Loggers on upswing, place 2nd in Big Bucks
Quade Anderson delivers the 2-2 pitch for a strike top of first inning vs. Red Sox. Loggers fall 14-5 in the first of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon. (Paul Sievers/The Western News)
Quade Anderson scores on a Shayne Walker base hit bottom of third inning in the first of a doubleheader vs. Red Sox Sunday afternoon. (Paul Sievers/The Western News)
First baseman Caden Williams with the first out top of fourth inning on a throw from Moxley Roesler-Begalke at pitcher. Loggers over Tri-County Cardinals 4-3 Saturday. (Paul Sievers/The Western News)
Ethan Borden steals second then advances safely to third on a fielding error narrowly escaping the tag of third baseman Andrew Scully. Bitterroot Bucs over Loggers 13-2 in Sunday's Big Bucks championship game. (Paul Sievers/The Western News)
Shortstop Quade Anderson snags a line drive for the second out top of fourth inning Sunday in the Big Bucks championship game vs. Bitterroot Bucs. (Paul Sievers/The Western News)
The Loggers celebrate Saturday after defeating the Tri-County Cardinals 4-3, bottom of seventh with two out, after Shayne Walker smacked a double to center field on the 0-1 pitch, scoring Jeff Offenbecher and Tripp Zhang. (Paul Sievers/The Western News)
Center fielder Tripp Zhang with the second out top of first inning in Sunday's Big Bucks championship game vs. Bitterroot Bucs. (Paul Sievers/The Western News)
The Libby Loggers American Legion baseball team started last week with a loss and win against the Bitteroot Red Sox, and followed at the Big Bucks Tournament with a winning streak that only ended when they took second place in the championship game Sunday to the Bitteroot Bucs.
The Loggers went undefeated four games in a row, including the final in the double header against the Red Sox June 16, before falling 13-2 against the Bucs.
“I thought we had a great week, in the sense that we won some close ball games,” said Libby Head Coach Kelly Morford. “We won some one-run ball games, we came from behind and won some ball games.”
Morford said that the team seemed to do better in some of those pressure situations that have been difficult for them in the past.
“I thought we came a long ways, as far as just being resilient, and being tough on the diamond,” he said.
Even in the tournament championship game Sunday, Libby kept the score tight through the fourth inning, only beginning to fall into deep trouble in the fifth and sixth.
Heading into the top of the fifth, the Bucs lead 3-2. When the Loggers came to the plate in the bottom of the sixth, they had fallen behind 13-2.
The Bucs started off the first inning with three runs, holding the Loggers to no runs, no hits in the bottom of the inning.
But Libby didn’t let the early Buc lead discourage them. Jeff Offenbecher came in to pitch after the first batter, and had the first out of the half inning, picking off Alex Gavlack at first.
Libby’s Tripp Zhang had the next two outs in center field, catching back-to-back flies.
With the Bucs’ advance held off, the Loggers made some progress in the bottom of the second.
With one out on the board and two strikes against him, Moxley Roesler-Begalke had the first Logger RBI on a line drive base hit that brought in Caden Williams.
Alex Svendsbye followed Roesler-Begalke to the plate, hitting a sacrifice fly to center field that sent Donovan Fornall home for the second Libby run.
The Loggers presented a solid defense in the top of the third, going three up, three down. Svendsbye fielding a grounder at second base to first baseman Fornall for the first out, and Offenbecher followed up with a strikeout. Roesler-Begalke had the final out in left field catching a line drive.
But the Bucs had equal success against Libby in the bottom of the inning, and with two hits and a walk, loaded the bases in the top of the fourth, despite making no runs.
Trey Thompson had the only Logger hit in the bottom of the inning, making a base hit on a fly ball to right field, and stole his way to third, but ended the inning there.
In the fifth, the Bucs finally wore the Loggers down, making 3 runs, and following up in the sixth with 7 runs.
Morford said the Loggers had too many walks and too few strikes, “and they’re too good of a lineup to give too many free bases to.”
At the tail end of the tournament, the Loggers were relying on less experienced pitchers, whereas the Bucs’ Blake Hinsdale — who was recognized as a tournament most-valuable player — pitched six innings straight with only two errors.
