Loggers claim double-header in Eureka

The Libby Loggers on Wednesday picked up a pair of wins in Eureka, claiming a double-header against the Kootenai Valley Rangers 6-4 and 11-3.

Logger Pitcher Brady Bateman led the loggers at the plate batting 2-for-3, putting up three of Libby’s 11 runs in the second contest of the night. Braydan Thom claimed two runs in the second game along with two RBIs.

The Loggers jumped out to an early lead with first inning runs. Logger Dylon Lane drew first blood, scoring on a wild pitch thrown by Ranger Colten Cooper. Bateman, who was walked at his second at-bat, also scored on a wild pitch.

Libby turned the heat on later in the game with a 9-2 run on the Rangers that started in the top of the fourth, when Tim Carvey scored a third Logger run given up by a wild pitch and Collin Johnson’s sacrifice fly scored Thom to push the lead up 4-1. Bateman stole home on another wild pitch in the fifth, while Shayne Walker, Tanner Wood, Carvey, Lauer and Thom each reached home to seal the bout 11-3 after seven innings.

The early game was a different story for the Rangers at the plate, who were able to hold a 4-4 tie through the first five innings. But Libby was able to capitalize on a pair of Ranger errors in the sixth, producing a go-ahead run for Bateman on Walker’s grounder. Johnson successfully stole his way from first to third with Seth Bateman at the plate; Seth Bateman doubled out to centerfield scoring Johnson for the final run that capped the game 6-4.

The Loggers, 10-23 overall, will finish the rest of their regular season at home with double headers scheduled against the Glacier Twins at 5:05 p.m. on July 12 and the Missoula Mavericks at 6:05 p.m. on July 16.

Tonight, the Libby Loggers alumi squad will play a Strathmore Reds alumi in a seven-inning game starting at 8 p.m. at Lee Gehring Field. The teams will square off again in a double-header tomorrow at 1 p.m., same place.

Game 1

LGRS — 031 001 1 6 8 0

KTNV — 101 110 0 4 7 3

Libby — 2B: Erik Lauer, Seth Bateman, Brady Bateman TB: Braydan Thom, Tim Carvey, Erik Lauer 3, Seth Bateman 4, Brady Bateman 2 RBI: Braydan Thom, Collin Johnson, Seth Bateman 2, Shayne Walker

Kootenai — 2B: Mo Henderson

TB: Dawson Henrie, Sam Hannah, Mo Henderson 2, Quade Anderson, Colten Cooper, Daymun Baney, Brad Stern RBI: Sam Hannah 2, Mo Henderson, Brad Stern

Game 2

LGRS — 200 213 3 11 6 2

KTNV — 101 020 0 3 2 4

Libby — 2B: Brady Bateman TB: Tim Carvey, Erik Lauer, Collin Johnson, Seth Bateman, Brady Bateman 3 RBI: Braydan Thom 2, Collin Johnson 2, Seth Bateman 2

Kootenai — 2B: Dawson Henrie TB: Dawson Henrie 2, Sam Hannah RBI: Dawson Henrie, Mo Henderson, Quade Anderson