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Kats split pair at Frenchtown Invite

by Daily Inter Lake
| April 26, 2025 12:00 AM

FRENCHTOWN — Annika Reid went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a triple as the Columbia Falls Wildkats scored six runs in the sixth inning and beat the Dillon Beavers 9-2 Friday at the Frenchtown Invitational.

The Wildkats lost to Billings Central 15-9 later Friday. 

Libby also split two games while Polson won twice at the tournament, which brings in 14 Class A teams besides the host Broncs. 


Columbia Falls 9, Dillon 2 

Addy Bowler and Tayler Lingle added two hits apiece for the Kats, scoring two runs each, and Alexa Friske knocked in two runs. Kylie Gjesdal-Davis added a double and scored two runs as Columbia Falls picked up 14 hits. 

Ella Branstetter started in the circle for the Wildkats (5-5), allowing two hits and no earned runs, striking out three across four innings. Katie Bulawsky closed out the final three innings, allowing two hits as both of Dillon’s runs were unearned.  

Adyson Creighton took the loss for the Beavers (5-2) allowing 10 hits, striking out nine in five innings. Tymber Barnes took over in the sixth and allowed the first seven batters to reach base giving up six runs in the frame. 


Billings Central 15, Columbia Falls 9 

Avery Nelson hit a two-run home run and the Central Rams collected 14 hits and scored eight runs in the sixth inning to pull away late. 

The Rams jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning before the Wildkats answered back with four runs in the bottom half of the inning, highlighted by Bella Mann’s 2-run double. Mann added another double in the fourth and came around to score on a passed ball. 

Onnika Lawrence went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Avery Nelson went the distance for the Rams (6-2), allowing nine hits and five earned runs to pick up the win. 



Polson 12, Billings Central 2 

Olivia Jore recorded both Lady Pirates’ extra-base hits — two doubles —  and added a single to finish with three RBIs against the Billings Central Rams. 

Samantha Rensvold pitched a complete game for Polson (10-1-1), striking out seven batters. The game was called in the fifth inning due to the run rule. Rensvold added two hits out of the leadoff spot, with a run and an RBI. 

Sierra Perez had three singles, driving in two runs and scoring twice as the Lady Pirates racked up 16 hits on the day. Opal Nash went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs, Jaja Nichols added a 2-run single. 

Avery Nelson started opposite Rensvold, allowing 11 earned runs across five innings, adding two hits. Courtey Hofer and Madge Prill drove in both runs for the Rams. 


Polson 6, Havre 5 

Down 5-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Emma Smith hit an RBI single for the walk-off win to cap a four-run inning.  

Olivia Jore jump-started the Lady Pirates offense with a solo home run in the fifth inning and finished the day 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Liz Cunningham added three hits and scored a run; Samantha Rensvold added an RBI, and a run scored with two hits out of the leadoff spot. 

Camille Keeley and Rachel Jette both hit solo shots for the Blue Ponies (6-5). Kamree Oliver hit a two-run homer and scored a run. Jette picked up the loss after pitching the entire game with six strikeouts and four earned runs.  


Libby 16, Butte Central 3 

The Libby Loggers picked up a five-inning win over the Butte Central Maroons in their first game.  

Leah Rusdal collected three hits, including a double in game one, scoring a run and driving in two. Peyton Waggoner doubled and picked up three hits as the Loggers recorded 17 hits. 

Weslee MacDonald earned the win for Libby (4-6), pitching a complete game, striking out five and no earned runs across five innings as the game reached the run rule. 


Hamilton 9, Libby 7 

Libby took a 7-4 lead into the seventh inning before Hamilton (6-6) plated five runs, with Hayliegh Savage’s 2-run homer capping off the comeback. Mariah Johnson collected four hits, including three doubles and finished with two RBIs and two runs scored. 

Johnson earned the win in the circle, pitching the final four innings with no earned runs, striking out eight. Mel Race started for Hamilton and gave up six runs, three of them earned and went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.  


Stevensville 16, Ronan 7 

Lily Newsom drove in four runs and scored twice as the Stevensville Yellow Jackets used a six-run fifth inning to break a 5-5 tie and added five runs in the final two innings to put the game out of reach. 

Adrienne Crockett went 2-for-3 with three runs batted in, Kanana Couture added a 2-run double. 


Ronan 16, Hellgate 10 

Every Ronan starter recorded a hit while the Maidens collected 19 hits, highlighted by Kai-Cee Sorrell’s 3-run homer in the second inning. Sorrell added a double later in the game and scored three runs. 

Kailyn Marengo was a workhorse for the Maidens (6-4), pitching in both their Friday games. She had a complete game against Stevensville, striking out nine. She had better results against Hellgate, lasting five innings and picking up the win with no earned runs.  

Marengo had three hits against Hellgate (3-9) after getting two knocks against Stevi. Crockett added two more RBIs in game two. Nevaeh Perez scored three runs and picked up two hits.   

Nat Blaney paced the Knights offense out of the leadoff spot, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Avery King added two hits and drove in three.