Still, Morford said he felt the Loggers had too many missed opportunities offensively at the plate as well.
Leading into the championship, the Loggers won their final game of pool play undefeated after coming back in the seventh inning for the win against the Tri-County Cardinals.
Tri-County drew first blood, scoring two runs in the first inning and holding Libby off through the bottom of the inning.
Despite a couple walks in the top of the second, Libby held the Cardinals to no runs, and in the bottom of the inning Thompson hit a sacrifice fly that enabled Williams to score the first Logger run.
In the third inning, Tri-County slipped in a run on a steal just before the final out, but Libby’s Jeff Offenbecher answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring on an error off a fly hit into right field by Libby’s Shayne Walker.
The two teams ground their way through the next four innings, allowing few hits and no runs.
Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Walker hit a line drive double to center field, getting two RBIs as Offenbecher and Zhang scored, making the final tally 4-3, Libby.
“We’re on an upward trend, so that’s good,” Morford said. “We were able to win some close ball games and had a great tournament.”
The Loggers need to be more consistent defensively, not giving up runs to easily preventable errors, he said. “We just need to be better there, and that’s probably the biggest thing going forward.
Morford said he is encouraged by where Libby is in regard to pitching.
“When we’re not walking too many people, I like our pitching depth all of a sudden, and that’s a nice surprise,” he said.
Sunday, June 16
Game 1
Bitteroot Red Sox 14, Libby 5
B 600 002 6 - R:14 H:13 E:0
L 001 040 0 - R:5 H:4 E:3
B: Tyler Davis 5-3, 1R, 2RBI, 1BB; Tristan Lewis 4-1, 2R, 1BB; Tucker Jones 4-1, 1R, 2BB, 1K; Dillon Pilkerton 4-1, 1R, 1BB; Mitch Spinetta 3-1, 2R, 1RBI, 2BB, 1K; Aaron Springer 2-2, 3R, 2RBI, 3BB; Brison Fisher 5-0, 2R, 2K; Wed Swift 5-2, 2R, 2RBI, 1K; Chance Schmitt 3-2, 2RBI; Tim Hickey 1-0, 1BB.
L: Jeff Offenbecher 4-1, 2K; Quade Anderson 2-0, 2R, 1BB; Tripp Zhang 2-1, 1R, 1RBI, 2BB, 1K; Shayne Walker 4-2, 1R, 4RBI; Donovan Fornall 2-0, 1BB; Trey Thompson 3-0; Tucker Masters 2-0, 2K; Ethan Borden 2-0, 1BB, 1K; Alex Svendsbye 2-0, 1R, 1BB, 1K.
Batting: 2B - Davis, Springer; Zhang; HR - Walker; TB - Davis 4, Lewis, Jones, Pilkerton, Spinetta, Springer 3, Swift 2, Schmitt 2; Offenbecher, Zhang 2, Walker 5.
Pitching: W - Fisher 6, 100 P, .570 S%, 3 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 7 SO, 5 BB, 1 HR; Springer 1, 12 P, .500 S%, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 SO, 1 BB; L - Anderson 4, 95 P, .547 S%, 11 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 5 SO, 4 BB; Svendsbye 1, 19 P, .474 S%, 0 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 SO, 3 BB; Walker 1, 14 P, .714 S%, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 SO, 0BB; Zhang 0.1, 18 P, .389 S%, 1 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 SO, 2BB; Thompson 0.2, 23 P, .348 S%, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 SO, 2BB.
Game 2
Libby 7, Bitteroot Red Sox 6
B 012 300 0 - R:6 H:10 E:1
L 002 020 3 - R:7 H:5 E:2
B: Tyler Davis 4-1; Tim Hickey 4-1, 1R, 1K; Tyler Jones 4-3, 2R, 2RBI; Dillon Pilkerton 2-1, 1R, 2BB; Mitch Spinetta 3-0, 1RBI, 2K; Aaron Springer 3-0, 1BB, 1K; Brison Fisher 4-2, 1R, 1RBI; Wed Swift 4-0, 1K; Zack Pintok 3-2, 1R, 1RBI.
