Wildkats survive marathon at State A softball
HAMILTON — Columbia Falls spent nearly all day fighting to extend its season before surviving one more elimination game late Friday night at Hamilton High School.
Kylie Gjesdal-Davis hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Columbia Falls defeated Lewistown 5-3, advancing to Saturday’s loser’s bracket semifinal at 9 a.m. against Laurel at the State A softball tournament.
The Wildkats opened the day by rallying from a five-run deficit to eliminate Polson before beating Glendive in another loser-out. Columbia Falls then beat the Golden Eagles in a rain-delayed game.
Columbia Falls next faces Laurel at 9 a.m. Saturday, in the loser-takes-fourth game. Frenchtown, which sent C-Falls into the loser's bracket on Thursday, and Hamilton are in the winner’s bracket semifinal, also at 9 a.m.; the championship is set for 1 p.m.
Columbia Falls 5, Lewistown 3
Gjesdal-Davis immediately gave the Wildkats (18-6) momentum when she drove a first-inning pitch over the center field fence to score Alexa Friske and Onnikka Lawrence for a 3-0 lead.
Lewistown (17-10) answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning and continued putting pressure on Columbia Falls throughout the night, finishing with 12 hits.
Katie Bulawsky worked through traffic all game while tossing a complete game without issuing a walk. She allowed three runs — two earned — while striking out five across seven innings. Columbia Falls added insurance in the seventh inning when Gjesdal-Davis lifted a sacrifice fly; another run scored on a Golden Eagles error.
Kendal Moultray led the Wildkats with a 3-for-3 performance, while Lawrence added two hits.
Columbia Falls 7, Polson 5
Polson (10-13) built a 5-0 lead through three innings behind RBI singles from Ahri Rushing and Kendyl Jaeger before Columbia Falls answered with five runs in the fourth inning.
Gjesdal-Davis sparked the rally with a two-run homer while Friske followed with a three-run single.
Kate Lewellen later delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth before Onnikka Lawrence added a solo homer in the seventh to eliminate the Lady Pirates from the state tournament. Katie Bulawsky tossed three scoreless innings in relief to secure the win.
Columbia Falls 9, Glendive 6
The Wildkats stayed alive in consolation play behind another strong offensive performance against the Red Devils. Columbia Falls answered an early deficit with three runs in the second inning before Gjesdal-Davis added a two-run homer in the third.
Kendal Moultray and Gjesdal-Davis each drove in two runs while Friske collected two hits and stole two bases.
Bulawsky earned the win after allowing two runs across 6 1-3 innings while striking out seven without issuing a walk.
Lockwood 16, Ronan 0
Lockwood (15-10) pulled away from Ronan late Friday behind a 14-hit performance and a shutout from Reese Vonfeldt.
Ana Plutt collected three hits, including two doubles, while Daveigha Bushard, Aubree Baker and Teagan Herbert also added three-hit games for the Lions.
Autumn Lozeau, Sierra McGreevey and Nevaeh Perez each recorded hits for the Maidens, who ended up 9-12.
Frenchtown 16, Libby 1
The Lady Broncs erupted for 10 runs in the first inning and cruised past Libby (15-7) in a quarterfinal.
Edwards and Lebsock each drove in three runs for the Broncs, while Brush finished 3-for-4 at the plate. Magnuson also collected two hits in the win.
Rossi Baney, Jayva Boehmler and Settera McGreevy-White each recorded hits for Libby, while Weslee MacDonald drove in the Loggers’ lone run.
Laurel 8, Libby 3
Libby’s season later ended at the hands of the Locomovites. Maddie Willis singled home a run in the opening inning before Laurel answered with three runs in the third.
Adrienne Roth earned the win in the circle and also went 4-for-5 at the plate for Laurel. Willis and Jayva Boehmler each recorded two hits for Libby. The Loggers ended up 15-7, including a 2-2 mark at State.
State A Softball
March 28-30
Hamilton High School
Thursday
Frenchtown 24, Havre 11
Libby 3, Ronan 1
Laurel 13, Polson 4
Lockwood 4, Glendive 1
Frenchtown 4, Columbia Falls 3, 10 inn.
Libby 5, Billings Central 2
Lewistown 3, Laurel 2
Hamilton 9, Lockwood 4
Friday
Columbia Falls 7, Polson (10-13) 5
Glendive 8, Billings Central 6
Laurel 13, Havre 1
Lockwood 16, Ronan 0
Frenchtown 16, Libby 1
Hamilton 9, Lewistown 1
Columbia Falls 9, Glendive 6
Laurel 17, Lockwood 6
Columbia Falls 5, Lewistown 3
Laurel 8, Libby 3
Saturday
Game 20: Laurel (19-8) vs. Columbia Falls (18-6), loser fourth, 9 a.m.
Game 21: Frenchtown (17-6) vs. Hamilton (19-3), 9 a.m., semifinal
Game 22: Loser 21 vs. Winner 20, loser third, 11 a.m.
Game 23: Winner 21 vs. Winner 22, championship, 1 p.m.
Game 24: If necessary.