Kats go 2-1 in softball

The Columbia Falls softball team went 2-1 on the week. They opened by battering Flathead 9-1 away April 28 and then lost to Glacier 5-2 away May 1. The Wildkats wrapped up the week by battering the hapless Whitefish Lady Bulldogs 21-1.

Against the Bravettes, Lottie Ellis had three RBIs and a double, and Carlee Brown had two RBIs and went 3 for 4 at the plate as the Kats had nine hits against Flathead.

The Lady Wolfpack, however, proved to be a much tougher team. The Kats went up 1-0 in the top of the first on a textbook-manufactured run. Brown bunted to get on base, stole second and third, and then Ashley Trueblood got Brown home on a hit-and-run play.

But Glacier’s Ali Williams hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to put the Lady Wolfpack up. It was a pitcher’s dual most of the game, Williams struck out 11, and Trueblood held her own as well.

The Kats tried to rally with a run in the top of the sixth but fell short. Bre Friar started for the Kats behind the plate because Samantha Collins has a hand injury. That caused a shift in the entire Kat defense.

The Kats responded against Whitefish with 21 runs. Trueblood allowed just one hit, while the Kats had 18.

The Kats are now 11-2 overall and the top team in the conference. But they face a host of tests this week on the road, with a conference matchup against Polson on Thursday and the Butte Central tourney over the weekend.

If the Kats beat Polson, they’ll be assured a state playoff spot.

Columbia Falls 120 110 4 — 9 10 0

Flathead 000 000 1 — 1 5 0

Ashley Trueblood and Breanna Friar. Kylee Beccari and Abbie O’Brien. W — Trueblood. L — Beccari.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Carlee Brown 3-4, Peyton Kehr 0-2, Trueblood 1-3, Friar 3-3, Alysha Cantu 0-2, Kerry Lanners 0-2, Lonnie Ellis 1-2, Madi Fetters 1-4, Katie Price 1-2, Kaitlyn Hoerner 0-3.

FLATHEAD — O’Brien 1-3, Grace Cady 0-4, Kaycee Smith 1-3, Kylee Meredith 0-3, Becca Knutson 1-3, Kaitlin Torgerson 0-3, Makaila Jorgenson 0-3, Dana VanLuven 1-3, Kylee Beccari 1-3.

2B — Brown, Ellis. RBI — Brown 2, Trueblood, Friar, Ellis 3, Fetters 2; O’Brien.

Columbia Falls 100 001 0 – 2 2 3

Glacier 200 201 X – 5 7 1

Ashley Trueblood and Breanna Friar. Ali Williams and Christine Connolly. W – Williams. L – Trueblood.

COLUMBIA FALLS – Carlee Brown 1-3, Peyton Kehr 0-2, Trueblood 0-2, Friar 0-3, Lottie Ellis 1-3, Alysha Cantu 0-3, Madi Fetters 0-3, Katie Price 0-2, Morgan Campbell-Quenn 0-1, Kaitlyn Hoerner 0-2.

KALISPELL GLACIER – Christina DuFour 1-4, Kayla Russell 1-3, Williams 1-1, Kayleena Ikeda 0-2, Mackenzie Brester-Knight 0-3, Connolly 2-3, Erin Shew 0-2, Alivia Atlee 2-3, Katie Wiley 0-3.

HR – Williams. RBIs – Trueblood, Ellis; Williams 3, Ikeda, Wiley.