All giddy in Libby

One of my fondest memories of playing baseball was hitting my only home run in the 1993 American Legion Western A District championship game against the Libby Loggers in Libby.

It was a three-run shot over the left field fence that broke open a one-run game. My Bitterroot Bucs team went on to win that district title and played late into the final night at the state tournament.

My parents still have that baseball alongside an action picture of me on their fireplace mantle. Although I have no newspaper evidence - or video - of that game, the vision still is engraved in my mind as one of the most special I've ever had.

Next week, better memories will be made for a lot more teenagers on that same field because - for the first time - the Libby Loggers are hosting an American Legion Class A state tournament.

"We've been hearing about it a lot from our community," Libby coach Kelly Morford said. "Everybody has been asking a lot of questions on how they can help and they're getting excited. They want to show the rest of the state we are alive and well. They want to show everyone that we have a quality program and community."

Even though the program needs to fix the right field fence, which is at a 45-degree angle because of Wednesday night's scary storm (a smaller price to pay for the community compared to losing its drive-in movie theater), I have no doubt the event will be one of the best Class A state baseball tournaments ever.

The one thing I always hear from baseball coaches from other states is Montana's baseball stadiums are like cathedrals compared to the ones they play in. And Libby's Lee Gehring Field, which is named after a longtime coach and legionnaire who was in charge of Montana's White Cross program (the roadside white crosses staked at automobile deaths), is a gem.

I remember it being an all-dirt infield and still loved the setting. But grass was laid in 1995 and it has been immaculately manicured since 2002 by program president Scott Foss.

"Scott Foss puts a lot of time in on the field," Morford said. "You can see him out there measuring the length of the grass and mowing it all the time."

Foss played for the Loggers from 1989 to 1992, which were the first four years of the resurrected program after having no baseball throughout the 1980s. He came back to Libby after nine years of college, became the baseball program's president and coached the team from 2002 to 2005. He brought the Loggers to the 2004 state championship game - the furthest they've ever been - in Havre against Glendive. He had to step down as coach because his business started booming, but stayed on as president.

Now, his dedication and professionalism with the program are shining brightly.

"I put in about 40 hours a week on the field," Foss said. "It's one of the best in the state - and I'm even comparing it to the minor league parks. "

Similar to the atmosphere at Boston's Fenway Park, Lee Gehring Field has a short outfield fence. But it's in right field and has a big 12-foot tall fence 284 feet from home plate. (Normal home run fences down the foul lines are about 320 feet).

On top of that, Foss installed a state-of-the-art sound system with a one-touch computer system - complete with 950 sound bytes that the Tampa Bay Devil Rays use.

On top of that, the Loggers constructed a 900-square-foot clubhouse underneath the stadium - complete with carpet, offices, locker rooms and an umpire room.

Even the restrooms were upgraded last fall.

"You can't put the experience of being here into words," Foss said.

Unfortunately, not only is the Libby ballfield a secret to the state of Montana, but to Libby as well.

"Within the community, a lot of people just aren't aware of what's going on here," Foss said. "They drive by and see a nice ballpark, but they don't know what goes on. But it's like going to a minor league baseball game.

"We've gotten lots of support from the community through the years as far as sponsors are concerned. But it's been better than ever this year.

"As a community, we've had some rough goes recently - especially with the asbestos. We haven't been portrayed in a positive light. But this event is a shining light for us, and the community is excited to showcase the city."

Even a longtime baseball man is impressed.

"The involvement in this program ranks up at the very top of any other program I've been involved in," said assistant coach Jack Helber, who has more than 50 years of head coaching experience throughout Montana and California. "I'm so pleased to be a part of this program. The rest of the state is going to find out that Libby can put on a great tournament and I'm looking forward to it."

… If only the rest of the state knew what they were playing for at all district tournaments currently being played.

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Carl Hennell is a sports reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. He can be reached at chennell@dailyinterlake.com or at 758-4446.