Kats go .500 at state tourney

Hungry Horse News

The Columbia Falls softball team went 2-2 at the state A tournament in Hamilton last week, good enough for fourth place.

The Widkats opened the tourney Thursday with a 14-0 shutout of Lewistown in a game that went four innings due to the mercy rule.

Haden Peters had a home run in the opener and Maddie Moultray and Sydney Mann combined for the win on the mound. The Kats had eight hits in the win.

But the Kats bats went cold against Billings Central Friday as they lost, 7-1.

Central shot out to a 3-0 lead; Ally Kowalczyk homered with one on and Central added four in the fourth. The Kats lone run came in the top the fourth.

Moultray took the loss on the mound.

The Kats bounced back in the consolation bracket beating Butte Central, 10-0. Peters hit a dinger and Moultray had a nice performance on the bump, allowing just one hit in three innings of work.

Peters got the save, allowing one hit and three strikeouts.

Haylee Lawrence had two RBIs as did Mann in the victory.

That set up a Saturday morning game against conference foe Polson, a team the Kats had beaten twice already this season. But this time, the Lady Pirates had the upper hand with a 7-2 win over the Kats.

It was a scoreless affair until Polson racked up five runs in the top of the fifth. The Kats had seven hits in the game, but couldn’t capitalize. They scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to avoid the shutout. Both team had three errors in the game.

Moultray took the loss, allowing five hits and five runs, but only one run was earned. She struck out two.

Frenchtown won the tournament, coming back through the bracket to beat Central. Overall, the Kats had a stellar season, going 22-5. They only played four home games.