Another up and down week for Wildkats softball
Ryley Kehr makes a play at second base against Polson last Monday. (Jeremy Weber photo)
The Wildkats softball team went 2-2 over the last week with wins over Whitefish and Corvallis and losses to Ronan and Hamilton.
The Kats picked up a win and a loss at the Frenchtown Invitational over the weekend as they defeated Corvallis 8-3, but fell to Hamilton, 11-2, in six innings.
Five first-inning runs by the Lady Broncs proved costly for the Kats against Hamilton Friday as the Lady Broncs took advantage pick up an 11-2 victory.
The Cats managed only four hits in the contest as Trista Cowan and Catie Murray each singled and Ryley Kehr added a single and a solo home run.
“Hamilton is a tough team with good speed and pitching,” Kats head coach Dave Kehr said. “We didn’t come out and play well in the beginning and that first inning cost us.”
The Kats broke open a 3-3 game in the seventh inning against Corvallis in their other Friday game, using a two-out rally to score five runs and down the Blue Devils 8-3.
Two walks and a single set up a 2-RBI double from Ryley Kehr and Cowan followed up with a three-run home run to put the Kats up 8-3. Columbia Falls held the Blue Devils scoreless in the bottom of the inning to secure the victory.
The Kats came up short in a makeup game against Ronan Saturday as they fell to the Maidens, 9-5, in a game that was originally scheduled for April 6.
Again, the damage came in the first inning as two errors and a walk helped set up a grand slam by Ronan’s Emilie Corley as the Maidens scored eight in the bottom of the first.
The Wildkats led 3-0 after half an inning, but never regained the lead after the first inning.
The Kats made short work of Whitefish Monday afternoon, downing the Lady Bulldogs 18-0 in five innings.
Cowan started in the circle for the Kats and picked up the win, while also belting three homers in the contest.
The Kats scored 11 runs on 11 hits in the top of the first inning with five singles, four doubles and a pair of home runs from Riley Kehr and Cowan.
In total, the Kats scored 18 runs on 24 hits while committing no errors in the win.
The Kats will be at home Thursday as they host Ronan before playing at home against Glacier Monday and facing Browning Tuesday.