Benefield, Hendrickson lift Libby over Kootenai Valley

The Daily Inter Lake

LIBBY - Derek Benefield threw a complete game three-hitter, and Rory Hendrickson ripped a pair of two-run homers to left-center field as Libby coasted to a 10-1 Class A American Legion baseball victory Wednesday over Kootenai Valley.

Benefield (1-1) registered 15 strikeouts and no earned runs. He accounted for 21 of the 27 outs in the game.

Benefield struck out the side in the third and fifth innings and fanned three Kootenai Valley hitters in the seventh.

"He was throwing all three pitches for strikes," Libby coach Kelly Morford said. "He was strong from the start. He was aggressive with his fastball. He threw a lot of strong two-strike pitches."

Hendrickson, who went 3-for-4, upped his HR total for the season to four. His first shot came in the fifth inning. He followed in the sixth with another that capped a six-run inning.

Ryan Stapley and Colt Cannon doubled for Libby.

Libby (2-6) has a nine-inning nonconference game Sunday, 2 p.m., in Eureka.

Kootenai Valley 010 000 000 - 1 3 6

Libby 010 126 00x - 10 9 3

Josh Soderling, Andrew Lowe (6) and Klint Chupp; Derek Benefield and Matt Schad. W - Benefield, 1-1. L - Soderling.

Eureka - Chad Price 0-4, Clete Deshazer 0-4, Kris Chupp 0-4, Alex Lesowski 0-4, Soderling 2-3, Klint Chupp 1-3, Dalin Rodgers 0-3, Lance McMarrel 0-2, Lowe 0-1, Taylor Brown 0-2, Colin Gillard 0-1.

Libby (2-6) - Colt Cannon 1-4, Nick Monroe 0-0, Steve Bertelsen 1-5, Rory Hendrickson 3-4, Schad 0-4, Nate Peltier 2-5, Ryan Stapley 2-3, Benefield 0-4, Kelly May 0-2, Adam Stapley 0-1, Eric Grotjohn 0-0, Spencer Koskela 0-2, Pat Hickman 0-2.

2B-Cannon, R. Stapley; HRs-Hendrickson; RBIs-Klint Chupp; Cannon, Hendrickson (4), R. Stapley, Benefield, May.