Kats' postseason hopes dashed with losses
The Columbia Falls softball team’s hopes for postseason play were dashed last week on their last road trip. The Wildkats lost to Libby 5-1 on May 14 following a walk-off grand slam by Lady Logger Devon Gallagher in the bottom of the seventh.
The Kats still had a chance if they could beat top-ranked Frenchtown the next day, but they fell short to the Lady Broncs, 7-0.
The two losses left the team with a 4-4 record in conference play. Libby beat Polson 7-4 one day after beating the Kats, which effectively knocked Columbia Falls out of playoff contention.
Against the Lady Loggers, the Kats had a 1-0 lead heading into the seventh inning. But things unraveled for the Kats. Lady Logger Abbey Ennenga singled in a run, and then Gallagher hit the grand slam.
The Kats had four hits and two errors in the loss to Libby — two of those hits were by senior pitcher Ashley Trueblood.
Against Frenchtown, it was all Bronc pitching ace Morgan Ray, who had 15 strikeouts in the shutout.
Trueblood took the loss, giving up 11 hits. The Kats started out the season strong, downing Libby and Polson early in the year, but they just couldn’t get the bats going in the second half of the season.
Columbia Falls 000 001 0 - 1 4 2
Libby 000 000 5 - 5 7 2
Hannah England and Devon Gallagher. Ashley Trueblood and Breanna Friar.
W - Hannah England. L - Ashley Trueblood.
COLUMBIA FALLS - Carlee Brown 0-4, Peyton Kehr 0-2, Taylor Putnam 0-1, Trueblood 2-3, Lottie Ellis 0-3, Breanna Friar 1-3, Alysha Cantu 1-3, Madi Fetters 0-3, Katie Price 0-2, Kaitlyn Hoerner 0-2, Syd Hovde 0-0, Hannah Freeman 0-0.
LIBBY - Madisen Monigold 1-4, Mahalah Wedel 0-4, Abbey Ennenga 3-4, Devon Gallagher 2-3, Dayln Germany 0-3, Rachel Rebo 0-3, Staci Regh 0-2, Auria Benefield 0-3, England 1-2.
2B - Gallagher. HR - Gallagher. RBIs - Ennenga, Gallagher 4.
Columbia Falls 000 000 0 - 0 5 0
Frenchtown 301 300 x - 7 11 0
Morgan Ray and Brooke Yarnall. Ashley Trueblood and Breanna Friar.
W - Ray. L - Trueblood.
COLUMBIA FALLS - Carlee Brown 0-3, Peyton Kehr 1-3, Trueblood 1-2, Lottie Ellis 0-2, Taylar Putnam 0-1, Breanna Friar 1-3, Alysha Cantu 1-3, Madi Fetters 0-2, Kerry Lanners 0-1, Katie Price 0-2, Hannah Freeman 0-1, Kaitlyn Hoerner 1-2.
FRENCHTOWN - Jordan Cole 0-0, Megan Delaney 0-3, Ray 3-3, Shelby Shourds 1-3, Haley Cyr 1-3, Krista Hebnes 0-3, Brooke Yarnall 2-3, Emma Pyron 1-4, Laci Willett 1-3, Alli Moe 0-0, Taylor Rockwood 2-2, Allie Hochhalter 0-1.
2B - Friar; Ray. HR - Ray. RBIs - Ray 2, Shourds 3, Yarnall 2.