Loggers split doubleheader with Whitefish

While the Loggers took the first game of their doubleheader against Whitefish on June 11 with a come-from-behind victory, the Glacier Twins built an early lead in the nightcap that Libby wasn’t able to overcome.

The 5-10 Loggers won their first seven inning game 6-5. Officials called the second game during the fifth inning for Whitefish at 18-4.

Libby drew first blood in the opening game during the bottom of the first inning when Tucker Masters slugged the ball deep into right field for an RBI double. The hit brought home Tripp Zhang.

The Libby defense coordinated efficiently at the start of the game, racking up outs and keeping the Glacier Twins from getting around the bases for the first two innings.

Whitefish snuck three runs past the Loggers during the top of the third. For the next two innings, the teams kept each other in check. The Loggers came alive at the plate during the bottom of the sixth inning when Cy Williams and Kiye Jenkins each racked up an RBI.

Logger head coach Kelly Morford commended Williams and Jenkins for their hits after the game.

“We got two big base hits from our eight and nine guys, Kiye Jenkins and Cy Williams, and that then gave us a chance to get the top of our order up and tie it up and win the game,” Morford said.

A few at-bats after Jenkins, Masters stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs on the board. Whitefish’s pitcher walked Masters, tying the score going into the seventh and final inning.

During the top of the seventh inning, Whitefish eked out another run giving them a tenuous lead. The Loggers tied the game again when Jenkins stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and walked. When the pitcher struck Zhang, Libby racked up another RBI walk to win the game.

Zhang led the Loggers on the mound with 10 first-pitch strikes and two strikeouts over three innings. Masters secured six firstpitch strikes across four innings of pitching.

Whitefish came back with a vengeance in the nightcap, securing an 8-0 lead going into the bottom of the third inning.

Aydan Williamson, Libby’s first baseman, felt that after playing solid ball during the first game, the Loggers had begun to unravel when the Glacier Twins pushed ahead.

“We just had that one bad inning and we fell apart from there,'' he said.

Hoping to tamp down Whitefish’s offensive push, the Loggers cycled through pitchers during the second game. Zane Brown led Libby on the mound with 11 first-pitch strikes in just over two innings.

Morford said he would have liked to put Caden Williams in as pitcher but the rising senior couldn’t throw because of a sore arm.

“Pitching depth is a big thing for us,” Morford said. “We just need to throw strikes and they hit the ball … and it got away from us a little bit.”

Libby seemed poised to make a comeback after Williamson knocked the ball deep into center field for a two RBI double. A couple at-bats later, Williamson crossed the plate on an RBI from Landon Haddock. An error allowed Haddock to steal home bringing the score to 8-4 for the Loggers.

“We just started feeling it again,” said Williamson.

But the momentum stopped in the fourth and Loggers were unable to secure any more runs during the remaining two innings. The Glacier Twins went on to land three runs in the fourth inning and seven in the fifth.

Morford said Libby’s shortcomings in the second game could be due to a loss of focus.

“We haven’t played a whole lot of doubleheaders,” he said.

Morford noted Libby had seen a similar outcoming during an away doubleheader against the Glacier Twins the weekend before. After winning the opening game 7-6 on June 6, the Loggers fell 16-1 in the nightcap.

Nevertheless, Morford said the team had shown some good flashes against Whitefish.

“We’re just working on being more consistent,” he said.

The Loggers are scheduled to play the Bitterroot Red Sox at home on June 15.