Loggers outlast Sandpoint in non-conference matchup
After 10 long innings Tuesday against the Glacier Twins, the Libby Loggers bounced back Thursday night in to outlast the Sandpoint Lakers in a seven-inning non-conference game.
The Loggers won 8-5 on Brady Bateman’s pair of RBIs and 2-for-3 batting. Collin Johnson, Tanner Schatz and Tanner Wood each finished with two runs; Johnson added another RBI.
Bateman came out of the gates in the first inning with a double that nearly hit the fence in centerfield. Sandpoint’s defense barred the Loggers from putting the first points on the board after a fly out left Bateman, Erik Lauer and Tim Carvey all on base after three outs.
In the second inning, Libby was able to capitalize on some pitching faults from the Sandpoint mound, quickly loading the bases as Lakers pitcher Thomas Riley walked Logger Collin Johnson and then beaned Schatz and Wood. Seth Bateman sparked a 5-run inning with an RBI single into right field. Dylon Lane followed up with an RBI of his own to drive in Schatz before Brady Bateman returned with a 2RBI single to pad the lead 4-0. Lauer’s sac-fly scored Braydan Thom to make it 5-0 heading into the top of the third.
Sandpoint rebutted with two runs of their own in the third. Both teams went three-up, three-down in the fourth inning before Sandpoint was able to tie the game with three runs in the fifth.
With two Lakers players on base, Caleb Edlund smacked a single over Johnson’s glove at second base, scoring Riley, the Lakers pitcher. With the bases loaded, Sid Bottomley barreled a double into right field, driving in two more Laker runs to tie the game 5-5.
Libby was able to hold Sandpoint off from scoring again in the sixth, adding three more runs to seal the game. Johnson reached home after the Sandpoint third baseman missed the catch at third, right before Seth Bateman’s sacrifice-bunt brought Schatz home. Lane grounded out an RBI to score Wood for the final run. Libby took the game 8-5.
The Loggers finished Thursday’s non-conference game with six hits and two errors. Johnson and the Bateman brothers combined for six strikeouts on Sandpoint.
Edlund led the Lakers at the plate on 3-for-4 batting, with one run and two RBIs. Sandpoint finished with seven runs and one error.
The Loggers, now 11-25, now sit in a sixth-place conference tie with the Mission Valley Mariners, both 6-12 in conference play. If Libby is able to sweep the Missoula Mavericks A on Saturday, they might be able to slide into the No. 5 slot in the American Legion Western A district tournament.
Box Score
SND — 002 020 0 5 7 1
LGRS — 050 003 x 8 6 2
Sandpoint — 2B: Caleb Edlund TB: Caleb Edlund 4, Nick Holland, Austin Greene, Jake Committo, Joey Crosby RBI: Caleb Edlund 2, Nick Holland, Jake Committo 2
Libby — 2B: Brady Bateman TB: Dylon Lane, Erik Lauer, Collin Johnson, Seth Bateman, Brady Bateman 3 RBI: Dylon Lane 2, Erik Lauer, Tanner Wood, Seth Bateman 2, Brady Bateman 2