High hopes for NWA teams at state softball tournament

The fields are reportedly in good shape in Miles City, covered and ready for this week's Class A state softball tournament.

But with rain chances predicted at 60 percent today, 50 percent Friday and 60 percent again on Saturday ... one wonders if the high school teams might need canoes to reach them.

Northwestern A representatives Polson (17-4), Columbia Falls (15-5) and Libby (14-8) all headed that way earlier this week.

This will be Miles City's first year as tournament host. The distance put the western teams on the road as early as Tuesday.

"Hopefully, we will get in there at 3 or 4 p.m. (Wednesday). That way they can get their legs back under them," said Polson coach Larry Smith.

"They are going to have some bus lag. But we have done a lot of traveling this year. This has been a road team this year," he said.

Three members of the Pirate team got an even later start - Ashley Johnson, Sallie Sams and Heidi Rausch all were involved in a Tuesday evening concert in Polson. They were to catch up with the team in Butte.

Columbia Falls (15-5) starts things off today for the Northwestern A as it takes on Corvallis (9-12-1) at 10 a.m. and Libby (14-8) plays Laurel (11-4-1) at noon. Polson plays the winner of Anaconda/Lewistown at 2 p.m.

Polson played Lewistown during the recent Butte tournament, but hasn't seen Anaconda at all.

"We handled (Lewistown) pretty easily," Smith said.

"My preference would be Lewistown. But either one makes no difference, really," Smith said.

The Pirates are among the tournament favorites, along with Belgrade and Frenchtown.

But both Smith and Columbia Falls coach Dave Kehr feel the tournament is wide open.

All three of the Northwestern A teams finished on a good note - Columbia Falls defeated Libby 11-10 in its final game of the season, Polson defeated Ronan 11-0 and Libby 4-2. Libby may have been on the losing end of its final games, but it had chances to win both.

"There's a lot of dark horses out there and Columbia Falls is one of them. Columbia Falls can play with the top teams very easily. They've got the people who can make the breaks for them," Smith said.

"In my mind, the west is strong," he added.

"I think we've got a good seed. We've seen all those teams and I think we're on a good side of the bracket," Kehr said.

"But we've got to get a good start. That will be key for us," he said.

Smith was also feeling good about his team's chances.

The Pirates have made slow, steady improvement throughout the course of the season.

"It's just a great bunch of girls. Good families. Everybody is very cooperative. If it's fun, then we are all going to do well," the coach said.