4, Rebo 1-3, Regh 1-3, Benefield 0-2, Germany 0-3, England 1-3.

2B—Rebo; 3B—Monigold; HR—Gallagher; RBIs— Gallagher (3), Rebo (2), Wedel, Ennenga (2), Regh.