SOFTBALL: Columbia Falls takes 4th at Class A state tourney

by The Daily Inter Lake
| May 28, 2016 8:00 PM

BELGRADE — Columbia Falls couldn’t keep pace with a tough Belgrade side, falling 16-4 to finish in fourth place at the Class A state softball tournament on Saturday.

The Wildkats put up a pair of runs in the top of the first inning, but surrendered 12 in the home half of the frame to the host Panthers.

Belgrade added on after that, answering a Columbia Falls run in the third with one of their own. The Panthers added three runs in the fourth inning to take a 16-1 lead.

Samantha Collins and Lottie Ellis were each 2 for 3 from the plate with a double for the Wildkats. Belgrade’s Judy Taylor was 3 for 4 with a pair of home runs.

Belgrade finished third with a 3-2 loss to Butte Central in the semifinals.

Frenchtown won its fourth straight Class A state title with a 6-2 win over Butte Central.

It is the 10th consecutive Class A title won by the Northwestern A.

Class A State Softball

Belgrade

Saturday

Championship

Frenchtown 6, Butte Central 2

Frenchtown 011 012 1 — 6 10 2

Butte Central 200 000 0 — 2 3 1

Laci Willett and Brooke Yarnall. Teresa Piazzola and Corbyn Holm. W – Willett. L – Piazzola.

FRENCHTOWN – Megan Delaney 1-3 (2B), Alli Moe 3-4, Yarnall 0-2, Shelby Shourds 1-2, Willett 0-4, Dana Jacobs 0-4, Allie Hochhalter 2-4 (HR), Taylor Rockwood 1-3, Carley Thompson 1-1 (HR), Jordan Cole 1-3, Morgan Snow 0-1.

BUTTE CENTRAL – Kloie Thatcher 1-3, Shawnee Hjelt 0-3, Taylor Wahl 0-3, Holm 1-3 9HR), Piazzola 0-3, Mollie Peoples 0-2, Kassidy Criscuolo 0-3, McKenzie Gallagher 0-3, Megan Michelotti 1-2.

Third place

Butte Central 3, Belgrade 2

Butte Central 000 110 1 — 3 10 0

Belgrade 000 001 1 — 2 8 1

Teresa Piazzola and Cobyn Holm. Shania Neubauer and Kindall Bethke. W - Piazzola. L - Neubauer (9-2).

BUTTE CENTRAL (16-5) - Kloie Thatcher 1-3, Shawnee Hjelt 1-4, Taylor Wahl 3-4, Holm 1-3, Piazzola 1-3, Mollie Peoples 0-3, Kassidy Criscuolo 0-3, MeKenzie Gallagher 0-3, Megan Michelotti 3-3 (2B).

BELGRADE (19-3) - Skyla Neubauer 1-3 (2B), Judy Taylor 0-3, Jordan Branch 1-4 (2B), Ty Atwood 0-2, Bethke 1-3, Kalista Pachl 1-3, Shaina Krone 2-3, Anna Cox 1-3, Shania Neubauer 1-3.

Undefeated Semifinal

Frenchtown 3, Butte Central 2

Frenchtown 000 003 0 — 3 8 3

Butte Central 010 010 0 — 2 7 0

Fourth Place

Belgrade 16, Columbia Falls 4

Columbia Falls 201 01 — 4 7 3

Belgrade (12)01 3x — 16 10 1

KJ Schweikert, Taylar Putnam (1) and Samantha Collins. Erin Elgas and Kindall Bethke and Katie Hoppe (4). W - Elgas (4-1). L - Schweikert.

COLUMBIA FALLS (19-8) - Katie Price 1-3, Peyton Kehr 1-2, Jewels Laycock 0-1, Collins 2-3 (2B), Lottie Ellis 2-3 (2B), Sydney Hovde 0-2, Schweikert 0-2, Hannah Freeman 0-2, Morgan Campbell-Queen 0-2, Putnam 1-2.

BELGRADE (19-2) - Skyla Neubuaer 1-3, Judy Taylor 3-4 (2 HR), Jordan Branch 1-2 (HR), Ty Atwood 0-2, Bethke 1-2 (HR), Kalista Pachl 1-2, Shaina Krone 1-3 (HR), Hoppe 1-3, Elgas 1-3.