Kats sweep Havre, breeze past Stevensville

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Making the best of a varsity tripleheader, Columbia Falls posted three wins in as many games in high school softball on Saturday at CFHS.

April James blasted the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the sixth inning over the left center field fence for a three-run homer, capping a six-run rally as the Wildkats exploded past Havre in a Western A Conference game to start the day.

Drew Walter, who pitched the win in the first game, tossed a 4-hitter as the Kats edged Havre 3-2 in the second contest.

CFHS scored four runs each in the first and second innings as the Kats breezed by Stevensville 11-1 in a non-conference game later Saturday.

The trio of wins came after the Kats lost to defending Class A state champion Polson 15-2 at home on Thursday.

Monday's road games against Ronan on Monday were rescheduled for Tuesday, April 29.

The Kats take a 2-2 conference record and 4-2 overall mark into Friday's home game against Browning. CFHS then plays next Tuesday, April 22 at Whitefish in another key league game.

Trailing 8-3 going into the last of the sixth inning in the first game against Havre, the Kats got within two runs — setting the stage for the three-run blast by James.

"We needed to get some runs going," Kats coach Dave Kehr said. "We got some girls on [base]. Amber did a nice job of coming through with the home run."

James led the Kats at the plate, going 3-for-4 and driving in four runs. Cedar Smith had two hits. Six other Kats also had hits.

Walter pitched the win, giving up 14 hits.

"They hit the ball well and fielded well," Kehr said of Havre.

Kehr said Walter was "feeling good" and he stayed with her in the second win over Havre.

"She's a strong kid. She doesn't walk many," the coach said.

One of the Kats' three runs came on an unplanned double steal.

"They ran the bases really well," Kehr said. "It was a great thing to see… We had key hits at key times."

Kehr said the crucial play was when Renae Nelson struck out and beat the throw to first after the Havre catcher dropped the ball. Nelson came around to score what proved to be the winning run.

Tia Yaeger had two of the Kats' four hits.

Walter pitched the first two innings against Stevensville to get her third victory of the day. Amanda Milliard allowed only one run over the last three innings.

Stevi committed nine errors, and the Kats had six hits — two my Lindsay Nelson.

"Their pitching is much better than it was a couple of years ago," Kehr said of Stevi.

The Kats scored twice in the third inning against Polson to tie the game, but the Pirates built an 8-2 lead and added seven runs in the top of the seventh inning.

CFHS' defense committed six errors behind Walter, who took the loss. She allowed 17 hits.

"They had a lot of hits," Kehr said of Polson. "We hung in there for the first five innings. We had our chances."

James, Smith and Milliard each had two hits. James drove in both CFHS runs.

Polson 020 123 7 — 15 17 0

Col. Falls 002 000 0 — 2 9 6

Peterson and Vasser; Walter and James. WP — Peterson. LP — Walter.

Polson

Perez-Tenas 2-6, Gordon 2-5, Newton 2-4, Amanda James 2-5, Vasser 1-5, Jensen 3-5, Woods 2-5, Peterson 3-4, Simshaw 0-4.

Columbia Falls (0-2, 1-2)

R. Nelson 1-4, Yaeger 1-4, Milliard 2-3, April James 2-3, Walter 1-3, L. Nelson 0-2, Rowe 0-3, Owens 0-3, Smith 2-2.

2B — Gordon, Newton, Vasser, Jensen (2), Woods, Peterson; A. James. 3B — Woods. HR — Amanda James. RBIs — Gordon, Newton (2), Amanda James (2), Vasser (2), Jensen, Woods, Peterson; Amber James (2).

Havre 022 013 0 — 8 14 0

Col. Falls 201 006 x — 9 11 2

Evans and Obrecht; Walter and James. WP — Walter. LP — Evans.

Havre

Cartwright 2-4, Evans 2-4, Mack 2-4, Stremcha 1-4, Patterson 2-4, Kelsey 3-4, Raines 0-4, Obrecht 0-4, Myers 2-3.

Columbia Falls (1-2, 2-2)

R. Nelson 1-3, Yaeger 1-2, Milliard 1-3, James 3-4, Walter 1-4, L. Nelson 1-4, Rowe 0-3, Skiles 1-3, Smith 2-3.

2B — Mack; R. Nelson, James, L. Nelson. HR — James. RBIs — Milliard, James (4), L. Nelson, Skiles.

Havre 000 100 1 — 2 4 3

Columbia Falls 020 010 x — 3 4 2

Stremcha and Obrecht; Walter and James. WP — Walter. LP — Stremcha.

Havre

Cartwright 1-3, Evans 0-1, Myers 1-3, Mack 1-3, Kelsey 1-3, Patterson 0-2, Stremcha 0-3, Kuto 0-3, Beck 0-1, Obrecht 0-2.

Columbia Falls (2-2, 3-2)

R. Nelson 0-3, Yaeger 2-3, Milliard 0-3, James 0-2, Walter 1-3, L. Nelson 0-2, Rowe 0-2, Skiles 0-3, Smith 1-2.

2B — Kelsey; Walter, Smith. RBIs — Nelson, Smith.

Stevensville 000 01 — 1 3 9

Columbia Falls 440 03 — 11 6 1

Miller and Jones; Walter, Milliard (3) and James. WP — Walter. LP — Miller.

Stevensville

Roebeke 0-3, Miller 1-2, Jones 1-2, McBee 0-1, Bellow 0-2, Cookest 0-2, Lanoue 0-2, Hecht 0-2, Laren 1-2.

Columbia Falls (2-2, 4-2)

R. Nelson 1-3, Yaeger 1-3, Milliard 0-2, James 1-1, Cronquist 0-1, Walter 0-1, Rowe 0-1, L. Nelson 2-3, Toavs 0-3, Skiles 1-3, Smith 0-3.

2B — Jones; L. Nelson. RBIs — Milliard, James, L. Nelson (2), Skiles (2).