Kats open season with perfect record

The Columbia Falls softball team started its season at 3-0 last week. The Wildkats opened at home March 26 with a 5-4 squeaker against Ronan. They then traveled to Polson where they beat Anaconda 17-0 and Butte Central 5-3 on March 28.

Against Ronan, coach Dave Kehr played the entire bench to see who was going to fit best, particularly in the field.

The Kats were up 5-2 after five innings when Ashley Trueblood drove in two runs on a double, but Ronan rallied in the top of the sixth with two runs to make it 5-4. The Lady Maidens had a chance to tie it, but left fielder Madison Fetters scooped up an overthrow at third and gunned down the runner heading to the plate to preserve the lead.

The Lady Maidens threatened again with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh with two out, but relief pitcher KJ Schweikert got the pop up to first, and Alysha Cantu snared the catch to end the game.

Kehr was happy with the way the girls swung the bats.

“They hit the ball well,” he said. “They’re feeling pretty good at the plate.”

Kehr had kudos for Fetters and Cantu’s fielding. This was Cantu’s first varsity start at first base.

“She did a great job,” Kehr said.

Against Butte Central, Cantu did a great job at the plate as well, driving a three-run homer against the Maroons in the third inning.

Trueblood got the win on the mound, striking out nine. Stats for the Anaconda game were unavailable.

The Kats have spring break off and then play Glacier High School on April 6 at home. Conference play will start the next day with a home game against Polson. Both games have 5:30 p.m. starts.

 

Ronan 010 102 0 — 4 7 1

Columbia Falls 210 200 x — 5 11 2

Gabby Wirz, Carston Rhine(5) and M. Mock. Ashley Trueblood, K.J. Schweikert (6) and Sam Collins, Morgan Campbell-Queen (6).

RONAN — G. Wirz 1-4, J. Clairmont 0-2, K. Dulmes 1-4, D. Richwine 2-3, K. Starkel 1-3, A. Morency 1-3. C. Rhien 0-3, M. Mock 1-3, K. Brown 0-3.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Carlee Brown 1-3, Peyton Kehr 1-1, Katie Price 1-2, Ashley Trueblood 2-3, K.J. Schweikert 0-1, Breanna Friar 1-4, Lottie Ellis 0-3, Madi Fetters 2-3, Alysha Cantu 1-3, Sam Collins 1-2, Morgan Campbell-Queen 1-1 Kaitlyn Hoerner 0-1, Kerry Lanners 0-1.

2B — G. Weirz, Richwein,  Trueblood, Cantu. RBIs — Richwine 2, Price, Trueblood 2.

 

Butte Central 100 000 2 — 3 12 1

Columbia Falls 000 311 x — 5 7 0

    W — Ashley Trueblood, L — McKenzie Gallagher.

BUTTE CENTRAL — Shawne Hjelt 0-1, Emily St. John 2-4, Kloie Thatcher 3-4, Mollie Peoples 1-4, Taylor Wahl 1-3, Corbyn Holm 2-4, Megan Michelotti 2-4, Kassidy Criscuolo 1-3, Desiree Blunt 0-2, McKenzie Gallagher 0-3.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Carlee Brown 2-3, Madi Fetters 0-3, Ashley Trueblood 2-3, Breanna Friar 1-2, Lottie Ellis 0-1, Alysha Cantu 1-3, Katie Price 0-3, Samantha Collins 1-3, Kaitlyn Hoerner 0-3.

2B — Thatcher,  Peoples,  Michelotti; HR — Cantu; RBI — Peoples,  Wahl, Holm; Cantu (3), Collins, Trueblood.

The Columbia Falls softball team started its season at 3-0 last week. The Wildkats opened at home March 26 with a 5-4 squeaker against Ronan. They then traveled to Polson where they beat Anaconda 17-0 and Butte Central 5-3 on March 28.

Against Ronan, coach Dave Kehr played the entire bench to see who was going to fit best, particularly in the field.

The Kats were up 5-2 after five innings when Ashley Trueblood drove in two runs on a double, but Ronan rallied in the top of the sixth with two runs to make it 5-4. The Lady Maidens had a chance to tie it, but left fielder Madison Fetters scooped up an overthrow at third and gunned down the runner heading to the plate to preserve the lead.

The Lady Maidens threatened again with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh with two out, but relief pitcher KJ Schweikert got the pop up to first, and Alysha Cantu snared the catch to end the game.

Kehr was happy with the way the girls swung the bats.

“They hit the ball well,” he said. “They’re feeling pretty good at the plate.”

Kehr had kudos for Fetters and Cantu’s fielding. This was Cantu’s first varsity start at first base.

“She did a great job,” Kehr said.

Against Butte Central, Cantu did a great job at the plate as well, driving a three-run homer against the Maroons in the third inning.

Trueblood got the win on the mound, striking out nine. Stats for the Anaconda game were unavailable.

The Kats have spring break off and then play Glacier High School on April 6 at home. Conference play will start the next day with a home game against Polson. Both games have 5:30 p.m. starts.

Ronan 010 102 0 — 4 7 1

Columbia Falls 210 200 x — 5 11 2

Gabby Wirz, Carston Rhine(5) and M. Mock. Ashley Trueblood, K.J. Schweikert (6) and Sam Collins, Morgan Campbell-Queen (6).

RONAN — G. Wirz 1-4, J. Clairmont 0-2, K. Dulmes 1-4, D. Richwine 2-3, K. Starkel 1-3, A. Morency 1-3. C. Rhien 0-3, M. Mock 1-3, K. Brown 0-3.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Carlee Brown 1-3, Peyton Kehr 1-1, Katie Price 1-2, Ashley Trueblood 2-3, K.J. Schweikert 0-1, Breanna Friar 1-4, Lottie Ellis 0-3, Madi Fetters 2-3, Alysha Cantu 1-3, Sam Collins 1-2, Morgan Campbell-Queen 1-1 Kaitlyn Hoerner 0-1, Kerry Lanners 0-1.

2B — G. Weirz, Richwein,  Trueblood, Cantu. RBIs — Richwine 2, Price, Trueblood 2.

Butte Central 100 000 2 — 3 12 1

Columbia Falls 000 311 x — 5 7 0

    W — Ashley Trueblood, L — McKenzie Gallagher.

BUTTE CENTRAL — Shawne Hjelt 0-1, Emily St. John 2-4, Kloie Thatcher 3-4, Mollie Peoples 1-4, Taylor Wahl 1-3, Corbyn Holm 2-4, Megan Michelotti 2-4, Kassidy Criscuolo 1-3, Desiree Blunt 0-2, McKenzie Gallagher 0-3.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Carlee Brown 2-3, Madi Fetters 0-3, Ashley Trueblood 2-3, Breanna Friar 1-2, Lottie Ellis 0-1, Alysha Cantu 1-3, Katie Price 0-3, Samantha Collins 1-3, Kaitlyn Hoerner 0-3.

2B — Thatcher,  Peoples,  Michelotti; HR — Cantu; RBI — Peoples,  Wahl, Holm; Cantu (3), Collins, Trueblood.