Rangers start strong at Big Bucks Tourney
LIBBY - Bryton Guckenberg was 2-for-3 at the plate with the game-winning RBI as the Kootenai Valley Rangers opened the Big Bucks American Legion baseball tournament with a 6-5 win over Tri-County on Friday.
The Rangers were 2-0 on the day after beating the Moscow Blue Devils, 6-5.
Guckenberg also got the win on the mound in the first game for the Rangers.
"Guckenberg pitched in and out of trouble, pitched a pretty good game," said Rangers coach Brent Holder.
"We hit the ball very well, especially in the late innings," Holder said of the second game.
"We were a little more patient at the plate in the late innings and got good hits," he said.
Caleb Curtiss was 2-for-3 in the second game.
"Caleb Curtiss hit the ball hard all day," he added.
"Once we got Alex (Lesowski) the lead ... being a four-year Legion player ... he knows how to finish out a game like that."
No other results were available from the tournament, which continues today.
Kootenai Valley 6, Tri-County 5
KV 120 300 - 6 5 1
Tri County 230 000 - 5 6 2
Bryton Guckenberg, Caleb Curtiss (5), Alex Lesowski (6) and Colin Gillard. Dye, Johnson (6) and Lightner. W - Guckenberg. L - Dye. S - Lesowski.
KV- Guckenberg 2-3, Lesowski 0-4, Kade Davis 0-4, Ryan Holder 1-3, Gillard 0-0, Curtis 1-2, Dillon Little 0-1, Jacob Grove 1-2, Josh Soderling 0-1, Curtiss McDuffie 0-1.
2B -Guckenberg, Holder. RBI - Guckenberg 2, Holder 1, Grove 1.
Tri-County - Rowe 2-4, Munoz 2-2, Hallenburg 1-3, Johnson 0-1, Richmond 0-1, Lightner 0-3, Premo 0-2, Watterud 0-3, Miller 1-3.
RBI: Hallenburg 1.
Game 2
KV Rangers 6, Moscow Blue Devils 5
Moscow 210 002 0 - 5 10 1
KV 101 112 x - 6 12 2
Sweeney and Paul. Kade Davis, Alex Lesowski (5) and Caleb Curtiss, Colin Gillard (2). W - Lesowski. L - Sweeney.
Moscow - Dawes 2-4, Bick 0-3, Sweeney 1-4, Keasel 1-4, Andres 2-4, Paul 2-3, Jones 0-2, Todish 0-4, Johnson 2-4.
2B - Keasel. RBI - Keasal 1.
KV - Guckenberg 2-4, Lesowksi 2-2, Davis 1-3, Ryan Holder 1-2, Gillard 1-2, Curtiss 2-3, Curtis McDuffie 1-3, Jacob Grove 0-1, Josh Soderling 1-2, Dillon Little 1-1.
2B -Gillard. RBI - Holder 2, Little 1, McDuffie 1.