The Libby Loggers’ exciting season came to an end last weekend with a top-four finish at the rain-soaked and often delayed Class A American Legion State Baseball Tournament in Helena.
Belgrade defeated Libby 13-5 in the loser-out round on Sunday, leaving the Loggers in fourth place. The Western A District champs, who upset top-seeded Mission Valley and won its first district title since 2011, ended the season 39-22.
Will Reichel had a double and two singles against Belgrade, the Southern A District champs. Reichel finished the state tournament with nine hits in four games.
Libby opened the state tournament with an exciting 11-run seventh inning to defeat Helena, 14-8. Jared Winslow led the team with a double and five RBI and Reichel chipped in three RBI.
Reichel pitched a complete game and had three hits in Libby’s 5-2 victory against Glasgow in the quarterfinals. Winslow had a triple and Oliver Grupenhoff had four hits, including a double and two RBI.
Libby, riding an eight-game streak into the semifinals, lost a nail biter to Laurel, 6-5. The Eastern A District champs scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to hold off the Loggers.
Previous to the state tournament, the Glacier Twins’ season ended at the district tournament. Glacier jumped out to a strong start this summer but suffered through a dismal July and finished the season 29-25.
Royals Defend Class AA Legion Title
The Billings Royals won their second straight Class AA legion state title, beating the Missoula Mavericks 5-0 in the championship last weekend. Billings ended the tournament 5-0 and were 31-20 on the season.
The Kalispell Lakers AA club suffered back-to-back one-run losses at state. The Bozeman Bucks dealt the Lakers a 2-1 loss in the opening round in Billings. The Billings Scarlets edged Kalispell 4-3 in loser-out action on Aug. 1. Robert Reaser had two hits, including a double and two RBI for Kalispell, which finished the season 29-29.