The Lady Loggers softball team faced a step up in competition, but the result was the same Tuesday when they went on the road and defeated Class AA Kalispell Flathead, 9-4.

Kelsey Klin went 3-for-4 with a homer and Hannah England struck out 10 Bravettes.  

Flathead’s Kylee Beccari struck out eight batters, but the Bravettes fell to 4-11.

Libby (12-1) was fueled offensively by Klin and Devon Gallagher, who also went 3-for-4. The Lady Loggers claimed a 4-0 lead in the first inning, and the final score is not indicative of how dominately Libby played.

England did not allow a single Flathead hit after the first inning until the Bravettes plated a pair in the bottom of the sixth frame.

“She’s our core right there,” Libby Coach Dean Thompson said of his junior pitcher. “The girls rally behind her. They know she’s going to get the job done for us, and she knows she has a great defense behind her.”

The win was the first, and likely easiest, of what Thompson believes is his team’s most difficult stretch of the season.

Libby hosts Glacier, another Class AA school, at 3:30 p.m. Friday. The biggest test comes Saturday, when conference rival Frenchtown (3-0, 10-1) comes to town.

Thompson has characterized the Lady Broncs as the  best team in the state, although he may speak differently should his girls win Saturday. Either way, the loser of this weekend’s contest will not have to wallow long. The two teams meet again Thursday in Frenchtown.

The Lady Loggers have grown into a powerful team this year, powered by a strong core of juniors. Gallagher’s name has to be mentioned in any discussion on All-State catchers, and Klin’s combination of power and strong defensive play in centerfield puts her in contention for All-State honors as well.

Libby 9, Flathead 4

Libby 410 101 2 – 9 11 1

Flathead 100 002 1 – 4 5 6

Hannah England and Devon Gallagher. Kylee Beccari and Kaylee Henderson. W – England. L – Beccari.

LIBBY – Brooke Rosling 1-2, Mahalah Wedel 1-4, Kelsey Klin 3-4, Devon Gallagher 3-4, Auria Benefield 0-4, Dayln Germany 0-3, Rachel Rebo 0-4, Staci Regh 0-3, Kyra Lauer 1-4, Madisen Monigold 1-1, Taryne Luscher 1-1.

FLATHEAD – Shayla Tweet 2-4, Iris Matulevich 0-3, Kaitlin Togerson 0-2, Kaylee Henderson 1-2, Lynsey Potter 0-1, Cassidy Smith 0-3, Kylee Meredith 1-3, Niea Sutton 0-2, Kylee Beccari 1-3.

2B – Monigold. Henderson. HR – Klin. RBIs – Benefield, Rebo, Gallagher, Klin, Luscher. Henderson, Beccari, Torgerson.