By JOHN HEGLIE

Special for the Leader

At Kalispell this past weekend, the summer softball schedule culminated with the State ASA tournament, winding to a close the season for the vast majority of players and their teams. While none of the Mission Valley area based teams collectively harvested any hardware this time around, the 10U Lil Lakers managed a top quadrant finish in fourth place for their fourth top four showing of the season. 

  While no area teams may have medaled at the state ASA tournament, the Mission Valley area was not without its share of representation on a pair of state championship teams of the Missoula-based Avalanche fastpitch organization. On the 12U champion Avs-Spry squad, Macao Jackson of Ronan provided the Mission Valley with an area player among its champions. For the 10U champion Avs-Hanninen team, four Mission Valley area players contributed to their gold medal finish: Ashlynn Depoe (Polson), Hayleigh Smith (Charlo) along with Crawford sisters Jerny and Rheid (Arlee). 

  Periodically, a convergence of circumstances present themselves during the course of certain games which remind the rest of us to remain vigilant about not being lulled into complacency about the things that we often tend to take for granted about life. During the course of the state tournament, a player among the 12U BigSkyBlitz incurred a serious injury after a collision which required her to undergo leg surgery intervention. A few years back, a pitcher took a liner in the cheek at Anaconda that could have had more serious ramifications had she been hit a few inches elsewhere. For those of us who have grown to appreciate fast paced games played with small round objects that can be grasped within the fingers of one’s hand, whether hard or soft, the proverbial adage attributed to Benjamin Franklin about an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure still holds credence in the broader spectrum of life as a whole. 

State ASA Tourney

KidSport & Conrad Complex, Kalispell

July 8-10, 2016

16U Division (11tms)

16U Purple Rain (9-10)

  The season highlight for the Polson-based Purple Rain was winning the championship at their own Splash tournament the second week of the schedule.

Blgs Force-Blk 7, Purple Rain 6

Purple Rain  301 020 0 – 6 9 4

Force-Black 221 020 x – 7 8 4

Camas Renault (4K, 1PO,2A) and Kaylanna DesJarlais. Raegen Harper, Meghan Dahlquist (6) and Lauren Gordon.  W – Harper. L – Renault. Sv – Dahlquist.

PURPLE RAIN – Kaelyn Smith 1-3, Laurel Bitterman 1-4, Hannah Fryberger *1-4(FC,2E), Camas Renault 2-3, Mikayla Croft 0-2, Quinn Motichka 1-4, Paige Noyes 2-4, DesJarlais 1-4, Addie McColl 0-3. 

BLGS FORCE – Raegan Harper 1-4, Lanie Morgan 2-3, Payton Meyer 0-4(D3K), Gordon 3-3, Dahlquist 1-3, Kayli Wiers 1-3, Parker Wemple 2-3, Skyler Chartier 1-3, Kristen McCarthy 0-3.

HR – Chartier. 2B – Fryberger, Motichka. RBIs – Motichka 2; Chartier 2, Wiers, Wemple 2. BB – Smith, Renault, Croft 2. SB – Smith, Motichka. (Sa09Jul16gm2)  Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s): Fryberger 2H

MT Warriors 5, Purple Rain 2

Purple Rain 100 000 1 – 2 5 2

Warriors    211 100 x – 5 9 2

Camas Renault (1K), (5) Paige Noyes (1K,2H) and Kaylanna DesJarlais. Becca Knutson, Sam Payne (5) and Madi Payne, Jaley Priddy. W – Knutson. L – Renault.

PURPLE RAIN – Kaelyn Smith 3-4, Laurel Bitterman 0-4(FC), Hannah Fryberger *1-4, Camas Renault 0-3, Paige Noyes 0-3(E), Quinn Motichka 0-2(FC), DesJarlais 0-3, Mikayla Croft 1-3, Jaylynn LeaderCharge 0-2.

MT WARRIORS – Kam Rosling 2-4, Tanaya Krenik 1-4, Becca Knutson 0-2 , Taryn Holland 0-4, CJ Rosling 2-3 (FC), S Payne 1-3, Shelby VanHemelryck 0-1, Madi McMahon 1-1, Madi Payne 0-2, Jaley Priddy 0-1, Kaedin Rosling 2-3.

RBIs – Fryberger, Motichka 2, Renault; Kam Rosling, Chartier 2, Kae.Rosling. BB – Motichka, LeaderCharge; Krenik, Knutson 2, VanHemelryck.  SB – Smith 3, Bitterman. (Fr08Jul16gm1)

MT Warrior roster derivations: Helena Capital (McMahon, Rosling, Priddy, VanHemelryck), Helena High (Holland), Kalispell Flathead (Knutson), Great Falls (Krenik), CMR (Payne)

16U MT Avalanche-Butler

  The Missoula-based Avs-Butler feature a pair of Mission Valley area players in Emilie Corley (Polson) and Tomi Brazill (Mission).

Wolfpack 9, Avs-Butler 0

  Tomi Brazill (3IP: 2K)

Helena Silverstorm 13, Avs-Butler 5

  Tomi Brazill (3H, 2RBIs)

Avs-Butler 8, Blgs Force-Black 4

  Emilie Corley 2-2, Tomi Brazill (2RBIs)

16U Lady Osprey

For the Missoula-based Lady Osprey, flex player Breyland McColl (Polson) covered third base where she excelled at bunt coverage and turned in an error free tournament.

