The Lady Trojans season came to an end in a play-in game at Deer Lodge on Tuesday. The win advanced Deer Lodge to the Western B/C divisional tournament that begins Friday in Ronan.

In their last visit to Deer Lodge, Troy was on the wrong end of two lopsided Warden victories. “They came with a different focus and more confidence that transpired from the dedication, hard work and team unity built up over the past few weeks,” Trojan head coach Keith Haggerty said. 

The Ladies from Troy started the game off well by holding Deer Lodge to just four runs in the first five innings and were able to knot the score going into the bottom of the sixth. 

With the addition of three more Wardens’ scores at the end of the sixth, Deer Lodge took a 7-4 lead, which was too much for the Trojans to overcome. 

“The entire Troy team played well,” Haggerty said. “There were some missed opportunities that could have given us a win, but that is just the way it goes sometimes.”

Haggerty said everyone on the team contributed something to the team and “did something great” throughout the course of the year.

“These ladies beat several different teams and missed out on some close games,” Haggerty said. “What was most impressive was the way they came together at the end. I see a bright future for this group. The incoming freshmen and any other athletes that decide to play with them next year will not be disappointed by their choice. If the Lady Trojans will keep digging in, keep dirt in their gloves and stay positive they will add to their successes next year.”

Troy seniors Brenna Garrison and Rebecca Rotolo played their last game on Tuesday. “They’ll take with them leadership, extreme toughness and the never say quit mentality that all coaches want on their team,” Haggerty said.

Haggerty gave a lot of credit to the rest of the hard working Lady Trojan squad “Lexi Tunison, Miriah Britton, Cheyenne Jordan and Tana Thill will be more than up for the challenge to fill that void next year as seniors. Kylie Carr and Riley Maggi did nothing but get better all season and will be expected to continue on the same path next year as juniors. Kaitlyn Downey, Aurora Becquart and Grace Dolan are going to keep this team competitive for a few years to come returning as sophomores,” he said.

Troy        0 0 0 2 0 2 0   4 5 4

D. Lodge 0 3 0 1 0 3 X   7 8 4

Garrison and Tunison. Gray and Padovich. W – Gray. L – Garrison.

TROY – Rebecca Rotolo 0-4, Kaitlyn Downey 1-4, Aurora Becquart 0-3, Breanna Garrison1-4, Kylie Carr 2-3, Lexi Tunison 1-3, Riley Maggi 0-1, Grace Dolan 0-1, Cheyeane Jordan 0-2, Tana Thill 0-1.

DEER LODGE – Kelsie Gray 2-3, Courney Goff 1-3, Hunter Therriault 3-4, Natalie Padovich 1-4, Stacy Tiensvold 0-4, Tierra Korang 0-3, Brianna Bernhardt 0-2, McKayla Erickson 0-2, Elizabeth Barton 1-3. 

2B – Barton, Therriault. RBIs – Jordan, Thill; Goff, Padovich, Gray 2, Therriault 2.