Libby wins at home, struggles on the road

The Libby High School softball team traded wins with the Ronan Maidens over the past week, with Libby winning 9-1 at home Saturday and Ronan taking a win on their home field Tuesday, 11-3.

The Loggers’ first win against Ronan followed a rough time of it during away games. After winning 5-4 at Mission April 11, Libby had an 11-1 loss at Polson April 13, followed by a 13-8 loss to Columbia Falls April 16.

Coming back to Remp field, the Loggers were due a win, and with three home runs — two for senior Sammee Bradeen and one for senior Emily Carvey — they had little problem taking it.

“And you know, their pitcher throws hard. I think she’s one of the harder pitchers that we go against,” said Libby Head Coach Dean Thompson. “We just took good pitch selections and hit the ball well today.”

Thompson emphasized the importance of the team effort in their win.

“Our thing is, it’s really a big team effort. I mean all the way,” he said.

Thompson complimented the work he saw from in Loggers’ fielding Saturday. Junior Keira Ward did a good job on the mound, but also had a strong infield backing her up throughout.

Even through to the players coming off the bench as courtesy runners, there were good contributions from all across the team, he said.

“It’s always a team effort. It’s not one person that does it for us,” he said.

The two teams kept the score 0-0 though the top of the third inning Saturday, with no hits for either team in the second inning.

Then, in the bottom of the third, sophomore Bethany Thomas got on base on a walk, and proceeded to second on a steal. When senior Linsey Walker hit a line drive to right field, Thomas launched from second and didn’t stop until she’d scored the first run of the game.

Two batters later, Bradeen had her first homerun, bringing in Walker and establishing a 3-0 Libby lead.

Ronan’s Emiline Corley responded by starting off the top of the fourth with a home run of her own, putting the Maidens on the board.

But it was to be the only hit for the Maidens in the fourth, and Libby came out ready for every opportunity in the top of the fifth.

Junior Sheyla Gallagher stole home on a dropped strike, and senior Samantha Miller scored on a groundout by Ward.

A sacrifice fly by Walker sent Thomas home to score her second run of the game, and Carvey followed with her home run, bringing in sophomore Kayley Svendsbye as well.

WIth the Loggers holding an 8-1 lead, Bradeen hit her second homer to bring the Loggers into a 9-1 lead.

The Maidens reached second base in the top of the fifth, but the Logger defense kept them from scoring any runs.

Yet, the Maidens managed to stay alive for a full seven innings, preventing any further Logger runs.

At Ronan Tuesday, the two teams had a scoreless first inning.

Then, in the Bottom of the second, the Maidens made it onto the board on a series of errors, followed by a line drive to left field that put them up, 3-0, over Libby.

By the time a groundout to Carvey at shortstop ended the half inning, Ronan was up 6-0.

Thomas started off the third inning with a base hit off a hard ground ball to right field, but she made it no further than second before the Loggers racked up three outs.

Yet, Libby held the Maidens off in the bottom of the inning, ending the half inning in a double play between Thomas at second and senior Cerria Swagger at first.

Libby made their first gains in the fourth. Sophomore Taylor Holm brought in the first run with a base hit on a hard ground ball to center field, scoring Carvey a run.

Gallagher followed with a homer, clearing the bases and bringing in freshman courtesy runner Ember Rode to make the score 6-3, Ronan.

Ronan brought in another runner in the bottom of the inning, and held the Loggers off in the top of the fifth.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Maidens added two more runs, taking a 10-3 lead.

The Loggers were unable to break out in the sixth, and with one more run for the Maidens in the bottom of the inning, they were down 11-3 heading into the seventh.

Ward made it onto base in the seventh with a hard ground ball past third, but it was to be the final Libby hit of the game.

On Saturday, after Libby’s win at home, Thompson said that the team’s focus is on constantly improving.

“We’ve just got to get better and better every time we step on the field, because the other teams are too,” he said.

He also gave a “kudos” to the team’s bat girl, Emma Barnes, and her motivation and dedication to the Loggers, from keeping after the balls during warm-ups, and on through to the games.

