Lady Loggers Battle Through Busy Weekend at Frenchtown Invite

The Libby softball team faced a tough slate of competition at the Frenchtown Invitational last weekend, coming away with a 1-3 record against a strong field of opponents.

Libby opened the tournament Friday afternoon with a dominant 16-3 win over Butte Central. The Lady Loggers wasted no time jumping ahead, scoring four runs in the first inning and three more in the second to build a 7-3 lead. They added three runs in the fourth and six more in the fifth to end the game early by mercy rule.

Libby pounded out 17 hits in the victory, with Peyton Waggoner leading the way by going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Leah Rusdal also had a big game, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Madison Vincent contributed two hits and an RBI. Teighler Parker drove in three runs, helping the Loggers pull away from Butte Central.

Weslee MacDonald earned the win in the circle, throwing five innings and allowing no earned runs while striking out five.

Later that day, Libby battled Hamilton in a back-and-forth contest but ultimately fell 9-7. The Lady Loggers built an early 6-4 lead after four innings, thanks to a three-run first inning and consistent scoring through the third and fourth. However, Hamilton rallied late, scoring five runs in the top of the seventh to steal the victory.

Despite the loss, Vincent continued her strong tournament showing, going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Teighler Parker added two hits and an RBI as well.

Carmen Kohler started in the circle, pitching six innings before Maddi Willis came on in relief for the seventh.

On Saturday, Libby opened the day against Columbia Falls and fell 12-7 in another high-scoring matchup. The Lady Loggers came out strong with a three-run first inning and trailed just 5-4 after three frames. However, Columbia Falls' offense stayed hot, scoring in every inning to keep the pressure on.

Rachel Kosters and Dakota Allen each collected two hits to lead Libby’s offense. Weslee MacDonald also had a strong game at the plate, going 2-for-4 and driving in a pair of runs.

Kohler and Willis split the pitching duties, combining to allow 15 hits to the powerful Wildkats lineup.

Libby closed the weekend with a 8-1 loss to Stevensville. After scoring in the top of the first to take a brief 1-0 lead, the Lady Loggers struggled to keep pace as Stevensville answered with three runs in the first and five more in the second.

Madison Vincent collected Libby’s only hit of the game, continuing her consistent tournament performance. Maddi Willis started the game in the circle and was relieved by Kohler after facing a strong offensive surge from Stevensville.

Now sitting at 4-8 on the season, Libby will look to regroup and sharpen its play as it heads into the final stretch of the regular season. The Loggers hosted Whitefish Thursday and were set to play at Polson Saturday.

Friday, April 25

At Frenchtown

LIBBY 16, BUTTE CENTRAL 3

Libby - 43036 - 16 - 17 - 3

BuCe - 30000 - 3 - 5 - 7

LIBBY HITTING: Madison Vincent 2-3, Hadleigh Wood 0-2, Bently Houston 2-4, Rachel Kosters 1-1, Teighler Purdy 1-1, Dakota Allen 1-1, Jayva Boehmler 1-1, Peyton Waggoner 3-4, Carmen Kohler 0-3, Teighler Parker 2-3, Cyleigh Parker 1-1, Maddi Willis 0-3, Leah Rusdal 3-4; RBI: Vincent, Houston, Kosters, Allen 2, Boehmler, Waggoner, T Parker 3, C Parker, Rusdal 2; 2B: Rusdal, Waggoner; 3B: Houston

LIBBY PITCHING: Weslee MacDonald (5IP, 5H, 3R, 0ER, 1BB, 5SO)

HAMILTON 9, LIBBY 7

Hamilton - 1300005 - 9 - 13 - 6

Libby - 3120100 - 7 - 8 - 4

LIBBY HITTING: Madison Vincent 2-4, Bently Houston 0-4, Rachel Kosters 0-3, Dakota Allen 1-4, Peyton Waggoner 1-4, Weslee MacDonald 1-4, Teighler Parker 2-3, Leah Rusdal 0-4, Maddi Willis 1-2; RBI: Vincent 3, Houston, Waggoner, T Parker; 2B: Vincent, Willis, Waggoner

LIBBY PITCHING: Carmen Kohler (6IP, 11H, 7R, 6ER, 2BB, 5SO), Maddi Willis (1IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER)

Saturday, April 26

At Frenchtown

COLUMBIA FALLS 12, LIBBY 7

C-Falls - 2212122 - 12 - 15 - 7

Libby - 3011011 - 7 - 9 - 2

LIBBY HITTING: Madison Vincent 1-4, Bently Houston 1-4, Rachel Kosters 2-4, Dakota Allen 2-3, Peyton Waggoner 0-4, Teighler Parker 1-4, Weslee MacDonald 2-4, Leah Rusdal 0-2, Maddi Willis 0-4; RBI: Kosters, MacDonald 2, Rusdal

LIBBY PITCHING: Carmen Kohler (5IP, 8H, 8R, 6ER, 4BB, 1SO), Maddi Willis (2IP, 7H, 4R, 3ER)

STEVENSVILLE 8, LIBBY 1

Libby - 100 - 1 - 1 - 1

Stevi - 35x - 8 - 9 - 1

LIBBY HITTING: Madison Vincent 1-2, Bently Houston 0-1, Rachel Kosters 0-1, Dakota Allen 0-1, Peyton Waggoner 0-1, Rossi Baney 0-1, Leah Rusdal 0-1, Hadleigh Wood 0-1

LIBBY PITCHING: Maddi Willis (1 and 1/3IP, 7H, 7R, 7ER, 1SO), Carmen Kohler (2/3IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 1SO).