Lakers down Loggers, 14-4
<p>Kalispell Lakers' catcher Brendan Windauer (left) tags out Loggers runner Micah Germany at home to get the last out of the top of the fifth inning during the Lakers matchup against Libby Wednesday night at Griffin Field. </p>
<p>The Lakers' Cody Dopps (left) slides safely back to second base as Libby shortstop Jared Winslow jumps to catch an attempted pickoff throw during the Lakers matchup against Libby Wednesday night at Griffin Field. </p>
Right now, it’s all about the innings.
The visiting Libby Loggers and the host Kalispell Lakers were looking for at-bats and defensive experience on Wednesday night.
They both got what they were after. The Lakers also came away with the 14-4 win in seven innings.
Kalispell scored four runs in the first, tacked on one run in the third, fourth and fifth — and then exploded with seven runs in the bottom of the sixth.
“We were able to capitialize on some free passes and some timely hits and our pitchers did a pretty good job overall. Adam Frandsen did a pretty good job for us,” said Laker coach Ryan Malmin.
Offensively, Sean O’Connell was 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI and Brendan Windauer was 2-for-4 with four RBI.
“We struggled again a little bit defensively early in the game and late in the game. That’s got to be cleaned up. We have to be a little more consistent defensively and give our guys on the hill a chance to get our outs,” he said.
“But we did what we wanted to do, which was get some kids some opportunities and some at -bats,” he said.
Libby took the same stance.
“It’s going to be a process. We had them get some innings underneath their belts. The fact we were able to play and get some experience was the most important thing for us,” said Libby coach Kelly Morford.
“We had 10 walks and four hit batters, so it’s tough to beat anybody with that many free passes.
“But I thought all in all, we looked pretty good at the plate. We saw some good things there,” Morford said.
“And we saw some better things on the mound then we saw last weekend. For us, the key is ... it wasn’t great, but we looked better than we did last time,” he said.
He complimented the effort of right fielder Nick Robertson.
“He had a couple good approaches at the plate and put some good swings on the ball. I was happy to see some of our young guys coming around that way,” Morford said.
Oliver Gruphenhoff, Luke Haggerty and Andrew Haggerty each had two hits for the Loggers. Gruphenhoff also had a double and an RBI. Luke Haggerty and Matt Willis had one RBI each.
Lakers 14, Loggers 4
Libby 200 100 1 — 4(10)6
Kalispell 401 117 x — 14(8)2
Micah Germany, Creede Garcia (4), Tanner Tammaro (6), Luke Haggerty (6) and Oliver Gruphenhoff, Micah Germany (4). Adam Frandsen, Matt McLean (7), Sid Schenck (7) and Brendan Windauer. W — Frandsen. L — Germany.
Libby — Will Reichel 1-4, Jared Winslow 1-4, Oliver Gruphenhoff 2-4, Luke Haggerty 2-4, Andrew Haggerty 2-3, Nick Robertson 1-3, Cameron Burkes 0-1, Matt Willis 1-2, Creede Garcia 0-2, Tanner Tammaro 0-2, Josh Foote 0-0.
2B — Gruphenhoff. RBI — Gruphenhoff 1, L. Haggerty 1, Willis 1.
Kalispell — Charlie Obermiller 0-1, Louis Freudenburg 0-4, Cody Dopps 2-3, Sean O’Connell 2-4, Sid Schenck 1-3, Zach Personett 0-1, Hank McLeod 0-2, Brenden Windauer 2-4, Jake Johnson 1-4.
2B — O’Connell 2, Schenck. RBI — O’Connell 2, Schenck 2, Personett 1, McLeod 1, Windauer 4, Johnson 2.