Labbe Gem, Clutch Hitting Leads Impact to Solid Win over Libby LoggersBy Dave Smith

LIBBY - Brennan Labbe tossed a brilliant two-hitter and Nate Dill, Davin Nau, Cole Smith, Dillon Gunlock, Landin Ramsay, Carson Bay, and Hunter Johns delivered clutch hits to lead the Missoula Impact Baseball Club to an impressive victory over the Libby Loggers, 11-0, on opening night of the Loggertown Wood Bat Classic at the iconic Lumberyard in Libby.

One year after a scintillating 3-2 extra-inning victory over the Loggers in the tourney’s opener, the Impact boys left nothing to chance this time by dominating in all phases of the game.

Labbe used a devastating changeup and sharp slider to set up his popping fastball. The junior southpaw notched 10 strikeouts and walked only two in the five-inning, run-rule victory. Labbe got stronger as the game went on, flashing some of his best velocity.

“The guys executed perfectly tonight,” said Michael Hutcherson, Missoula Impact Head Coach. “Timely hits, great defensive plays, and clutch pitching. Perfect from start to finish.”

Smith got it started in the first inning, after successive walks to Bay and Orion Plakke, by ripping a line drive RBI single to center. Dill then delivered the big knock of the night by crushing a booming two-run triple to the wall in left-center. Johns followed with a line drive RBI single down the right field line, making it 4-0 before the strong hometown crowd had really even settled in their seats.

Libby mounted a one-out rally in the bottom of the first behind a walk and single by Rusty Gillespie, but Labbe fanned Chase Rayome and Caleb Moeller to end the inning.

Missoula tacked on two more runs in the third inning on a walk, error, a flare single to left by Landin Ramsey, and a sharp RBI single by Bay. Impact then put the game away in the fourth inning. After three one-out walks, Nau drilled a line drive two-RBI double to right-center.

Missoula played excellent defense behind Labbe, including an outstanding throw by Nau from right field to nail a runner at the plate. In the batter’s box, Impact showed signs of a what could be a very prolific offensive attack this season, working the count and then hitting the ball hard. Smith squared up the ball all three times to the plate around a walk, and Ramsey also lined out.

Impact plays two games on Saturday and then wraps up the tournament with a Sunday morning game against the Cranbrook Bandits. Despite a wet evening and the forecast of more rain on Saturday, the Impact dugout was lively. It should be an entertaining rest of the weekend for baseball fans in Libby.