Libby Loggers set to host Big Bucks Tournament
Libby Legion player Chase Rayome scores on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fifth inning in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday at Lee Gehring Field. The Cranbrook Bandits prevailed, 8-5. (Paul Sievers/The Western News)
Libby Loggers Legion player Brody Gilmore slips under the throw to Cranbrook Bandits second baseman Brantley Johnson to steal second base in the bottom of the second inning in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Lee Gehring Field. The Bandits won, 10-4. (Paul Sievers/The Western News)
Libby Loggers Legion player Boe Miles connects for a base hit on a 1-2 pitch with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning in the second game of a doubleheader Saturday. The Cranbrook Bandits topped the Loggers 8-5. (Paul Sievers/The Western News)
It’s Big Bucks Tournament time in Libby as the Loggers American Legion baseball team prepares to host seven teams from Idaho, Washington, California and Montana.
The action begins Thursday at Lee Gehring Field and ends Sunday. There will be a home run derby and skills competition on Saturday evening.
Tournament supporter Vullo Bat Company donated a custom wood bat for the tournament team and home run derby champion.
Teams will start with two games of pool play and then will advance into a championship and consolation semifinal on Saturday with the championship games on Sunday.
Pool A includes Libby, Claremont, Lockwood and the Generals.
Pool B features Bitterroot, Mission Valley, Inland Empire and North Idaho.
Action kicks off at 3:30 p.m. Thursday with the North Idaho Lakers facing the Mission Valley Mariners. At 5:15 p.m., the Bitterroot Bucs tangle with North Idaho and the host Loggers face the 2022 champion Claremont Cardinals at 7:30 p.m.
Friday features a full slate with five games. The Lockwood Razerbacks face the Generals at noon. Claremont takes on the Generals at 2:15 p.m., then the Mariners battle the Inland Empire Astros at 4:30 p.m.
The Loggers will battle Lockwood at 6:15 p.m. and the nightcap features Inland Empire against Bitterroot at 9 p.m.
Saturday’s schedule includes the championship and consolation brackets games, set for 10:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5:15 p.m.
The home run derby and skills challenge will begin at 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, the seventh-place game begins at 8 a.m., followed by the fifth-place game at 10:15 a.m. At 12:30 p.m., the third-place game will occur and the championship game is set for 3:45 p.m.
Last weekend, the Loggers lost both games of a doubleheader against the Cranbrook Bandits. They dropped the first game, 10-4, and the second, 8-5.
