Libby advances at state baseball tourney
The Daily Interlake
VAUXHALL, Alberta - Rory Hendrickson hit a two-run double to center in the bottom of the sixth inning Saturday to help the Libby Loggers break open the opening game of the Montana/Alberta Class A State American Legion baseball tournament.
The Loggers downed the Lethbridge Miners 5-2 and will face Dillon at 4 p.m. today.
"(Hendrickson's hit) gave us a little bit of breathing room, but pitching and defense carried us through," said Libby head coach Kelly Morford.
Steve Bertelsen was able to throw a complete game for the Loggers. He recorded just one strikeout, but he also walked just one Miner - and the Loggers turned four double plays behind him.
"That allowed Bertelsen to go all nine innings and only throw 95 pitches. He'll be able to come right back.
"(The Miners) were aggressive at the plate. That kept his pitch count down. He was aggressive and we played good defense," Morford said.
Shortstop Hendrickson had nine assists and four putouts for Libby.
"I think we're in pretty good shape. We didn't have to use a lot of pitching, because Stevie pitched so well," Morford said.
One of the biggest keys for the Loggers - they held Lethbridge No. 3 batter Bryce Versteeg hitless. Versteeg grounded out four times, twice into double plays.
"That was big, getting him to ground into double plays," the coach said.
Still, the game was tight - Libby led just 2-0 after four innings.
It didn't help that the Loggers stranded seven runners in the first three innings - they had the bases loaded in the first and couldn't get the timely hit.
"It was pretty nip and tuck," Morford said.
"We left a lot of runners in scoring position."
That all changed in the sixth inning - with two outs.
Chris Herbig walked. Bertelsen, who batted 3-for-5 on the day, singled and Hendrickson's double brought them both home. Hendrickson scored on catcher Matt Schad's single.
"That was a big hit by Rory," Morford said. "That's when we busted it open. That gave us a few insurance runs and allowed us to settle down," he added.
The day wasn't without bad news.
The Loggers lost Derek Benefield to a leg injury.
"He's been favoring that leg. He got caught in a rundown and it popped," Morford said.
But an x-ray showed positive signs and the Loggers hope he'll be able to come back and pitch later in the tournament.
Lethbridge 000 010 700 - 273
Libby 010 103 00 x - 592
Blair Balog and Ryan Aiken. Steve Bertelsen and Mat Schad. W - Bertelsen (7 hits, 1 walk, 1 strikeout).
Lethbridge - Cody Lenchuka 3-4, Sean Maclean 1-3, Bryce Versteeg 0-4, Dillon Haughton 0-4, Pat Maclean 1-4, Jarad Peterson 1-4, Ryan Aiken 0-3, Braiden Bloor 1-2, Cole Lenchuka 0-3, Blair Balog 0-0.
Libby - Chris Herbig 0-4, Steve Bertelsen 2-5, Rory Hendrickson 1-4, Mat Schad 1-3, Ryan Stapley 1-3, Nate Peltier 0-3, Derek Benefield 1-1, Kelly May 0-3, Dustin Morningstar 0-3, Colt Cannon 2-4.
2B - Hendrickson, Cannon; RBIs: Bertelsen (2), Hendrickson (2), Schad.
American Legion
State tournament
Class A
Saturday
Libby 5, Lethbridge 2
Gallatin Valley 4, Laurel 2
Dillon 7, Billlings Blue Jays 4
8 p.m. - Vauxhall vs. Bitterroot Red Sox
Today
Loser-out
10 a.m. - Lethbridge vs. Billings Blue Jays
1 p.m. - Laurel vs. Vauxhall or Bitterroot
Winner's bracket
4 p.m. - Libby vs. Dillon
7 p.m. - Gallatin Valley vs. Vauxhall or Bitterroot
Web presence
To follow Libby's progress, log on to www.vauxhallspurs.com