Dinner on the Diamond a Libby specialty

Dinner on the Diamond may not be a Libby exclusive, but its intimacy is something surely not matched at any other event.

Last Friday, supporters of Libby Logger American Legion Post 97 Baseball gathered at Lee Gehring Field for fellowship, great food and fun while raising money for the Loggers.

“Every year we are overwhelmed at the support we receive from the community that helps us provide these experiences for our young men,” Loggers head coach Kelly Morford said.

First held in 2014, the annual event on the perfectly manicured grass at the Lumberyard saw Logger supporters put their money where their mouths were, buying raffle tickets for a pair of guns while bidding on a variety of crafts, specialty packages donated and created by local folks as well as the ultimate prize - leftover prime rib created by Morford’s dad, John.

The lifelong rancher from Miles City knows a lot, but near the top is how to fix a prime rib roast!

On the diamond, the Loggers split a doubleheader Saturday in Missoula in Class A action.

Loggers pitcher Aidan Rose was sharp through six innings, Bransen Holzer had a big two-run single in the seventh and Libby beat the Missoula Mavs 5-3.

Missoula prevailed in the second game, 9-6, though the Loggers twice brought the tying run to the plate in the final inning. 

Holzer’s hit put the Loggers (6-15) up 5-1 in the first game. That proved important because the Mavericks (3-3) got a walk and a single with one out in the seventh off Rose.  

The Loggers pulled Rose for Holzer, who walked three batters. Soon it was 5-3 and the bases were loaded for Missoula’s Isaac Thorne with two out. Facing new pitcher Boe Miles, Thorne lined out to center to end it.  

Ian Thom added a two-run single for Libby, capping a three-run sixth inning. Rose allowed three hits and two walks, striking out six. 

Missoula scored eight runs in the fourth inning of the second game, but the Loggers fell a bit short in an attempt to rally.

Kale Riddle’s two-run single was the big blow in a four-run fifth inning by Libby. In the seventh doubles by Riddle and Miles closed the gap to 9-5, and a walk and hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out. Brody Gilmore got one run home with a sacrifice fly before Thom lined out to end it. 

The Loggers are in the midst of a road trip to Missoula, the Flathead and Cranbrook, British Columbia. But they’ll return to the Lumberyard June 18 for a game against the Bitterroot Bucs followed by the annual Big Bucks Tournament June 19-22.

    Attendees of the Libby Loggers Dinner on the Diamond event Friday, June 6, 2025, examine some items in the silent auction at Lee Gehring Field. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Northwest Montana musician Michael Atherton performed for the Libby Loggers Dinner on the Diamond event Friday, June 6, 2025, at Lee Gehring Field. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)
  

    Libby Loggers Legion baseball head coach Kelly Morford enjoys a card trick during the annual Dinner on the Diamond event Friday, June 6, 2025, at Lee Gehring Field. (Scott Shindledecker/The Western News)