Libby wins state softball

The Daily Inter Lake

BUTTE - The Loggers' long wait is over.

Libby racked up 17 hits Saturday in a 15-8 victory over Frenchtown, winning its first Class A state softball championship since 1998.

The Loggers (22-4) have reached state in each of Dean Thompson's nine years as head coach.

They fell to Laurel in the 2006 title game, but this time they wouldn't be denied.

"Our girls never let up," Thompson said.

"We just kept coming back. They came out and played incredible softball."

Leading 11-8 after four innings, Libby senior pitcher Brooke Hageness held the Broncs (22-6) scoreless over the final three frames while the Logger offense continued to roll.

Seniors Laice Dedrick and Holly Cirian had four hits apiece, and Hageness and Nicky Lapka each had three. Lapka had five RBIs, followed by Dedrick with three and Cirian with two. Cirian hit her first home run of the season in the fourth inning with one runner on to center field.

Lapka tripled and doubled.

"Defensively, we played well," Thompson said.

"Frenchtown hit the ball hard, but we kept hitting them."

The Broncs scored four runs in the top of the first inning, but the Loggers responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Libby led 6-5 after two innings, but trailed 8-6 before pulling ahead for good with a five-run fourth.

Noelle Lebsock and Kristy Kees each went 3-for-4 to lead Frenchtown. Lebsock smacked two home runs, while Kees hit one.

Frenchtown, which finished second to Polson last year, beat Belgrade and Corvallis earlier Saturday to reach the championship game. The Loggers edged the Broncs 7-6 on Thursday to open the tournament.

"All 18 kids that were there from the dugout to the catcher and the pitcher, they all worked so hard," Thompson said.

"They are so deserving as a team. They played their hearts out. They played the best softball they have played all year."

Frenchtown 410 300 0 - 8 12 2

Libby 330 522 x - 15 17 3

Shelby Russ, Megan Frarmer (4) and Kristy Kees; Brooke Hageness and Shelby Barton. W - Hageness. L - Russ.

FRENCHTOWN (22-6) - Alex Duncan 1-5, Russ 0-3, Noelle Lebsock 3-4, Jennifer Chapman 2-3, Kees 3-4, Kai Bennett 1-3, Erin Maxted 0-4, Bridget Yarnall 1-4, Lacey Lovel 1-3, Farmer 0-1.

LIBBY (22-4) - Hageness 3-4, Barton 1-3, Nicky Lapka 3-4, Laice Dedrick 4-5, Alysha Martin 0-3, Megan Wedel 0-3, Jordan Refsland 1-3, Kim Klin 1-4, Holly Cirian 4-4.

HR - Lebsock 2, Kees; Cirian. 3B - Lapka. 2B - Chapman, Bennett; Lapka, Hageness. RBIs - Lebsock 3, Kees 2, Bennett 2, Chapman; Lapka 5, Dedrick 3, Cirian 2, Refsland, Hageness.