Kats come up just short at state

Battling through dramatic comebacks, powerful home runs, and a loaded bracket, the Columbia Falls Wildkats made a line through the Class A State softball tournament, held on their home field May 23-25.

The two-time defending state champions gave fans a thrilling run, finishing 17-8 overall but their tournament journey came to a close in a 10-7 heartbreaker against Lewistown on Saturday. Down 10-5 entering the final inning, the Wildkats plated two runs and had the tying run aboard, but the rally fell just short.

Columbia Falls came out swinging early in the elimination game, scoring four runs in the first inning, including a two-run single from Bella Mann. However, the Golden Eagles responded with a pair in the first, three in the third, and four in the fourth to build a 9-4 lead. Onnikka Lawrence homered in the fifth to cut into the deficit, but the Wildkats couldn’t deliver the knockout blow late.

Lawrence finished with two hits and two runs scored, and Addy Bowler went 3-for-4 out of the leadoff spot. Mann drove in three runs.

Columbia Falls opened the tournament with a 16-2 run-rule victory over Hamilton. After a 2-2 tie early, the Wildkats exploded for eight runs in the third inning and six more in the fourth. Alexa Friske’s two-run double and Mann’s two-run single set the tone before Annika Reid belted a solo homer to start the fourth. Sydnee  Burke and Tayler Lingle each added two-run doubles as the Wildkats cruised. Ella Branstetter and Katie Bulawsky combined to allow just two runs in the circle.

Later that day, the Wildkats suffered a stunning 6-5 loss to Laurel. Columbia Falls led 5-2 entering the final frame after an RBI triple by Lawrence and Reid’s third RBI of the game. But Laurel stormed back in the seventh, capped by a three-run homer from Gunther to take the lead. Despite 12 hits and a solid start from Branstetter, the Kats couldn’t recover.

Facing elimination, they picked up a 12-9 win over Lockwood on Friday. Reid blasted two home runs and drove in three runs to help the Wildkats fend off a late Lions rally. Lingle added three hits and an RBI, while Alexa Friske tripled, scored twice and added an RBI. Branstetter pitched a clean seventh inning to seal the win.

Their next game on Friday (their fourth of the day), Columbia Falls staged another offensive onslaught in a 20-10 win over Dillon. Mann crushed a grand slam to break the game open and finished with three hits and six RBIs. 

Reid started the scoring with a two-run shot in the first, and the Wildkats poured in five runs in the fourth, seven in the fifth, and six in the sixth. Lawrence crossed the plate four times and drove in two, and Friske tallied three hits and three runs.

That win set up the decisive game against Lewistown with a trip to the trophy round on the line. 

Though Columbia Falls threatened late, the Golden Eagles’ offense, powered by Kiya Foran’s 4-for-4, three-RBI performance, held off the Wildkats.