Lady 'Dogs softball continues hot streak

After an 11-0 rout over Browning and a 4-1 win against conference foe Libby last week, the Lady Bulldogs softball squad may be on to something special.

"I think making state is reasonable," coach Alan Compton said after the team started their month-long road trip with two impressive wins. "The Libby win is a big deal. We haven't beaten them in six years. We're off to a much better start than in past years."

At Libby on Saturday, the Lady 'Dogs (3-2, 2-1) grabbed what Compton calls the team's most impressive victory of the season — which came despite going scoreless for the first five frames.

Down 1-0 in the top of the sixth, Whitefish put their rally-caps on.

"I told the girls at the beginning of the sixth, 'We have two innings left, we have to get runners on base,'" Compton said.

Emma Baldonado responded with a single that initiated the comeback. Madisen Cross reached on an error, followed by Kaitlyn Wehrli getting on to load the bases.

Madison Tveidt knocked a double to right to push two runners across, and Hailey Mortensen hit a two-RBI single to cap off the rally to give Whitefish a 4-1 lead.

Libby threatened in their next two at-bats, putting runners in scoring position, but Whitefish's defense held strong.

"We closed it out," Compton said. "In the sixth and seventh, they got runners on, but we didn't panic. Mentally, they finished that game nicely."

At Browning on Friday, Compton used the non-conference game as a chance to give the team's six freshmen some valuable playing time. They responded nicely, with the team knocking in 11 runs and finishing off the Indians in the fifth inning due to the 10-run rule.

"Without a JV team, the freshman aren't getting the game time they need," Compton said. "If we go to state, we need to have all 12 girls ready and have the game experience. They need to learn how to deal with game anxiety. Browning was a nice game for them to get the experience."

Baldonado pitched the shutout, tallying 11 strikeouts and giving up only two walks.

Whitefish continues their road trip at Polson on Thursday, a team that Compton calls "beatable."

Polson topped the 'Dogs earlier in the season 17-6. A win will put Whitefish in first place in the league.

"We're carrying momentum going into Polson," he said. "We need to hit the ball and put pressure on them. Our confidence is way up, and they believe they can win."

On a scheduling note, Whitefish has added a home game against Thompson Falls on April 29 slated for 5 p.m.