L: Jeff Offenbecher 4-1, 1R, 1RBI, 1K; Quade Anderson 3-1, 1R, 1RBI, 1K; Tripp Zhang 3-1, 2RBI; Shayne Walker 3-0, 1K; Donovan Fornall 2-0, 1K; Trey Thompson 3-0, 1K; Tucker Masters 3-0, 1K; Ethan Borden 1-1, 3R, 2BB; Alex Svendsbye 2-1, 2R, 1K.
Batting: 2B - Anderson; Jones; TB - Svendsbye, Offenbecher, Borden, Anderson 2, Zhang; Davis, Pilkerton, Fisher 2, Hickey, Jones 4, Pintok 2.
Pitching: W - Offenbecher 5, 92 P, .598 S%, 9 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 4 SO, 2BB; Walker 2, 26 P, .462 S%, 1H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 SO, 1BB; L - Davis 6, 95 P, .589 S%, 5 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 7 SO, 2BB.
Big Bucks Tournament
Thursday, June 20
Game 1
Libby 15, Moscow 7
M 061 00 - R:7 H:9 E:5
L 003 39 - R:15 H:5 E:3
M: Chad Redinger 4-2, 1R, 2RBI, 1K; Barrett Abendroth 3-0, 1BB, 1K; Hayden Thompson 2-0, 1R, 2BB, 1K; Billy Adams 4-1, 1R, 1RBI; Kyle Lynus 2-1, 1RBI; Peyton Waters 1-1; Mack Hagenbaugh 3-0; CJ Anderson 2-2, 1R, 1BB; Isaac Stazkow 1-0, 2R; Marcus Delusa 3-2, 1R, 1RBI.
L: Jeff Offenbecher 4-2, 3R, 1RBI, 1BB, 1K; Quade Anderson 2-1, 2R, 2RBI, 2BB; Tripp Zhang 2-1, 2R, 1RBI, 2BB, 1K; Shayne Walker 2-0, 1R, 2RBI; Donovan Fornall 2-0, 1R, 1BB; Trey Thompson 4-0, 1K; Zane Brown 1-0, 1K; Landon Haddock 2-1, 2R, 2RBI, 1BB; Ethan Borden 3-0, 2R, 2K; Alex Svendsbye 1-0, 2R, 3BB, 1K.
Batting: 2B - Offenbecher; Lynus; TB - Offenbecher 3, Anderson, Zhang, Haddock; Redinger 2, Adams, Lynus 2, Anderson 2, Delusa 2, Waters.
Pitching: W - Williams 2, 54 P, .611 S%, 5 H, 6 R, 1 ER, 1 SO, 1BB; Walker 2.1, 39 P, .590 S%, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 SO, 2 BB; Offenbecher 0.2, 11 P, .545 S%, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 SO, 1 BB; L - Lynus 2.2, 57 P, .614 S%, 1 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 5 SO, 2 BB; Waters 0.2, 30 P, .433 S%, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 SO, 3 BB; Delusa 1, 35 P, .400 S%, 1 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 0 SO, 4 BB; Hagenbaugh 0.1, 20 P, .500 S%, 1 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 1 SO, 1 BB.
Friday, June 21
Game 2
Libby 5, Northern Lakes 1
N 100 000 0 - R:1 H:2 E:4
L 101 030 X - R:5 H:4 E:2
N: Isaih Graham 3-0, 1R, 2K; Cam Harris 2-0, 1BB; Nick Welch 3-0, 1RBI; Alex Drake 3-0, 1K; Col Strietzel 2-0, 1K; Addison 1-0, 1K; Sean Tierney 3-1; Trevor Vandever 4-1, 1K; Ray Knerr 1-0, 1BB;
Josh Mason 1-0, 1K.
L: Jeff Offenbecher 4-0, 1R, 1K; Quade Anderson 3-1, 1R, 1BB, 1K; Tripp Zhang 1-0, 1R, 3BB; Shayne Walker 3-1, 1R, 1RBI; Caden Williams 3-0, 1R, 1RBI, 1K; Trey Thompson 3-1, 2RBI, 1K; Donovan Fornall 1-1, 2BB; Ethan Borden 2-0, 1K; Moxley Roesler-Begalke 1-0, 1BB; Alex Svendsbye 3-0.
