Libby runs up three-game winning streak
<p>Jared Winslow, left, celebrates with teammates, Trace Tamarro, Mason Chapel, Oliver Grubenhoff and Collin Johnson after smacking a two-run homer bottom of second inning to put the Loggers up 7-0 over Senators Wednesday evening.</p>
<p>Jared Winslow's bunt loads the bases bottom of first vs. Capital Senators June 24. (8-1 Loggers)</p>
The Libby Loggers have won three straight and are gearing up for a big weekend as they will play host to the Big Buck$ Tournament.
The Loggers swept a doubleheader Monday night at Lee Gehring Field against the Mission Valley Mariners. The Loggers manager, Kelly Morford spoke about the Loggers victories over the Mariners after the game. “Mission Valley and the Loggers always play close ball games and this was no different.”
The Loggers won the first game of the double-header 7-6. The Loggers got things going in the first inning by scoring two runs. “Jared Winslow got us going with that home run in the first and it was good to get a little cushion early,” Morford said.
Winslow recorded two hits and drove in three of the seven Logger runs.
With the game tied at six heading to the bottom of the seventh the Loggers had the bottom of their order coming up. Mason Chapel, the ninth hitter, drove in the game-winning run. “We scored that winning run with the bottom half of our order. It was great to see Mason be the hero of the game, “Morford said. “He has been working hard and has been getting better every day. It was great to see all that hard work pay off for him.”
The Loggers won another close game in the second of the doubleheader by the score of 5-3. The Loggers were led by a strong pitching performance by Collin Johnson. “Collin pitched a great game. We have been letting down in the second half of our doubleheaders, “ Morford said. “It was great to see him lead the charge for us on the hill and get us the sweep. He kept his fastball down and was able to throw his curveball for strikes. He kept those guys off balance and gave our bats some time to get going.”
Johnson pitched all seven innings and gave up one earned run on six hits and recorded two strikeouts.
Erik Lauer drove in the go ahead run to give the Loggers the lead in the sixth inning.
The Loggers picked up their third straight win Wednesday evening by beating the Capital Senators. 8-1.
Braydan Thom pitched all seven innings for the Loggers. Thom gave up one unearned run and just four hits.
Winslow picked up three hits and hit his second home run of the week. Winslow, Oliver Grupenhoff and Trace Tamarro combined to drive in six of the eight Logger runs. Tamarrro hit a home run and Grupenhoff hit a double.
Morford spoke about the importance of this week and the Big Buck$ Tournament. “It was a big week for us. We played three games and just got back from our trip to Seattle. The tournament starts Thursday and we will play a game on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” Morford said. “It will be a lot of innings for us and it will be a great opportunity to get some real momentum heading into the final stretch of the season.”
The Loggers will play Friday night at 7:30 p.m. against the Tri-County Cardinals. On Saturday they will play at 7:45 p.m. against the Spanaway Lake Monsters. What time the Loggers play on Sunday will be dependent on how they perform on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The first place of the tournament will win $500. The second place team will win $300 and the third place team will win $100.
Box Score 6/22 Game One
Mariners: 010 0320 6 7 3
Loggers: 230 1001 7 9 3
Mariners Batting
2B: Nygolas Gillinghan, Jacob Harrod, Justin Young
TB: Derek Peel 2, Gillinghan 2, Harrod 2, Jonah Burke 2, Justin Young 2
RBI: Peel, Young 2, Kade Schutzman
Loggers Batting
2B: Oliver Grupenhoff
HR: Jared Winslow
TB: Mason Chapel, Luke Haggerty, Taylor Wisdom, Trace Tamarro, Winslow 5, Grupenhoff 2, Collin Johnson 2
RBI: Chapel 2, Haggerty, Winslow 3
Box Score 6/22 Game Two
Mariners: 000 0021 3 6 3
Loggers: 000 203 5 6 2
Mariners Batting
2B: Karsen Krebs
TB: Peel, Micah McClure, Burke, Krebs 3, Anthony Jones
RBI; Peel, Mcclure, Burke
Loggers Batting
TB: Wisdom 2, Tamarro 2, Winslow 2
RBI: Erik Lauer, Wisdom
Box Score 6/24/15
Senators: 000 0100 1 4 0
Loggers: 530 000 8 11 1
Senators Batting
TB: Alex Halsteed, Connor Hayden, Derek Champi, Jacob Loose
RBI: Halsteed
Loggers Batting
2B: Grupenhoff
HR: Tamarro, Winslow
TB: Haggerty, Braydan Thom, Tamarro 5, Winslow 6, Grupenhoff 2, Johnson 2, Quincy Grupenhoff
RBI: Wisdom, Tamarro 2, Winslow 2, Grupenhoff 2