Wildkats shut down Pirates at the plate

COLUMBIA FALLS — Columbia Falls shut down Polson’s normally strong lineup, holding the Pirates to five hits in a 5-1 Northwestern A conference softball victory on Tuesday.

Polson briefly got to Wildkats pitcher KJ Schweikert, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but that was the last run they would push across home plate.

Columbia Falls responded with a run in the third and another in the fourth on a solo home run from Hannah Freeman. The Wildkats scored three times in the fifth inning to pull away.

Freeman finished 2 for 2 at the plate with a double, a home run and two RBIS and picked off a stolen base attempt from her catcher position. Schwekert hit 3 for 4 and Peyton Kehr and Kaylene Volkman also had two hits in the win.

Ashley Benson led Polson at the plate, going 2 for 3.

Polson 010 000 0 — 1 5 1

Columbia Falls 001 130 x — 5 11 0

Haley Fyant and Ashley Benson. KJ Schweikert and Hannah Freeman.

POLSON — Kaelyn Smith 0-4, Laurel Bitterman 0-3, Hannah Fryberger 0-2, Fyant 0-2, Benson 2-3, Camas Renault 1-2, Quinn Motichka 0-3, Kaylanna Desjarlais 0-3, Paige Noyes 1-2, Natasha Gravelle 1-1.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Kaylee Ashe 0-4, Peyton Kehr 2-4, KJ Schweikert 3-4, Trista Cowan 0-2, Syd Hovde 0-2, Freeman 2-2, Taylar Putnam 1-3, Kaylene Volkman 2-3, Kennedy Payne 1-3.

2B—Kehr, Freeman, Putnam. HR—Freeman. RBIs—Noyes. Schweikert, Freeman 2, Putnam.