Wildkats split the bill, Libby game rained out

The Columbia Falls softball team split a nonconference bill last week, losing to Flathead High School 6-4 at home, but bouncing back to beat Stevensville away over the weekend, 11-0.

On April 16, a couple of untimely Wildkat errors in the in the top of the third gave Flathead a big rally with two outs. The Bravettes scored five runs in the inning to go up 6-2 in the game. The Kats had the lead 2-1 prior to that.

The girls sparked a rally of their own in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs to close the gap to 6-4, but they couldn’t complete the comeback. Conditions were brutal for a softball game, with a brisk wind and temperatures in the 30s.

Tiffany Hummer and Winter Kempainnen had two hits for the Kats, and Ciarra Holm had a double. The Kats out hit the Bravettes 10-5 but had a tough time getting players across the plate.

The Kats traveled to Stevensville on April 20 and racked up 11 runs on 13 hits against the Lady Yellowjackets. Pitcher Ashley Trueblood threw a three-hitter and went 3-for-4 at the plate. Catie King and Holm each had doubles, and Tiffany Hummer led the team with two RBIs.

“We hit the ball really well against Stevi,” coach Dave Kehr said. “We played a little more relaxed.”

The key game of the week was rained out. The girls were scheduled to play Libby in a conference matchup April 19, but steady rain fell most of the day and didn’t end until late in the afternoon as skies finally cleared.

The game had already been canceled by then, however.

The girls face Ronan at home Thursday and then travel to Frenchtown on Friday and Saturday for a tournament. The Libby game has been rescheduled for April 30 at home. Varsity start is 6 p.m. The Kats are 2-3 on the year.

“It’s been a good season so far,” Kehr noted. “We need to clean up some defensive mistakes. This week will give us five non-conference games, which is really what we need.”

Flathead 105 000 0 — 6 5 0

Columbia Falls 020 020 0 — 4 10 4

Raylene Kerney, Sidney Alberts (4) and Kailee Henderson; Ashley Trueblood and Courtney Murray. W — Kerney. L — Trueblood.

FLATHEAD — Abbie O’Brien 0-3, Iris Matulevich 0-3, Alberts 2-3, Cassidy Smith 0-3, Cadelyn Nunn 0-0, Henderson 1-4, Shayla Tweet 1-4, Lynsey Potter 0-3, Kaitlin Torgerson 0-1, Mackenzie Twichel 0-2, Kijrstjn Kruse 1-3.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Tiffany Hummer 2-4, Carlee Brown 0-2, Alex Pederson 1-2, Kathrin Jetty 1-4, Trueblood 1-4, Catie King 1-3, Ciarra Holm 1-3, Winter Kemppainen 2-3, Amanda Morrison 0-1, Madi Fetters 1-2, Murray 0-2.

2B—Holm; RBIs—Tweet (2); Jetty, Trueblood, Holm.

C. Falls 013 012 4 – 11 13 1

Stevi 000 000 0 – 0 3 4

Columbia Falls – Ashley Trueblood and Brianna Friar. Stevensville – Carly Vercruyssen, Maddie Boesch 7 and Megan Finley. W – Trueblood. L – Vercruyssen.

COLUMBIA FALLS – Tiffany Hummer 1-3, Carlee Brown 0-2, Alex Peterson 0-3, Kathrin Jetty 1-4, Ashley Trueblood 3-4, Catie King 3-4, Ciarra Holm 1-2, Lauren Fields 0-1, Winter Kemppainen 2-4, Amanda Morrison 0-2, Maddi Fetters 1-1, Brianna Friar 0-2, Courtney Murray 1-2.

STEVENSVILLE – Bailey Vercruyssen 0-3, Carly Vercruyssen 0-3, Alycia Sims 0-3, Megan Finley 1-3, Emalie Lewis 0-3, Cammie Beller 0-2, Jessica Stevens 0-1, Megan Elam 1-2, Maddie Boesch 0-2, Kayla Knights 1-2.

2B – King, Holm. RBIs – Hummer 2, Brown, King 2, Fetters, Murray.