Rangers, Red Sox top seeds for Western A District Legion tourney
The Daily Inter Lake
If the trend continues, there will be a new Western A District American Legion baseball tournament champion on Sunday afternoon at Memorial Field in Whitefish.
A different team has won this event the last three years - Libby in 2008, Mission Valley in 2007 and Bitterroot Red Sox in 2006 - and this year the Kootenai Valley Rangers (Eureka) and Red Sox both enter play as the top seeds after winning regular-season titles in their respective divisions.
"Solid defense and depth in the pitching staff are keys in the district tournament, especially with the nine-inning ballgames," Libby coach Kelly Morford said.
"We were deep with our pitching staff (last year). We threw quality starters in Game 4 and 5 of the district tournament. Of course, you gotta get timely hitting as well."
Libby enter the tournament on a hot streak, having won 10 of its last 14 games to finish 25-20. The Loggers finished second in the league standings and open district play against the Bitterroot Bucs (19-19-3) at 4 p.m. The Loggers and Bucs did not play during the regular season.
"The kids know that we're peaking at the right time," Morford said.
"Hopefully that turns into some wins for us at the tournament."
Morford will start either Colt Cannon (5-8 with a 2.76 ERA) or Dustin Morningstar (6-2 with a 3.00 ERA) on the mound. Cannon totaled 107 strikeouts on the season, which breaks down to 10.94 per game. Chris Herbig (6-6 with 4.01 ERA) is the team's No. 3 hurler.
Cannon, who hit for 15 straight games, leads the team in hitting (.368), and in hits (56), doubles (15) and stolen bases (27). Joe Coker (. 364) tops the Loggers in home runs (6) and in slugging percentage (.644), while Morningstar (.361) owns a team high in runs scored (47) and Derek Willis leads in RBIs (35).
Another team streaking into district play is the Kalispell Lakers (15-26), who have won five of their last seven games.
"We've been playing pretty consistent baseball lately," Lakers coach Pat Connors said.
"Everything is clicking well for us. Now's the best time to be playing good baseball."
Alex Stanley will take the hill for Kalispell today at 9 a.m. versus the Mission Valley Mariners. Stanley, who started 0-4, has won six of his last nine games.
Brady Mott leads Kalispell in hitting average (.390) and also has five homers. Shawn Moody (.355) is first in RBIs with 33.
"For us this year, we've been fighting every game," Connors said. "We haven't let up, haven't gotten behind and haven't quit. And that's what you need to do in a tournament."
The top two teams from the district tournament advance to state in Three Forks, July 30-Aug. 3.
Today
9 a.m. - Kalispell Lakers vs. Mission Valley Mariners
Noon - Kootenai Valley Rangers vs. Missoula Mavericks
4 p.m. - Libby Loggers vs. Bitterroot Bucs
7 p.m. - Bitterroot Red Sox vs. Glacier Twins
Friday
Loser Out
9 a.m. - Lakers/Mariners vs. Rangers/Mavericks
Noon - Loggers/Bucs vs. Red Sox/Twins
Winner's Bracker
4 p.m. - Lakers/Mariners vs. Rangers/Mavericks
7 p.m. - Loggers/Bucs vs. Red Sox/Twins