Batting: 2B - Anderson, Walker; TB - Fornall, Anderson 2, Thompson, Walker 2; Tierney, Vandever.
Pitching: W - Anderson 4.2, 80 P, .625 S%, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 SO, 2 BB; Offenbecher 2.1, 23 P, .696 S%, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 SO, 0 BB; L - Strietzel 4.2, 105 P, .505 S%, 3 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 5 SO, 6 BB; Addison 1.1, 16 P, .500 S%, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 SO, 1BB.
Saturday, June 22
Game 3
Libby 4, Tri-County 3
T 201 000 0 - R:3 H:3 E:3
L 011 000 2 - R:4 H:6 E:3
T: Kyle Crabtree 3-1, 1R, 1BB; Carson Bitney 2-1, 2R, 2BB; Braedon Hutton 3-0, 1BB, 2K; Brinkley Evans 3-0, 1BB; Jette Pruttis 3-0, 1K; Tony Daley 3-1, 1K; Matt Riehl 1-0, 1BB; Kolby Kovutch 1-0, 1BB; Benjamin Lehnerz 2-0, 1K; Briton Bunnell 2-0, 2K; Jacob Brewster 1-0, 1K.
L: Jeff Offenbecher 3-1, 2R; Tripp Zhang 3-1, 1R, 1BB, 1K; Shayne Walker 3-1, 2RBI, 1BB, 1K; Caden Williams 2-0, 1R, 1BB; Donovan Fornall 3-1, 1K; Trey Thompson 2-2, 1RBI; Moxley Roesler-Begalke 3-0, 1K; Ethan Borden 3-0; Alex Svendsbye 3-0, 1K.
Batting: 2B - Walker; TB - Offenbecher, Fornall, Thompson 2, Zhang, Walker 2; Crabtree, Bitney, Daley.
Pitching: W - Walker 2.2, 60 P, .483 S%, 0 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 4 SO, 5 BB; Roesler-Begalke 4.1, 54 P, .630 S%, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 SO, 2 BB; L - Kovutch 2.2, 58 P, .603 S%, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 SO, 1 BB; Daley 2, 30 P, .533 S%, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 SO, 1 BB; Crabtree 2, 28 P, .607 S%, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 SO, 1BB.
Sunday, June 23
Championship
Bitteroot Bucs 13, Libby 2
B 300 037 - R:13 H:9 E:2
L 020 000 - R:2 H:2 E:2
B: Alex Gavlack 5-4, 2R; Blake Hinsdale 3-1, 2R, 1RBI, 2BB; Brendan Schneiter 4-0, 1R, 1BB; Andrew Scully 2-1, 3R, 1RBI, 1BB; Johnny Lineback 3-1, 2R, 3RBI, 1BB, 1K; Zack Christopherson 2-0, 3RBI; JD Kay 1-1, 2R, 2RBI, 1BB; Jesse Sage 3-0, 1RBI; Brendan Bailey 2-1, 1R, 2BB.
L: Jeff Offenbecher 2-0, 1BB, 2K; Quade Anderson 3-0, 2K; Tripp Zhang 1-0, 2BB, 1K; Shayne Walker 3-0; Caden Williams 1-0, 1R, 1BB; Landon Haddock 1-0, 1BB; Donovan Fornall 1-0, 1R, 1BB; Ayden Williamson 1-0; Trey Thompson 1-1; Ethan Borden 1-0; Moxley Roesler-Begalke 2-1, 1RBI, 1K; Zane Brown 1-0; Alex Svendsbye 1-0, 1RBI.
Batting: 2B - Scully, Lineback; TB - Gavlack 4, Hinsdale, Scully 2, Lineback 2, Kay, Bailey; Roesler-Begalke, Thompson.
Pitching: W - Hinsdale 6, 105 P, .552 S%, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 SO, 6 BB; Williams 1, 37 P, .405 S%, 1 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 SO, 4 BB; Offenbecher 3.1, 40 P, .700 S%, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 SO, 1 BB; Zhang 0.2, 25 P, .360 S%, 2 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 SO, 2 BB; Svendsbye 1, 33 P, .424 S%, 1 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 0 SO, 1 BB.