Kats cap best season ever with 3-2 showing at state

by Chris Peterson Hungry Horse News
| June 1, 2011 10:04 AM

The Columbia Falls girls softball team had a nice run at the state A tournament in Miles City last week, going 3-2 to cap off one of their best seasons ever.

On May 26, the girls opened the tournament with a nine-inning win over Corvallis, 4-3, but then lost the afternoon game to Billings Central, 11-4.

Against Corvallis, Jordan LeFebvre went 2-for-4 with a triple, and senior Jessica Owens went 3-for-5 in the lead-off spot as the Kats racked up 12 hits. Owens also came in and pitched in the sixth inning to secure the win.

But against Central, the Rams scored seven runs in the first three innings, and the Kats had a tough time getting the bats going. Niki Birky homered for Columbia Falls and had two RBIs in the loss. LeFebvre had a double.

In the consolation round on Friday, the Kats dropped Butte Central 5-1 and Anaconda 12-2 but lost to Belgrade 5-1. Against Central, Birky continued to hit the ball well, knocking in a homer for the Kats.

Against Anaconda, Madison Sandefer hit a homer as the girls scored nine runs in the first three innings to roll to victory.

The girls hung in there against Belgrade. It was a one run game going into the fifth before the Panthers scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to break open the game. Owens went the distance in her final game as a Wildkat.

The future looks bright for the program. They lose just three seniors and a lot of young talent is coming up through the ranks.

The girls finished the season at 19-7 overall. Conference rival Polson won the tournament for the second year in a row.

Corvallis 000 030 000 - 3 4 2

Col. Falls 101 010 001 - 4 12 5

Ashley Johnson and Korie Conder. Shaun Rowe, Jessica Owens (6) and Erika Nelson. W - Owens. L - Johnson.

CORVALLIS - Tegan Elliot 0-5, Gianna Schrock 0-4, Whitney Jessop 2-5, Alex Ewing 1-4, Conder 0-4, Miquela Kriskovich 0-3, Johnson 0-4, Alex Price 1-4, Maidson Ray 0-2.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Owens 3-5, Renae Nelson 0-4, Rowe 2-5, Niki Birky 1-4, Madison Sandefer 2-4, E. Nelson 1-5, Jordan LeFebvre 2-4, Tessa Cowan 0-2, Jaylynn Cantu 0-2, Kathrin Jetty 1-4, Ciara Holm 0-0.

2B - Rowe. 3B - LeFebvre. HR - Ewing. RBIs - Ewing 3, Birky, E. Nelson, LeFebvre.

Columbia Falls 010 021 0 - 4 7 3

Billings Central 313 400 0 - 11 12 0

Abby Rockwell and Amanda Tryan; Shaun Rowe and Jessica Owens (3) and Erika Nelson. W - Rockwell. L - Rowe.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Jessica Owens 3-4, Renae Nelson 0-2, S. Rowe 1-4, Niki Birky 2-3, Madison Sandafer 0-4, E. Nelson 1-5, Jordan LeFebvre 2-4, Tessa Cowan 0-2, Jaylynn Cantu 0-2, Kathrin Jetty 1-4, Ciara Holm 0-0.

BILLINGS CENTRAL - Ashley MacDonald 3-4, Sarah Stringari 2-2, Michela Jacobson 2-3, Sarah Shaw 3-4, Abby Rockwell 0-4, Guinevere Ayers 1-4, Amanda Tryan 0-3, Taryn Francischetti 0-3, Chere Anderson 1-3.

2B - LeFebvre, MacDonald, Stringari, Jacobson, Shaw. HR - Birky. RBIs - Birky 2, J. Owens, LeFebvre, MacDonald 2, Jacobson 2, Shaw 4, Rockwell, Ayers.

Col. Falls 000 100 4 - 5 12 0

Central 000 010 0 - 1 5 1

Renae Nelson and Ciarra Holm. Quinn Peoples and Katie Hogart. W - Nelson. L - Peoples.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Nelson 0-4, Jessica Owens 1-4, Shaun Rowe 4-4, Niki Birky 2-3, Jorden Lefebvre 1-4, Madison Sandefer 2-4, Erika Nelson 2-4, Jaylynn Cantu 0-2, Holm 0-2.

BUTTE CENTRAL - Hogart 0-4, Danika Neumann 0-3, Angela Piazzola 2-3, Peoples 0-2, McKenzie Doherty 0-3, Shannon McLaughlin 0-3, Breanne Krzan 0-2, Taylure Svejkovsky 2-3, Carlee Norbeck 1-3.

3B - Rowe. HR - Birky, Svejkovsky. RBIs - Birky, Rowe, Sandefer, Svejkovsky.

Anaconda 000 02 - 2 6 3

Col. Falls 441 3x - 12 11 1

Brooke Chapman and Courtney Moodry. Jessica Owens, Shaun Rowe (4) and Erika Nelson. W - Owens. L - Chapman.

ANACONDA - Moodry 2-3, Karli King 0-3, Chapman 2-3, Julia Peterson 0-0, Lauren Bolton 0-3, Abby Stanberry 1-2, Vanessa Jense 0-1, Ali Forkan 0-2, Jeanna Brunell 1-2, Sara Schaefer 0-2.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Owens 2-3, Jaylynn Cantu 1-1, Renae Nelson 2-4, Rowe 1-2, Niki Birky 1-2, Jordan Lafebvre 1-1, Madison Sandefer 1-3, E. Nelson 1-1, Kathrin Jetty 1-1, Ciarra Holm 0-3, Tessa Cowan 0-3.

2B - Rowe, Lafebvre, Moodry, Brunell. HR - Sandefer. RBIs - Sandefer 4, Birky 2, Cantu, E. Nelson, Moodry, Chapman.

Col. Falls 000 000 1 - 1 5 4

Belgrade 000 131 x - 5 7 1

W - Ali Cygan. L - Jessica Owens.

COLUMBIA FALLS - Owens 1-3, Renae Nelson 1-3, Shaun Rowe 0-3, Niki Birky 1-3, Jorden Lefebvre 1-3, Madison Sandefer 0-3, Erika Nelson 1-3, Jaylynn Cantu 0-3, Tessa Cowan 0-2.

BELGRADE - Morgan Wandler 1-4, Justine Taylor 2-3, Melissa Bell 0-2, Cygan 1-3, Nicole DeHaan 0-3, Dorvall 0-2, T. Hill 2-3, T. Johnson 0-2, J. Severson 0-0, Tara Lanzendorf 1-3.