Kidsports hosts AA softball

Something is missing.

Yes, as strange as it seems, Kalispell will not have a team playing at the Kidsports Complex this week in the three-day Class AA state softball tournament, which begins Thursday afternoon.

Flathead and Glacier both missed out by losing Western AA play-in road games to Missoula Sentinel and Missoula Hellgate, respectively, last week.

Five teams, however, do return from last year’s state tournament field — Billings Skyview, Billings West, Helena Capital, Missoula Big Sky and Missoula Sentinel.

Glacier, Billings Senior and Butte are the three teams that did not requalify. Filling those spots this year are Great Falls High, Great Falls C.M. Russell and Missoula Hellgate.

Teams from Eastern AA won three of the four first round games in state tournament action last year. Glacier bowed out with losses to Butte, 3-1, and Helena Capital, 6-1.

Butte went on to capture the state title by defeating Billings West 2-0 in the first championship game, then 1-0 in the second championship one.

The tournament wraps up Saturday with the third place game at 10 a.m. followed by the championship game at noon. If a second championship game is needed, that will take place at 2 p.m.