Sports briefs: Carroll soccer coming to C-Falls

Soccer match

Columbia Falls will host a college soccer game as the men of Carroll College will face off against the Flathead Rapids Men’s semi-pro team at 1 p.m. April 17 at the Flip Darling Field at the high school. Columbia Falls coach O’Brien Byrd said he knew Carroll coach Doug Mello and Caroll was looking for an exhibition game, so the two teams decided to play here.

It’s the first time a college team has played at Columbia Falls. Admission is free, though the Columbia Falls varsity team will be hosting a barbecue to raise money for badly-needed warm-ups, Byrd said. Mello is a distinguished coach and holds the record for the most collegiate matches coached. He has more than 700 career wins and has been a college coach since he was 20.

Arneson signs

Columbia Falls senior Blake Arneson has signed with Montana State University-Northern to play football. Arneson, a 6-foot-1, 245-pound center was an all-state and all-conference center for the Wildcats as well as a Shrine Bowl selection. Arneson will play offensive line for Northern.

Baseball starts

Columbia Falls Baseball will hold their opening ceremonies April 17 at noon with a spaghetti feed from Tien Windauer followed by the parade of teams / players at 1 p.m. and games at 3 p.m.

Anyone interested in operating the concession stand for the upcoming 2016 season, contact Lindsey Andrachick at 751-7473 or email at columbiafallsbaseball@gmail.com for more information.