NI Lakers 19U drops another close one to Libby Loggers 18U
Finn Mellander lines up to bat during Game 1 of the District 1 championship game against Moscow at War Memorial Field.
(Photo by JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
WHITEFISH, MT — For the second time in five days, the NI Lakers 19U legion baseball team faced off against the Libby Loggers 18U.
In their last matchup on July 2, the Loggers etched out the Lakers 12-10 after a four-run sixth inning.
On Thursday, the Loggers relied on another big spurt. This time it came in the fifth inning where they scored six runs.
The Libby Loggers 18U managed to squeeze out a 10-9 win over the NI Lakers 19U.
The two teams went back-and-forth throughout the first four innings, notching four lead changes.
The NI Lakers 19U had just taken the 6-4 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning following a three run spurt.
Finn Mellander was responsible for two of the runs. He hit an RBI double down the left field line to score Trevor Brackett and Cameron Garcia.
Mellander had another solid day at the plate, going 2-for-3 along with three RBI and two doubles.
Alex Leverich scored the final run of the inning following a ground out that would score Kody MacDonald.
The Loggers scored its first two runs during the top of the fifth after back-to-back walks from Ethan Butler to tie the game at six runs.
Landon Haddock scored the game-leading run following an RBI single that scored Caden Williams.
The Lakers didn’t finish the game without a fight, however, scoring three runs during the final frame.
Cameron Garcia notched his fourth hit of the ball game, which was an RBI double that scored Butler and Brackett.
Garcia finished the game a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish with two RBI.
Zeke Roop brought Garcia home following an RBI single into center field to cut the Loggers’ lead to one.
Leverich popped out to Loggers’ catcher Rusty Gillespie for the final out of the game
The Lakers cycled through four pitchers, with Roop getting the start. He pitched two and two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on five hits striking out three.
Ringer came in relief of Roop and finished his time on the hill, giving up two runs on two hits striking out 2.
Butler was the next man on the mound and he only threw 31 pitches, giving up five runs on no hits, striking out one and walking four.
Mike Riley closed out the game, allowing one run on three hits with zero strikeouts.
The Libby Loggers 18U used three pitchers throughout the five inning contest.
They started the game off with Cy Williams on the mound.
Willams only pitched one complete inning where he gave up two runs off of two hits, striking out zero batters.
Aiden Rose came in relief of Williams and pitched three complete innings where he gave up four runs on seven hits, striking out zero batters.
David Bailey closed out the game and notched the Loggers’ only strikeout of the contest along with allowing three runs off of four hits.
The NI Lakers 19U legion baseball team falls to 9-8 overall and will next face off against the Glacier Fish Twins at 10:45 a.m. today in Whitefish, Montana
LIBBY LOGGERS 020 26 — 10 10 1
NI LAKERS 111 33 — 9 13 1
Cy Williams, Aiden Rose (2), David Bailey (6), and Rusty Gillespie. Zeke Roop, Jack Ringer (2), Ethan Butler (3), MIke Riley (4) and Trevor Brackett.
HITS: LIB — Zhang 2, Ca Williams, Haddock, Cy Williams 2, Buckner, Gillespie, Unknown 2. NI — Garcia 4, MacDonald, Roop, Mellander 2, Ringer 2, Z. Leverich, Butler, Brackett. 2B — Cy Williams, Ca. Williams, Garcia, Mellander 2. 3B — Zhang.