Libby head softball coach Dean Thompson pointed to the 2008 championship banner hanging at the Ralph Tate Gym. “Our goal every year is to hang another banner on that wall,” Thompson said.

He has good reason to believe this year’s team has all the pieces necessary to build a championship team through the course of their 22-game season.

The Loggers are returning all nine starters from last year’s third place team, including a first-team all-state pitcher, Hannah England, and catcher, Devon Gallagher. Thompson said several of this year’s seniors have started for him since their freshman year. “They’ve been here and they know what it’s going to take to get to the next level. Our girls need to work hard, but we’re just going to take it one game at a time. Of course we want to make it to the state tournament in Anaconda and put another banner on the wall,” Thompson said.

With conference games counting towards the team’s state qualifying position every game matters. Especially when playing in one of the toughest divisions in the state. Since 2007 either Frenchtown or Polson has won the Class A softball championship, with Libby taking the 2008 trophy.

“Frenchtown is always tough. They’re returning the two-time Gatorade player of the year. She’s their pitcher and hits the ball well so they’ll be tough. Polson’s tough and Columbia Falls also returns a good nucleus and pitcher,” Thompson said.

Thompson said the team’s coaches are one reason for their success. “I always tell everybody I’ve got a great coaching staff. My assistant Jeremy Hageness runs the summer program for the older girls and is also the pitching coach. With him it’s like having two head coaches. He handles the pitchers and catchers and I take the infielders and outfielders, it works out really well,” Thompson said.  

Volunteer coach Ruth Fenn will be lending a hand and Lea Spencer will put in as much time as she has available.

“We’ve got a great season coming up,” Thompson said. Practice started this Monday and the first game will be at home against St. Ignatius on March 20.

The team’s bullpen also includes Staci Regh and Ashley Walker.

Devon Gallagher provides the Lady Loggers with some power at the plate, batting over .500 last year. “Mahalah Wedel, Rachel Rebo, and Madisen Monigold are all good on-base hitters,” Thompson said, but noted it takes a team effort to get where the team wants to be.

“There’s not just one star on this team. This team of girls has played together probably since they were 10 years old. Their parents have taken them to tournaments throughout the years, they’re a hard working bunch,” Thompson said. Other players returning with significant experience includes Dayln Germany, Auria Benefield, Kyra Lauer, Abby Ennenga, Ashley Walker and Jordan Turner.

“This is the last hurrah for this group of seniors. They’ve been working for this since their freshman year,” Thompson said. He noted the seniors have had good seasons in other team sports, but haven’t been able to raise a championship banner.

Thompson said the softball season will be the last chance for the seniors on the team to take a state trophy home. That hunger and a third-place finish at last year’s state tournament may be enough to push them to the next level.