SOFTBALL ROUNDUP: Columbia Falls clips Polson; Libby advances at divisional

COLUMBIA FALLS — Columbia Falls wiped away an early 5-0 deficit, scurrying back to sneak by Polson 6-5 on Tuesday night in a key late-season Northwestern A conference matchup.

The Wildkats (16-5, 3-2 Northwestern A) stumbled into a 5-0 hole after an inning and a half but were able to right the ship starting in the third. The hosts completed the comeback with a three-run fifth inning, capped by Samantha Collins’ go-ahead RBI single.

Columbia Falls collected 14 hits in the win, all but two of which were singles, and got balanced production throughout the order.

Eight of the nine starters notched at least one hit, six different players drove in runs and all nine Wildkats came to the plate in the decisive fifth inning.

“I thought we hit the ball real well all the way through our lineup,” Columbia Falls coach Dave Kehr said.

“When you have six people with RBIs, that’s pretty good.”

KJ Schweikert went 3 for 4 at the plate and earned the win with a complete game in the circle. The junior settled down after a rocky start, striking out five, walking two and scattering eight hits.

Katie Price, Peyton Kehr, Collins and Hannah Freeman had two hits each. Both of Freeman’s hits were doubles.

Laurel Bitterman went 3 for 4 to lead the Pirates’ attack. Ashley Benson had a pair of RBIs and Camas Renault went 1 for 3 with a triple.

Columbia Falls will earn a second place conference finish if the Wildkats can upset league-leading Frenchtown on Thursday at 5 p.m. in their regular season finale.

Polson’s final tuneup before the postseason also comes Thursday when the Pirates travel to Whitefish at 6 p.m.

Polson 140 000 0 — 5 8 0

C Falls 002 130 0 — 6 14 3

Camas Renault, Lauren Vergeront (4), Renault (5) and Ashley Benson (P). KJ Schweikert and Samantha Collins (CF). W — Schweikert. L — Renault

POLSON — Kaelyn Smith 1-4, Laurel Bitterman 3-4, Benson 1-4, Lydia Dupuis 1-4, Hannah Potter 0-3, Quinn Motichka 0-4, Hannah Fryberger 1-2, Mikayla Croft 0-2, Renault 1-3.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Katie Price 2-4, Peyton Kehr 2-2, Collins 2-4, Sydney Hovde 1-4, Lottie Ellis 1-4, Schweikert 3-4, Hannah Freeman 2-4, Kerry Lanners 0-4, Morgan Campbell-Queen 1-3.

2B — Freeman 2 (CF). 3B — Renault (P). RBIs — Benson 2, Renault (P); Price, Kehr, Collins, Hovde, Ellis, Schweikert (CF).

Libby 11, Thompson Falls 0

LIBBY — Libby hit around in the first two innings on the way to a rout of conference foe Thompson Falls in its last game ahead of the divisional tournament.

The Loggers reached their first three batters safely, took five walks and got singles from Jordan Turner, Kyra Lauer and Madisen Monigold to rack up six runs in the first inning. Three straight hits in the second inning, including a double from Turner, led to five more runs and a blowout.

Turner and Monigold were 2 for 3 from the plate, Monigold turning in a triple in the second inning. Lauer had three RBIs.

In the circle, Khalyn Hageness allowed only three hits and struck out nine batters in five innings.

“We hit the ball pretty well and Khalyn pitched a good game,” Libby coach Dean Thompson said.

“Our bats are starting to come through.”

The Loggers will play Mission-Arlee-Charlo at 3 p.m. on Friday in their opening game of the Western B divisional tournament in Anaconda.

T. Falls 000 00 — 0 3 2

Libby 650 0x — 11 8 1

Maya Stiles, Sierra Sorlie (3) and Haley Morgan. Khalyn Hageness and Sammee Bradeen.

THOMPSON FALLS — Stiles 0-3, Megan McKenzie 0-2, Tamara Brubaker 1-2, Lexy Vanelsweck 0-2, Morgan 1-2, Sorlie 1-2, Dylan Barrera 0-2, Jonnilee Seeman 0-1, Shasklynn Townsend 0-2.

LIBBY — Madisen Monigold 2-3, Hageness 0-2, Ashley Walker 1-1, Haylee Cannon 0-1, Lindsey Walker 1-1, Bailie Rosling 0-1, Bradeen 1-2, Alyssa Marshall 0-1, Jordan Turner 2-3, Taryn Luscher 0-2, Kyra Lauer 1-2.

2B—Turner. 3B—Monigold. RBIs—Monigold, Turner 2, Bradeen 2, Lauer 3.