Winslow leads Loggers in hot streak

The Libby Loggers beat the Kootenai Valley Rangers, 6-0 on Tuesday, June 30.

The Rangers had no answer for Loggers starting pitcher, Jared Winslow pitched seven scoreless innings and didn’t allow a base runner.  He recorded 13 strikeouts and threw 69 pitches.

Since returning to the mound for the first time since Tommy John surgery, Winslow has been lights out. In his first start, Winslow pitched two scoreless innings. He gave up zero hits and recorded five strikeouts. In his next outing he pitched four innings and gave up four hits and zero runs. In three starts Winslow has pitched 13 innings, given up four hits, zero earned runs and recorded 27 strikeouts.

Winslow has been getting it done at the plate and in the field at shortstop. “Jared has been really solid at shortstop making the routine plays and adding in some great plays,” Loggers manager, Kelly Morford said. He also had a 13-game hitting streak at the plate and went 2-4 Tuesday evening with a double and a pair of RBIs. On the season he is hitting .424 with 26 RBIs and 31 runs.

Erik Lauer pitched in relief of Winslow in the eighth and ninth innings. He gave up one hit and recorded one strikeout. Lauer also drove in one run at the plate.

Luke Haggerty had a two-hit performance and drove in a run for the Loggers. The Loggers catcher, Oliver Grupenhoff drove in one run to help the winning cause.

The Loggers are playing in the Polson Firecracker Tournament this weekend. The Loggers will play four games in two days and the Championship round will be held Sunday, July 5.

They started the weekend off on the right foot by defeating the Cranbrook Bandits, 8-4.  

Luke Haggerty pitched all seven innings and gave up two earned runs on 10 hits and recorded two strikeouts. Haggerty also got it done at the plate recording three hits.

The Loggers jumped on the Bandits early, scoring four runs in the first inning. The Loggers cleanup hitter, Oliver Grupenhoff hit one out of the park in the inning. Grupenhoff finished the day with two hits and two runs batted in.

The Loggers have won eight of their last nine games and currently have a record of 14-15.

During this nine game stretch the Loggers haven’t given up more than six runs in a game. They’ve recorded two shutouts and a pair of games in which the opposing team scored just one run. Last weekend they won the Big Buck$ tournament in Libby. They will look to capture another tournament championship this weekend in Polson.

Box Score June 30

Loggers: 001 000 050 6 8 0

Rangers: 000 000 000 0 1 2

Loggers Batting

2B: Jared Winslow

TB: Mason Chapel, Luke Haggerty 2, Erik Lauer, Winslow 3, Oliver Grupenhoff, Collin Johnson

RBI: Haggerty, Lauer, Winslow 2, Grupenhoff

Rangers Batting

TB: Garrett McNeil

Box Score July 2

Loggers: 400 0220 8 12 5

Bandits: 101 0002 4 10 2

Loggers Batting

HR: Olver Grupenhoff

TB: Luke Haggerty 3, Braydan Thom, Erik Lauer 2, Trace Tamarro, Jared Winslow, Oliver Grupenhoff 5, Collin Johnson 2

RBI: Thom, Lauer, Tamarro, Winslow 2, Grupenhoff 2

Bandits Batting

2B: Shayne Walker

TB: Connor Armstrong, Brendan Bird 2,  Devon Marra 2, Robert Nickell 2, Tyler Thorn 2, Walker 2,

RBI: Bird, Thorn 2, Walker