Libby faces Lethbridge at state

The Daily Inter Lake

Been there, done that.

The Western District champion Libby Loggers (25-23) head to the Montana/Alberta American Legion Baseball State Class A Tournament with 11 players with state tournament experience.

"That won't do anything but help us," said Libby head coach Kelly Morford.

"We were battle-tested at the district tournament, too," he said.

Morford pointed out that Libby won an 11-inning contest Sunday over the Bitterroot Red Sox to claim the district championship.

The Loggers have put together a good run in recent weeks - their batting average has gone up while their ERA is on the way down.

As a team, Libby is currently batting .278. Opponents are hitting .257.

The Loggers open state tournament play at 10 a.m. Saturday against Lethbridge, the No. 2 team from Northern A.

Lethbridge fell 19-2 to state tournament host Vauxhall in last weekend's North District championship game.

The Loggers have not played the Miners this year, but they still feel confident.

"We're pretty confident going in. No team is easy, but I think we've got a decent draw, so I think we can get after them.

"I think right now these guys think they can go and do anything," Morford smiled.

"We've got a little report on (Lethbridge). They have a few guys that swing the bat well. They're a young

team, but I'm sure they're fundamentally solid. All Lethbridge teams are fundamentally solid and Lethbridge always hits the ball well," Morford said.

Lethbridge's top two bats are Bryce Versteeg and Dillon Houghton.

"Those two are the guys who can hit for power," the coach said.

The Loggers hope veteran pitcher Steve Bertelsen can put the clamps on Lethbridge's offense.

Bertelsen (6-4) has a 4.22 ERA.

"He's one of the guys who played in the state tournament here in Libby last year. He's a guy who's experienced big games in football, wrestling, baseball. He's been through it all," Morford said.

"He's also a guy who can bounce back on two days rest and give us another start," the coach said.

"(Bertelsen) throws hard, which will be effective against a younger team like Lethbridge. When he controls his off-speed stuff, he's pretty hard to hit," the coach said.

If Libby wins that first game, it will face the winner of Gallatin Valley/Laurel at 4 p.m. Sunday.

If the Loggers make it as far as the championship game, that will be 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

As for the rest of the Libby's pitching, the Loggers have a very respectable 5.07 ERA.

Derek Benefield is 7-4 with a 2.55 ERA, and Nate Peltier is 5-2 with two saves and a 3.19 ERA. Opponents are hitting .217 off Benefield and .173 off Peltier.

On the offensive end, the Loggers have leaned on Bertelsen with his .340 bating average.

Three Loggers are hitting .323. They are Rory Hendrickson, Chris Herbig and Ryan Stapley.

But the bottom of the order has come through in a big way in recent days.

Dustin Morningstar, batting eighth, came alive in the district tournament and raised his average to .329.

"He came alive in the district tournament. He kind of went Ichiro on us, started hammering ground balls and beating them out," Morford said.

"That's a big boost for us. That helps out scoring-wise when (Morningstar and No. 9 batter Colt Cannon) are getting on base for the top-of-the-order guys," he said.

American Legion Baseball

Class A state tournament

at Jets Stadium in Vauxhall, Alberta

Saturday

10 a.m. - Lethbridge (No. 2 North) vs. Libby (No. 1 West)

1 p.m. - Laurel (No. 2 East) vs. Gallatin Valley (No. 1 South)

4 p.m. - Dillon (No. 2 South) vs. Billings Blue Jays (No. 1 East)

8 p.m. - Bitterroot Red Sox (No. 2 West) vs. Vauxhall (No. 1 North).