STATE SOFTBALL: Polson, Columbia Falls hit diamond in Belgrade
<p>Columbia Falls shortstop Lottie Ellis jumps in Samantha Collins' arms after the Wildkats 6-5 win over Polson on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
BELGRADE — Columbia Falls earned a statement win over three-time defending state champion Frenchtown in the regular season finale.
Now there’s work to do before they get a chance to do it again.
The Wildkats and Polson begin play at the Class A state tournament at the Belgrade Softball Fields Thursday with opening round games in the double-elimination event. Polson will meet Hamilton at noon and Columbia Falls will take on Corvallis at 2 p.m. With wins, both teams would play a second round game later Thursday afternoon.
Columbia Falls (17-5) hammered Northwestern A regular season champion Frenchtown 14-1 last Thursday, handing the Broncs their only conference loss. The Wildkats have won six games in a row but were beaten by their first round state opponent — Corvallis — 9-8 back on April 23.
Polson (17-7), which won three straight state titles (2010-12) immediately preceding Frenchtown’s run, is coming off a lopsided 24-2 win at Whitefish in the last regular season game. The Pirates lost a 6-5 decision at Columbia Falls on May 17 in a game that pushed Polson behind the Wildkats and into third place in the conference. The Pirates did, however, beat Hamilton in their only previous meeting this year, 11-7 on April 14.
Frenchtown is the top seed out of Northwestern A and will receive a first round bye along with the three other conference champions. The earliest the Broncs could meet a fellow Northwestern A team would be Friday at 2 p.m., and only if Polson beats Hamilton and Laurel today.
Columbia Falls will get Belgrade in the second round at 6 p.m. if they get past Corvallis.
The tournament is scheduled to run through Saturday, with the first championship game scheduled for 1 p.m. that day.
Class A state softball tournament
Thursday
At Belgrade softball fields
First round
Noon — 2C Lewistown vs. 3E Miles City
Noon — 2SW Hamilton vs. 3NW Polson
2 p.m. — 2 NW Columbia Falls vs. 3SW Corvallis
2 p.m. — 2E Glendive vs. 3C Havre
Second round
4 p.m. — 1NW Frenchtown vs. Lewistown/Miles City winner
4 p.m. — 1E Laurel vs. Hamilton/Polson winner
6 p.m. — 1C Belgrade vs. Columbia Falls/Corvallis winner
6 p.m. — 1SW Butte Central vs. Glendive/Havre winner