THOMPSON FALLS — The girls of Mission softball have split games so far this season, beginning with a monstrous 22-0 victory over Plains on Tuesday, March 31, then falling 9-4 to B-C powerhouse Thompson Falls this past Friday with an extremely short-handed squad.

After games at Noxon and Deer Lodge were canceled due to weather, the team has a lot to be proud of, with plenty of this year’s largely new lineup displaying talent in the first two weeks of competition.

Mission junior Katie McDonald led the way against Plains, going 4-5 at the plate for the Bulldogs. The only player represented by Arlee on the squad, senior Kelci Apland, hit 2-4.

Charlo freshman Kinley Pope, who already proved her athleticism with her play on Charlo’s varsity basketball team, batted 2-5 to help her team harness the win. Pope also drove in three runs and scored four times herself.

A double from junior Dalena Weaselhead was a hit to remember and she ended up finishing with a team leading four RBIs.

Charlo junior Stephanie Murphy blasted in a nice triple in her first ever game of softball, proof that this year’s team has plenty of newly emerging talent.

Plains was allowed only one hit in the loss, a testament to the veteran pitching of Bulldog senior Mattea Grant. Grant also went 4-6 with three RBIs. 

Facing tougher competition against the Thompson Falls Bluehawks, the Mission Bulldogs took an early lead. After each team fell empty-handed in the first segment, the scoring took off in the second inning.

With Grant, McDonald, and senior Courtney Couture at a basketball tournament in Denver, Colo., and Weaselhead out sick, the starters were replaced with a lot of new players and freshmen.

The result was a mix-and-match field with everyone in new positions. It was a fun experiment, Mission head coach Tom Peterson said.

“They had a great time and played very well. It was great for us coaching actually. I think those girls could come in any time and fill in and be confident,” he said.  

Mission started it off, driving in four runs before Thompson Falls contained them. But the Bluehawks had a partial answer and were able to score a runner when it was their turn. Things went quiet for two innings, but Thompson Falls was able to sneak three runs by in the fifth and gain the momentum.

It happened in monumental fashion with a three run homer and Mission wasn’t able to come back. Five more runs in the sixth inning secured the game for Thompson Falls.

A group of new Mission hitters who found their bats early struggled late. Murphy, another know force on the basketball court, had an early RBI but couldn’t snag another hit as the game went on. Mission junior Bella Dally, who pitched for the team in the loss was also held to a single hit in the game.

The other Mission players who cracked the ball to get on base included Apland, freshman Janeal McDonald, junior Jasmine Gilleard, sophomore Jessica Foust and freshman Serena Long with a hit a piece. The team finished with six.

Murphy earned two RBIs in the game and Apland recorded a double on her sole hit.

All in all, it was a very successful weekend, and it should be interesting to see what happens when Mission meets Thompson Falls with a full lineup.

Mission plays next at 5 p.m. on Monday at Loyola.

St. Ignatius 631 83 - 21 17

Plains 000 00 - 0 1

ST. IGNATIUS - Katie McDonald 4-5, Apland 2-5, Pope 4-5, Grant 4-6, Dally 2-3, Weaselhead 1-5

PLAINS - Morigeau 1-2

2B - Weaselhead (SI). 3B - Murphy (SI).

St. Ignatius 040 000 0 - 4 5 1

T. Falls 010 035 x - 9 9 1

Bella Dally and Jasmine Gilleard. Kyla Molzhon and Katelyn Jedlicka. W -Molzhon (1-0). L - Dally.

ST. IGNATIUS - Stephanie Murphy 1-4, Dally 1-4, Kinley Pope 0-4, Kelci Apland 1-2, Janeal McDonald 1-3, Gilleard 1-3, Kilee Bartschi 0-3, Serena Long 1-3, Jessica Foust 1-3.

THOMPSON FALLS - Molzhon 1-3, Megan Fitchett 1-3, Karli Cavill 2-4, Jedlicka 0-4, Brittany Bray 1-3, Hannah Peters 2-3, Erica Wilson 0-3, Kayla Stark 1-3, Jackie Pfister 1-3.

2B - Apland, Fitchett. 3B - Molzhon. HR - Cavill. RBIs - Murphy 2, Dally, Long, Molzhon, Fitchett, Cavill 4, Jedlicka.