Loggers pick up late-season win
<p>Braydan Thom pitching top of four vs. Missoula Pioneers during the Wood Bat Classic May 8.</p>
The Libby Loggers edged out the Kalispell Lakers, 5-4, Wednesday, July 15, in Kalispell. It was a back and forth contest that had five lead changes. The win was important for the Loggers in terms of conference seeding.
“It was a big win for us in the sense that it secured the fourth or fifth seed going into the district tournament,” Loggers manager, Kelly Morford said.
The Loggers picked up 12 hits in the contest, but scored just five runs, using a three-run fourth inning to tie the game at three.
With the game tied at four in the ninth inning the Loggers capitalized on a Lakers error to score the go-ahead run.
“With 12 hits we were hoping to score more than five runs, but on the other hand we were lucky to only give up four runs with how many defensive miscues we committed,” Morford said.
Loggers’ leadoff man, Collin Johnson had a big night at the plate. Johnson picked up three hits and drove in two of the five Loggers runs.
“Collin had a big game at the plate for us,” Morford said.
Luke Haggerty picked up two hits, including a triple and drove in one run. Oliver Grupenhoff had two hits, including a double. The Loggers number nine hitter, Mason Chapel picked up one hit and drove in a run.
“Mason’s RBI was a big one,” Morford said.
Loggers starting pitcher, Trace Tamarro pitched all nine innings and recorded five strikeouts. He gave up seven hits and one earned run.
“Trace had a big outing for the team,” Morford said. “We have quite a few conference games this week and having him go a complete game really helped out our pitching staff. We were on the verge of taking him out in the seventh inning, but he wanted to finish the game and it would have been hard to get the ball out of his hand.”
The Loggers Legends Alumni Game is Saturday, July 18 at 6:05 p.m. at Lee Gehring Field. They will play their final home game Sunday, July 19 at 12:10 p.m. against the Bitterroot Red Sox.
Box Score July 15, 2015
Loggers: 000 301 001 5 12 8
Lakers: 111 001 000 4 7 2
Loggers Batting
2B: Oliver Grupenhoff
3B: Luke Haggerty
TB: Mason Chapel, Haggerty 4, Erik Lauer 2, Taylor Wisdom, Jared Winslow, Oliver Grupenhoff 3, Collin Johnson 3
RBI: Chapel, Haggerty, Johnson 2
Lakers Batting
2B; Jonas Nyman
3B: Torin Bowden
TB: Gunnar Marsh, Nyman 2, Haydn Schlepp 2, Eric Seaman, Bowden 3, Taylor Cady
RBI; Nyman, Seaman, Bowden, Cady