Mariners win Firecracker tourney

POLSON - The seventh inning was not kind to the Libby Loggers on Sunday.

The Loggers (27-18) were beaten twice in the Mission Valley Mariner Firecracker Tournament - both times in the bottom of the seventh.

Mission Valley's Kevin Hagadorn had an RBI single as the Mariners defeated Libby 8-7 in the tournament's championship game.

In the morning contest, Kootenai Valley's Bryton Guckenberg hit a 3-run home run as the Rangers downed the Loggers 4-3.

"It's disappointing to lose. We always know with the Mariners it's going to come down to the seventh inning. We just had some walks that hurt us and we couldn't get outs at opportune times," said Libby coach Kelly Morford.

"We couldn't get that last out with runners in scoring position," he said.

"(The boys) were disappointed, but they know (Mission Valley) is a good team - and that we can play with them," he added.

"It was a fun game to play. Both sides played really well. Great game all the way around," said Mission Valley coach Jami Hanson.

"This is three tournaments in a row for us. Good things happen when you continue to work at it," he added.

"It was a fun tournament all the way around. The parents - not just ours, but everybody's ... there were a lot of classy ball teams there and a lot of competition," Hanson said.

The Loggers had a 6-0 lead early on, but the Mariners bounced back with a run in the third and three in the fourth.

"They kind of chipped away. A couple walks hurt us," Morford said.

"And we were able to capitalize (on the walks)," Hanson agreed.

The Loggers had big moments, too.

Down 7-6 going to the seventh, Chris Herbig led off with a single, then stole second. Micah Germany's double brought him home to tie the game.

Then once again a walk killed us," Morford said.

The Loggers walked leadoff batter Jacob Young. He also stole second and scored on Hagedorn's double.

Justin Evertz was 3-for-3 on the day with a double and four RBI for Mission Valley. Robbie Gauthier was 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI.

For Libby, Chris Herbig and Micah Germany both batted 3-for-4. Germany had two doubles and an RBI and Tate Wilson had three RBIs.

Chris Herbig was named the tournament offensive MVP. Herbig batted 12-for-20 on the weekend with two doubles and five RBIs.

Defensive MVP was the Mariners' second baseman Jacob Young.

Hanson added his congratulations to both Herbig and Young.

The Loggers are at Kalispell Lakers A at 5 p.m. on Tuesday.

Libby 402 000 1 - 7122

Mission Valley 001 303 1 -894

Alex Cislo, Chris Herbig (5), Justyn Mack (6) and Micah Germany. Kellon Hoyt, Josh Rustad (7) and Jack Humphreys. W - Rustad. L - Mack (1-5).

Libby - Justin Wicka 0-4, Jared Winslow 1-4, Herbig 3-4, Cislo 1-4, Germany 3-4, Alex Bluhm 1-4, Tate Wilson 2-4, Mack 0-3, Andrew Haggerty 1-2.

2B - Germany 2, Wilson 1. RBI - Germany 1, Bluhm 2, Wilson 3.

Mission Valley - Humphreys 1-3, Austin Von Tom 0-3, Justin Evertz 3-3, Chris Clary 1-3, Robbie Gauthier 2-4, Jacob Young 0-2, Rustad 0-3, Kevin Hagedorn 1-2, Dalton Molhzon 1-2.

2B - Evertz, Clary, Gauthier 2, Molhzon, Hagedorn. RBI - Von Tom 1, Evertz 4, Clary 1, Gauthier 1, Hagadorn 1, Molhzon 1.

Rangers 4, Loggers 3

Bryton Guckenberg's three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh lifted the Kootenai Valley Rangers over the Libby Loggers, 4-3.

With the Rangers trailing 3-1, Guckenberg sent a 2-0 fastball over the right field fence.

Tanner Blankers picked up the win for Kootenai Valley.

"Blankers did a good job keeping us off-balance and Guckenberg had that big pinch hit," said Libby coach Kelly Morford.

Justin Wicka was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles on the day for Libby. Chris Herbig was also 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Kade Davis was 1-for-3 with a double and Guckenberg was 1-for-1 for the Rangers.

Kootenai Valley 4, Libby 3

Libby 100 010 1 - 380

Kootenai Valley 100 000 3 - 452

Alex Bluhm and Tate Wilson. Tanner Blankers and Gallen Sullivan. L - Bluhm (2-2)

Libby - Justin Wicka 2-4, Jared Winslow 0-3, Chris Herbig 2-4, Alex Cislo 1-3, Bluhm 1-4, Micah Germany 0-3, Wilson 1-3, Justyn Mack 1-2, Gunnar Bradeen 0-3.

2B - Wicka 2. RBI - Winslow 1, Herbig 1, Cislo 1.

Kootenai Valley - Blankers 0-3, C.J. Henrie 0-1, Kade Davis 1-3, Ryan Holder 1-3, Sullivan 1-3, Garret McNeil 1-3, Dalton Smith 0-1, Bryton Guckenberg 1-1, Mark Good 0-2, Nick Rachley 0-2.

2B - Davis. HR - Guckenberg. RBI ‚ Davis 1, Guckenberg 3.