Libby beats Missoula 13-8 to win Western A baseball title

by The Daily Inter Lake
| July 28, 2013 11:42 PM

EUREKA — Libby took advantage of a sloppy game, scoring 13 runs to win the Western District Class A American Legion baseball championship on Sunday. It is the first district title for the Loggers since 2011.

Libby capitalized on eight Mavericks errors in the game, including four that led directly to runs. The Loggers took control in the third inning, scoring three runs in the frame to take a 4-1 lead. The first two runs scored on a single to left field from Micah Germany, the last on an error from the Mavericks first baseman.

The Loggers led 6-2 entering the seventh inning before putting up five runs in the top of the frame to put the game out of reach. Libby didn’t have a hit in the inning, instead reaching base and scoring on four walks, a hit batter, two errors and a pair of wild pitches and passed balls.

A single from Luke Haggerty in the eighth gave the Loggers a 13-2 lead, which was comfortable enough to withstand six Mavericks runs in the final two innings.

Will Reichel allowed just five hits and two runs with eight strikeouts in seven innings on the mound for Libby. He went 2 for 3 from the plate to lead the team in hits.

The Loggers (36-20 overall) will open the state tournament against the Helena Reps on Thursday in Helena.

Libby 103 200 520 — 13 8 2

Missoula 010 010 024 — 8 8 8

Will Reichel, Cameron Burkes (8), Andrew Haggerty (9) and Oliver Grupenhoff. Jackson King, Josh Taber (4), Adam Collins (7), Travis Zander (9). W- Reichel. L- Collins.

LIBBY — Reichel 2-3, Luke Haggerty 1-5, Jared Winslow 1-3, Micah Germany 1-5, Grupenhoff 1-4, A. Haggerty 1-6, Josh Foote 0-3, Austin Marshall 0-2, Collin Johnson 0-2, Dylan Berget 0-2, Dylon Lane 0-4, Burkes 1-1.

MISSOULA — Kaaden Wilson 2-3, Zanon Fullbright 1-1, Trevor Cunningham 1-3, Tyler Jewett 1-4, Conner McKillop 0-3, Zander 0-5, Austin Bohnsack 1-5, Ben Tabaracci 0-3, Josh Harrington 1-2, Walker Kay 1-3.

2B — Grupenhoff. Fullbright, Cunnningham, Jewett. RBI — L. Haggerty 2, Winslow 3, Germany 3, Grupenhoff 1, A. Haggerty 1. Fullbright 2, Cunningham 1, Jewett 1, McKillop 2, Zander 1, Harrington 1.