Thursday, April 11

Libby 5, Mission 4

L 020 011 1 R:5 H:10 E:1

M 002 000 2 R:4 H:8 E:3

L: Linsey Walker 4-2, 2RBI, 1BB; Emily Carvey 3-0, 1R, 1BB, 1K; Sammee Bradeen 4-1; Taylor Holm 4-3, 1R, 1RBI; Sheyla Gallagher 4-1, 1RBI, 1K; Samantha Miller 4-0, 1R; McKenzie Proffitt 4-2, 1R, 1K; Bethany Thomas 3-0, 1R; Keira Ward 4-1, 1RBI.

M: Tomi Brazill 1-1, 1R, 3BB; Liev Smith 3-1, 1R, 1K; Caitlyn Sorrel 4-1, 1RBI; Azia Umphrey 4-2; Frankie Smith 3-0, 1K; Shyanne Reum 2-0, 1BB; Olivia Garland 3-1, 1R, 1K; Courtney Mitchell 3-1, 1R, 2RBI, 1K; Taylor Olson 2-1, 1BB.

Batting: 2B - Proffitt, Walker 2, Gallagher; Umphrey 2; 3B - Holm; HR - Mitchell; TB - Bradeen, Proffitt 3, Walker 4, Gallagher 2, Ward, Holm 5; Smith, Sorrel, Umphrey 4, Garland, Mitchell 4, Olson, Brazill; SAC - Thomas; ROE - Miller, Carvey, Ward.

Pitching: W - Ward 6, 108 P, .583 S%, 8 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 SO, 5 BB, 1 HR; Walker 1, 5 P, .800 S%, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 SO, 0 B; L - Brazill 7, 134 P, .716 S%, 10 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 3 SO, 2 B.

Saturday, April 13

Polson 11, Libby 1

L 001 00 - R:1 H:5 E:1

P 701 21 - R:11 H:12 E:0

L: Linsey Walker 3-0; Emily Carvey 2-1; Sammee Bradeen 2-1; Taylor Holm 2-2, 1RBI; Sheyla Gallagher 2-0; Samantha Miller 2-0; McKenzie Proffitt 2-0, 1K; Bethany Thomas 2-1; Keira Ward 2-0, 1K; Kayley Svendsbye 0-0, 1R.

P: Josie Caye 4-3, 1R, 2RBI; Kaylanna DesJarlais 4-1; Paige Noise 4-1, 1RBI; Lexy Orien 3-1, 1R, 1RBI, 2K; Savanna Carpeiter 1-0, 1R, 2BB, 1K; Lauren Vergerant 1-0, 2BB; Kobbey Smith 3-2, 2R, 2RBI; Lisa Castillo 3-2, 2R, 4RBI; Kallie Finkhiemer 3-2, 2R; Turquiose Piere 0-0, 1R; Anna Vert 0-0, 1R.

Batting: 2B - Bradeen; Caye 2; HR - Castillo; TB - Bradeen 2, Thomas, Carvey, Holm 2; 5, DesJarlais, Noise, Orien, Smith 2, Castillo 5, Finkhiemer 2.

Pitching: W - Vergerant 5, 58 P, .638 S%, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO, 0 BB; L - Kira Ward 4.1, 100 P, .600 S%, 12 H, 11 R, 10 ER, 3 SO, 4 BB, 1 HR.

Tuesday, April 16

Columbia Falls 13, Libby 8

L 003 112 1 - R:8 H:9 E:2

C 330 421 - R:13 H:11 E:3

L: Linsey Walker 5-1, 1R; Emily Carvey 3-2, 1R, 1RBI, 2BB; Sammee Bradeen 3-0, 1RBI, 2BB; Sheyla Gallagher 5-2, 1R, 1RBI; Samantha Miller 3-1, 2R, 2BB, 2K; McKenzie Proffitt 4-2, 4RBI, 2K; Bethany Thomas 3-0, 1BB, 2K; Keira Ward 2-0, 1BB, 1K; Amaya Borden 1-0, 1K; Ashlyn Monigold 4-1, 1R; Kayley Svendsbye 0-0, 1R; Ember Rode 0-0, 1R.

C: Kaylee Ashe 2-1, 2R, 3BB, 1K; Alyssa Blankenship 3-1, 4R, 1RBI, 1BB; Trista Cowan 4-2, 2R, 1RBI; Rylee Kehr 4-1, 2R, 2RBI, 1K; Graceanne Savesind 3-2, 1R, 4RBI, 1BB, 1K; Savvy Ellis 3-2, 1RBI, 1BB; Chloe Kienas 3-1, 1BB; Isabelle Johnson 3-0, 1R, 1BB, 1K; McKenna Resal 3-1, 1K; Abbie Darsow 0-0, 1R.

