Wildkat softball squad features six seniors

The Columbia Falls softball team will look to make a run at a state tournament berth this year.

The team has the experience to get the job done with six seniors on the squad, including ace pitcher A.J. Trueblood.

Trueblood had a stellar year on the mound last year but didn’t get much scoring support from her team. The Wildkats hope to change that this season with seniors Alysha Cantu, Kaitlyn Hoerner, Breanna Friar, Carlee Brown and Maddy Fetters.

The speedy Brown led the team in on-base percentage last year and will look to do the same this season.

The Kats actually hit the ball well as a team, batting .337, but the hits didn’t come when they needed them the most, and they ended up 2-6 in conference play and 8-12-1 overall.

“We’ve put a little more emphasis on hitting this offseason,” coach Dave Kehr said.

Trueblood is in good form.

“She’s worked hard all winter,” Kehr noted.

The Kats will be without shortstop Winter Kemppainen, who has opted out of playing softball her senior season.

“We have some girls who will step up,” Kehr said.

But there’s definitely a lot of questions on defense the coach would like to get ironed out before the conference schedule starts. He just hopes the weather holds.

The Kats are scheduled to open the season with four nonconference games, which should give them some time to iron out the kinks.

They play Class B Ronan at home March 28 and then face a doubleheader on the road in Polson against Anaconda and Butte Central. After spring break, the team has another nonconference game against Glacier on April 6.

The conference should be very competitive again this year. Polson is always good, defending state champion Frenchtown has an outstanding pitcher in senior Morgan Ray, and Libby only lost one player to graduation, Kehr noted.

“It’s a tough conference,” he said.