Loggers' season ends at district tournament

The Libby Loggers’ season officially came to a close this weekend at the district tournament in Polson. The Loggers won one game before being eliminated in the tournament.

The Loggers lost the first game of the tournament Thursday against the Bitterroot Bucs, 8-7.

“It was definitely a heart breaker to lose that first game,” Loggers’ manager, Kelly Morford said.

Jared Winslow pitched six solid innings, giving up one earned run on two hits and recording 11 strikeouts.

“Jared pitched six really strong innings and deserved to get that win,” Morford said. “Unfortunately, he threw a few too many pitches early in the game and he had to come out after the sixth inning and we just couldn’t hold them after that.”

The Loggers used a six run fourth inning to take a five run lead, but the offense was held to just one run in the final five innings.

“We failed to add much offensively after our big six run inning and that caught up to us in the end,” Morford said.

The Loggers were up 6-2 heading to the seventh inning, but couldn’t hold on.

“You would like to think we could get the last nine outs to finish what was a great game for us up to that point,” he said. “But, it didn’t happen. We left too many people on base and didn’t really put any pressure on them defensively as we had a lot of strikeouts. There were a few close plays that didn’t go our way at the end of the game and combine that with some timely hitting on their part and we ended up on the wrong side of the score.”

The Loggers responded by beating the Kootenai Valley Rangers, 13-0, on Friday.

“I was extremely proud of the kids to be able to bounce back after a tough loss the day before,” Morford said. “It was a tough day for us on Thursday and we had to come back bright and early again on Friday. The team responded with flying colors and had a great game.”

The three veterans of the team, Winslow, Luke Haggerty and Oliver Grupenhoff combined for seven hits, four runs batted in and nine runs.

“I was really proud of our older guys, like Oliver, Jared and Luke,” he said. “They didn’t want that game to be their last game and they led the charge for us.”

The Loggers picked up 15 hits and scored at least one run in six of the seven innings.

“Offensively we had a much improved performance,” he said. “The top of our lineup got on base all day and drove in runs. The bottom of the lineup did a much better job of getting the ball in play and forcing the defense to field the ball. When our main bats are dialed in and the bottom of the order guys get on base once in a while, we can really put up some runs and that is what we saw Friday.”

Trace Tamarro picked up three hits and drove in four runs at the plate. He also pitched a complete game shutout.

“Trace has really come on strong for us on the hill late in the season,” Morford said. “He turned in a gem on the mound. He did a great job of pounding the zone and really hit his spots well with two strikes.”

The Loggers lost the final game of their season, 8-7, to the Missoula Mavericks.  

“The Missoula game was another close one that we came out on the wrong end of,” Morford said. “In these elimination games where seasons and playing careers can end, it’s going to be a tough fought game.”

The Loggers’ pitchers walked 13, but the team fought back at the plate.

Tamarro had two hits, including a home run.

“Trace hit a big home run in the seventh to give us the lead,” Morford said. “But, we just kept letting them add one run an inning and couldn’t stop the bleeding. In the ninth inning Trace hit another ball way harder than he hit his first home run and we all thought it was gone, but the wind beat it down.”

Morford said early missed opportunities caught up with the team in the end.

“We missed some opportunities to use some situational hitting early to move runners,” he said. “While it may not seem like a big deal in the first or second inning, those always seem to catch up with you in the end.”

Every team wants to come out on top, but it wasn’t in the cards for this Loggers team.

“The season didn’t end how we wanted it to,” Morford said. “I am extremely proud of this group of young men. Going back to the spring, It was touch and go as if we were going to have enough guys to field a team. We got a group together, some moved, some quit and we were left with nine eligible players. These boys were so reliable all summer long. I am thankful to this group that they kept our program going.”

For Grupenhoff, Haggerty and Winslow, it was their final season as Loggers.

“These 19-year-olds that we are losing after this season are going to be impossible to replace,” Morford said. “Oliver, Luke and Jared have meant so much to our program and have been major contributors to the success of our program. While these guys have been with us, we won multiple district titles and finished in the top four at state numerous times. These guys just love to play the game and it is those types of kids that make coaching such a rewarding experience.”

Morford said he will miss watching Grupenhoff do his thing at the plate.  

“I am going to miss watching Oliver power the ball around the park,” he said. “He is such a good hitter. Sometimes watching him you didn’t wonder if he was going to get a hit, you just wondered if it was going to be a double or a home run.”

Morford had high praise for Haggerty’s knowledge and love for the game.

“Luke is a baseball guy through and through,” he said. “He loves the game and knows the game. All he wants to do is talk about the game and he will root for the Seattle Mariners no matter how terrible they are. He is going to end up being a coach somewhere and is going to do a great job.”

Morford said Winslow is one of the best players he’s had the privilege to coach.

“Jared may be the best ball player I’ve ever coached,” he said. “He is such a good athlete, but what has made him so successful is his work ethic. It is just starting to set in that I will never get to watch him pitch for the Loggers again. He has been mowing hitters down for us since he was 14 years old. He has been a lynch pin in the middle of our lineup for a long time. I am excited to watch Jared continue his career at Montana State Billings. He is going to do great things there.”

While the Loggers are losing three key players, he said the team will have a nice core returning next year.

“We have a core group here that got a lot of experience this year,” he said. “Guys like Collin, Braydan and Erik are going to have to step up and shoulder more responsibility and take charge of the team. We had some newcomers like Mason and Taylor that filled key spots for us and they improved immensely throughout the year.”

Morford said the next few years will be critical.

“I told these guys early in the year when we were trying to get a team together that Legion baseball has been played in this town since the 1950s,” he said. “The next few years will be a definite crossroads for our program as far as numbers are concerned. We need more kids playing ball in the summer around here. It is good for the youth and good for the community.”