Batting: 2B - Proffitt 2, Gallagher; Blankenship, Cowan, Ellis; HR - Carvey; Savesind; TB - Monigold, Miller, Proffitt 4, Carvey 5, Walker, Gallagher 3; Ashe, Blankenship 2, Cowan 3, Kehr, Savesind 5, Kienas, Ellis 3, Resal; ROE - Monigold, Bradeen, Ward; Cowan.

Pitching: W - Ellis 7, 174 P, .517 S%, 9 H, 8 R, 6 E, 8 SO, 8 BB, 1 HR; L - Ward 5, 110 P, .555 S%, 11 H, 12 R, 10 ER, 3 SO, 5 BB, 1 HR; Walker 1, 33 P, .515 S%, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO, 3 BB.

Saturday, April 20

Libby 9, Ronan 1

R 000 100 0 - R:1 H:5 E:2

L 003 600 X - R:9 H:9 E:2

R:Madison Clairmont 4-1, 2K; LaNissa Mahkuk 4-0, 1K; Macao Jackson 3-1; Emiline Corley 1-1, 1R, 1RBI; Rhylie Big Beaver 3-1; Madison Miller 3-1; Reagan Clairmont 3-0; Kiara Sherman 3-0, 2K; Brooklyn Kenelty 3-0.

L: Linsey Walker 3-1, 1R, 2RBI, 1K; Emily Carvey 4-1, 1R, 2RBI, 2K; Sammee Bradeen 4-3, 2R, 3RBI; Taylor Holm 3-1; Sheyla Gallagher 3-1, 1R; Samantha Miller 3-0, 1R; McKenzie Proffitt 3-0, 3K; Bethany Thomas 2-2, 2R, 1BB; Keira Ward 3-0, 1RBI, 1K; Kayley Svendsbye 0-0, 1R.

Batting: 2B - Jackson; HR - Bradeen 2, Carvey; Corley; TB - Clairmont, Jackson 2, Corley 4, Big Beaver, Miller; Bradeen 9, Thomas 2, Carvey 4, Walker, Gallagher, Holm; ROE - Mahkuk, Clairmont; Miller; SB - Gallagher, Ward.

Pitching: W - Ward 7, 101 P, .624 S%, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5 SO, 0 BB, 1HR; L - Jackson 6, 92 P, .783 S%, 9 H, 9 R, 4 ER, 7 SO, 1 BB, 3 HR.

Tuesday, April 23

Ronan 11, Libby 3

L 000 300 0 - R:3 H:5 E:7

R 060 131 X - R:11 H:8 E:1

L: Linsey Walker 4-0; Emily Carvey 2-0, 1R, 1BB, 1K; Sammee Bradeen 3-0; Taylor Holm 3-1, 1RBI, 1K; Ember Rode 0-0, 1R; Sheyla Gallagher 3-1, 1R, 2RBI, 1K; Samantha Miller 3-0, 2K; Bethany Thomas 3-2; Keira Ward 2-1, 1K; Ashlyn Monigold 3-0, 1K.

R: Madison Clairmont 3-1, 3R, 2RBI, 1BB, 1K; Brooklyn Kenelty 2-0, 1R, 1BB, 2K; Kiara Sherman 1-0; Macao Jackson 4-2, 1R, 3RBI; Emiline Corley 4-2, 1R, 2RBI, 1K; Rhylie Big Beaver 3-0, 1BB; Madison Miller 4-0, 1K; Reagan Clairmont 3-2, 2R, 1RBI, 1BB; LaNissa Mahkuk 4-1, 1K; Ashlie Welker 2-0, 2R, 1BB; Julia Daley 0-0, 1R.

Batting: 2B - Clairmont, Jackson, Corley; HR - Gallagher; TB - Thomas 2, Gallagher 4, Ward, Holm; Clairmont 2, Mahkuk, Jackson 3, Corley 3, Clairmont 2; SAC - Ward; ROE - Gallagher; Jackson 2, Corley, Big Beaver, Miller, Sherman; SB - Thomas 2; Clairmont.

Pitching: W - Jackson 7, 94 P, .723 S%, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 7 SO, 1 B, 1H; L - Ward 6, 126 P, .627 S%, 8 H, 11 R, 1 ER, 6 SO, 5 BB.