Special K goes undefeated, wins title

Columbia Falls, Special K completed its season in age U-14 girls Fastpitch Softball this weekend by winning the end of the season tournament for the Columbia Falls Youth Softball Association.

They finished a 21-game season undefeated.

The season was highlighted with championships in the Kalispell open mid-season tournament, the CFYSA tournament, and the CFYSA tournament saw K defeat Whitefish 18-1, F.H. Stoltze 11-0.

The final two tournament games went the full seven innings and were close games. The second game was 1-0 in K's favor after five innings, when Brittany White came up in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two outs.

She hit a towering shot to left center which cleared the bases and gave Special K the cushion it needed.

With the score 4-0 after six innings, the bats of K exploded in the seventh of seven additional runs to result in the final score of 11-0 in Special K's favor. Amanda Milliard pitched the three games, allowing two runs in 18 innings. Cedar Smith handled the catching. Fielding gems were made by Morgan Rose in left field tracking down three fly balls, and Shay Grilley at third base.

Finishing undefeated was especially sweet, as two years ago, playing in the challenging Kalispell league, the team went 23-0 before losing in the KYSA end of the season tournament championship game.

This marks the last year for these young ladies playing together for Special K Production in recreation girls fastpitch softball.

In the team's five years of playing: first two in the Whitefish League followed by the Kalispell League, and the last two years in the newly formed CFYSA, the team went 93-13. Winning during those five years, the regular season league title every year and collecting tournament championships in the Kalispell mid-season open tournament, and winning end of the season tournament championships in both the Whitefish and Columbia Falls Youth Softball Leagues. This despite the fact that in alternate years the team was competing against teams with older girls.

As 11-year-olds, playing some teams comprised of girls 12-years-old, and then last year as 13-year-olds playing against some teams comprised of 14-and 15-year olds.

Next year most of the players will be entering high school but one, and therefore will not be eligible to play recreational softball in the CFYSA.

This year's players and their primary positions were: Amanda Milliard (p); Cedar Smith (c); Brittany White (1b); Falina Kamrud (2b); Karly Skindingsrude (ss); Shay Grilley (3b); Morgan Rose (of); Kayla Stinger (of); Addie Price (of); and Megan Rel (of).