Bonners Ferry 'Border Patrol' adds depth to Logger roster
<p>The "Border Patrol" from left, Brady Bateman, Shayne Walker and Seth Bateman, three Bonners Ferry baseball players who have joined the Libby Logger team this summer. (Seaborn Larson/The Western News)</p>
<p>Bitterroot Bucs' Bo Zeiler gets caught in a run-down, second baseman Seth Bateman with the tag, third out top of second inning June 17.</p>
<p>First baseman Shayne Walker checks his runner on a throw from catcher Brady Bateman top of sixth inning vs. Bitterroot Bucs Jue 17. (first of a doubleheader, Loggers fall 15-6)</p>
<p>Brade Bateman doubles scoring Collin Johnson bottom of first inning vs. the Bitterroot Bucs June 17. (first of a doubleheader, Loggers fall 15-6)</p>
The Libby Loggers have a few fresh arms on the team this year, drawing on talent from over the Idaho state line.
Brady and Seth Bateman, along with Shayne Walker make up the “Border Patrol,” three Bonners Ferry players who have joined the Libby Logger squad. Seth plays second base, Brady is at catcher and Walker plays in the infield. Both Brady and Walker have also been added to the pitching lineup.
Brady said he and the Border Patrol made the move over to Northwest Montana after the Bonners Ferry American Legion team fell short of a full roster this summer. Last summer the Bandits took second in the American Legion Baseball League conference behind one of the Bitterroot teams.
Walker and the Bateman brothers intended to take the summer to improve on their game and Brady said they’re happy to execute that plan in Libby.
“First of all, this field is way better than our field,” Brady said. “I love playing here. We just want to keep getting more at-bats, keep improving and also come over here and help Libby and just have some fun,” Brady said.
It’s about an hour drive to practice in Libby two or three times a week. Walker, who played against Libby last year while on the Bonners Ferry team, said he’s enjoyed the season so far with the new squad.
“We feel right at home here, definitely,” Walker said. “They’ve welcomed us with open arms and it feels like we fit right in.”
Libby Loggers skipper Kelly Morford said the Border Patrol has given the squad depth in a time where numbers are dwindling.
“Numbers have been a struggle for us the last few years,” he said. “Strictly number-wise, to pick a few more up, it’s nice to be more comfortable in that area.
“They’ve always had a good group of players over there in Bonners Ferry so we’re happy to get some quality players like that on our team.”
Cal Bateman, Brady and Seth’s father, and the former head coach of the Bonners Ferry Legion team, said the Bonners Ferry High School team finished the 2016 season with success, finishing third in the state. But the excitement from the high school team didn’t transition to the summer league he said, leaving Brady and Seth with few options. Bateman had previously been in contact with Morford about the chance to play in Libby and said the time was right to bridge the programs.
“I just called Kelly to see if that was still an option and that’s how it went,” he said. “I’ve been very impressed with Kelly, not just what he knows but his demeanor and how he coaches.”
Traveling to play ball isn’t new for the Bateman family, who spent years traveling Texas with little league teams, building experience and confidence on the diamond at all levels of play. Bateman said Walker, who moved from Creston, Alberta to play high school ball in Idaho, has also shown the ability to play on the road with success.
“This is going to be a great summer for Shayne,” Bateman said. “This is a different level. He’s really going to benefit our high school team next year,” Bateman said.
Morford said the Bonners Ferry boys have provided more depth on the mound and at the plate. In Friday’s double-header against the Bitterroot Bucs, the Bateman brothers scored three of the Loggers four runs in the second game; Brady led the Loggers on 3-for-4 batting with two RBIs and 2 runs in the first game.
Morford said with the numbers they’ve already put up in the first half of their first season with the Loggers, he’s hoping the Border Patrol will be around for years ahead.
“Offensively, they give us a little more pop in our lineup and it’s nice to have those extra arms on the mound,” Morford said. “Shane and Brady are sophomores and Seth is a freshman, so the prospect of having them around was a big part of taking them on the club.”
Brady said in his time so far in Montana, he’s seen his own game grow under Morford’s guidance. To the Border Patrol, that means learning more about visualizing the play ahead; getting good jumps and good leads on the opposing club.
“We’ve learned a lot of philosophy. Coach is good about teaching us as we pick up more and more stuff and different opinions,” Brady said.
The Loggers, 2-16 overall, have had a rough first half to the season, but Brady said the key to moving forward will be getting into rhythm and eluding the errors that have plagued the Libby squad all season.
“We just need to keep on improving, especially in the pitching department,” he said. “We’ve just got to stay healthy and keep our arms healthy. Physical errors will happen, but mental errors are unacceptable. If we keep those on a low, we could have a good streak.”
The Loggers have a chance to start a new streak this weekend with the Big Bucks Tournament, which runs Thursday through Sunday at Lee Gehring Field.
Reporter Seaborn Larson may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at slarson@dailyinterlake.com