Wildkats go 2-2 in Class A state softball

By JOE SOVA/Hungry Horse News

With only a single senior on the team, Columbia Falls High School exceeded last year's finish at the Class A State Softball Tournament last weekend.

The Wildkats went 2-2 and finished the season with a 15-9 overall record.

CFHS outslugged Sidney 13-9 in Thursday's opener in Butte, scoring in every at bat. The Kats pounded out 16 hits. Renae Nelson was 4-for-5. Amber James went 3-for-4 with a home run, and Cedar Smith was 3-for-4. Tia Yaeger had two hits, and Kayla Stinger hit a home run.

Sophomore Morgan Rowe pitched the win, giving up eight hits.

The teams combined for seven errors in sloppy conditions due to lots of rain.

"They hung in there real well," CFHS coach Dave Kehr said.

In the second round, the Kats lost to Belgrade 15-5 in five innings, a game that started at Copper Mountain Park and was moved to Stodden Park in Butte.

The Kats scored five times in the top of the first inning, but were shut out by Lauren Torres the rest of the way. Rowe, who was relieved by Jessica Owens, took the loss.

"They're tough," Kehr said of Belgrade. "We came out and jumped on them. They started hitting the ball really well against us."

James was 2-for-3 for the Kats, and Mandy Toavs had two RBIs.

CFHS stayed alive with an 8-5 win over Laurel in a Friday game played in Anaconda due to the rain in Butte. The Kats used a seven-run fourth inning to take control.

The Kats had 11 hits, three by Amanda Milliard, who had a triple. Stinger was 2-for-4 with two doubles, and James had two hits.

Rowe pitched the win.

The Kats were eliminated by eventual state runner-up Frenchtown, 5-1, later in Anaconda. Shelby Russ pitched a 3-hitter. James had a double, and Smith and Yaeger each had a single.

The Kats had the bases loaded in the fourth inning with two outs, but a shot to center by James was caught to end the threat.

"I'm pleased by the two wins," Kehr said, the losses to the second- and fourth-place teams. "I'm pleased, in general, with how we played."

Lindsey Nelson is the only senior on the squad.

"I'm thrilled about the prospects for next year," Kehr said.

Libby won the Class A state title, outscoring Frenchtown 15-8 in the championship game. Whitefish went 0-2 in the tourney.

Sidney 024 003 0 — 9 8 3

Col. Falls 231 322 x — 13 16 4

Rotz and Ziler; Rowe and James. WP — Rowe. LP — Rotz.

Columbia Falls (14-7)

Milliard 1-4, Yaeer 2-4, L. Nelson 1-4, James 3-4, Stinger 1-3, R. Nelson 4-5, Toavs 0-4, Rowe 1-4, Smith 3-4, Skiles 0-0.

2B — Moore; Yaeger, L. Nelson, R. Nelson, Rowe, Smith 2. 3B — Kayla Lake. HR — James, Stinger. RBIs — Kayla Lake, Kira Lake, Buxlawn, Moore; Stinger, Yaeger 2, James 2, Smith 2.

Columbia Falls 500 00 — 5 6 4

Belgrade 404 52 — 15 12 1

Rowe, Owens (4) and James; Torres and Larson. WP — Torres. LP — Rowe.

Columbia Falls (14-8)

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

2B — Milliard, Toavs; Foster, Bell, Cygan, Morgan. 3B — Bell. HR — Larson, Dygan. RBIs — James, R. Nelson, Toavs 2; Bell 3, Larson, Cygan 3, Morgan 2.

Laurel 001 103 0 — 5 8 4

Col. Falls 000 710 x — 8 11 2

Wood and Linse; Rowe and James. WP — Rowe. LP — Wood.

Frenchtown 121 001 0 — 5 10 0

Col. Falls 000 000 1 — 1 3 2

Russ and Maxtel; Rowe and James. WP — Russ. LP — Rowe.