Blgs Force-Blk 5 , Lady Os 3

Lady Os 2, MC Magic 0

Xplosion 6, Lady Os 4

Lady Osprey 5, Belgrade Wolfpack 4

14U Division (16tms)

Championship

Bitterroot Sparks 11, EC Heat 6

14U Avs-Tipps (26-9-1)

  The Missoula-based Avs-Tipps softball squad features a quartet of players with Mission Valley area affiliation: Josie Caye (Polson), Destiny Manuel (Ronan), Morgan Holmes (2nd gen Ronan affiliation), Grace Hardy (2nd gen Charlo affiliation) along with coach Clint Hardy (Charlo grad). The highlight of the season for Avs-Tipps was winning the Helena Capital City Classic tournament gold division championship.

Wolfpack 12, Avs-Tipps 7

Destiny Manuel (4qab, 1BB, 4RBIs), Grace Hardy (2IP: 2K)

Avs-Tipps 12, BS Blitz 0

Destiny Manuel (2RBIs)

Avs-Tipps 11, Frtwn Fury 10

  Morgan Holmes (3H, 2RBIs), Grace Hardy (4.1IP: 1K)

Sparks-Newman 8, Avs-Tipps 0

Avs-Tipps 16, Blgs Bombers 3

  Grace Hardy (3RBIs), Morgan Holmes (2BB)

14U MVVelocity (10-13)

  The Velocity is comprised of all Mission Valley area players with representation among their roster from the majority of area communities. Their season highlight was placing second at the Frenchtown Summer Sizzler.

Regulators 13, Velocity 10

  The Velocity led through three innings before the Kalispell-based Lady Regulators tied the game, then took over the lead. Lisa Costilla (2-3, 2B), Liev Smith (3-5,2x2B,6RBIs), Mossy Kauley (2-3, 2B,1RBI).

EC Heat-Palmer 10, Velocity 1

  Liev Smith (3K), Mossy Kauley (2IP, 1BB), Lisa Costilla (RBI).

MV Velocity 15, Lady Osprey 11

  Velocity held a double digit lead thru four and a half before they had to stave off an Osprey rally. Liev Smith (2-3, 2RBIs, HB,BB), Azia Lafrombois (3-5, 2B, 3RBIs), Lisa Costilla (3-5, 2B).

14U Polson Lakers (15-8)

  The highlight of the season for the Polson-based Lakers was winning the championship at their own Splash tournament held in Polson earlier in the season. They were a game removed from competing for the championship in a pair of other tournaments.

BigSkyBlitz 9, Lakers 8

Polson Lakers def. Lady Osprey

EC Heat-Palmer 13, Polson Lakers 1

12U Division (21tms)

  The Missoula-based 12U Montana Avalanche-Spry swept through their competition to win the State ASA 12U championship. Mission Valley area softball player Macao Jackson (5-15, .333AVG, 3RBIs, 2R) was a key contributor to their quintet of wins.

State ASA 12U championship

Avs-Spry 4, Blgs Force 0

Avs-Spry 7, Blgs Force 0 (semi)

Avs-Spry 1, Warriors 0

Avs-Spry 8, Lady Regulators 0

  Macao Jackson (6IP: 3K, 3H)

Avs-Spry def. Purple Wave (see below)

  Macao Jackson (3-4, RBI, 2R).

12U Purple Wave (24-8)

The Polson-based Purple Wave wrapped up their summer ASA campaign. Purple Wave season highlights included winning the championship at the Kalispell Emeralds Tournament and placing third at the Polson Splash Tournament.

Blgs Xtreme 1, 

Purple Wave 0 

  The Billings-based Xtreme took a precarious 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth on error. The Purple Wave were able to get the tying run in scoring position and the go ahead run on base at first with two out, but wound up stranding their runners when they were not able to generate that timely hit that would have extended their stay at the tournament another round.

Purple Wave 14, BigSkyBlitz 7

  Ellie Thiel (4-4, RBI, 3R), Kallie Finkbeiner (1-4,FC,2RBI), SaVannah Carpentier (3-4, 2RBI). 

Purple Wave 12, Frtwn Fury 0 4 inn.

 Ellie Thiel (3-3, RBI), Kallie Finkbeiner (2-2, BB, RBI), SaVanna Carpentier (2-3), Gianna Fyant

(3-3, RBI), Lexy Orien (2RBI), Chloe Ducharme (2-2, BB, 2RBI).

Avs-Spry 10, Purple Wave 3

  Kallie Finkbeiner (3-3, 3RBIs) and Katelyne Druyvestein (2-2, BB, 3R).

Purple Wave 10, Blgs Bombers-Hiller 1

  SaVanna Carpentier (2-2), W Wave turned 2DPs

Katelyne Druyvestein pitched an inning of relief during which she struck out the side.

12U MT Avs-Ries (23-12)

  This Missoula-based softball squad features a quartet of Mission Valley area players among their roster: Ashlynn Depoe (Polson), Hayleigh Smith (Charlo) along with Crawford sisters Jerny and Rheid (Arlee). Rheid led the team in hitting with a .545AVG at the tournament with an OBP of .643 with six hits, five RBIs, along with eight Pos as well as 7 Assists at second base. Shortstop Jerny Crawford batted a .440AVG for the tournament with an OBP of .549. Defensively she contributed 11 assists along with five put-outs. Depoe batted .300 with an OBP of .431 that included clutch sacrifice bunts at opportune times. Smith had a healthy .412 OBP that included a key single in the Butte game.

Lady Regulators 12, Avs-Ries 11

  Trailing 8-5, Avs-Ries loaded based twice in bottom of third inning, first time w/ Depoe on second and Haleigh Smith on first. Both came home. With 2 out, Jerny Crawford reached base safely (5qab). The Lady Regs would tie the game up at 11 apiece in the fifth inning, then retook the lead with a run in the top of the sixth.   

Ashylnn Depoe (2BB), Rheid Crawford (2RBIs).

Avs-Ries 10, MC Magic-Ferriter 4

Rheid Crawford (3H, 1BB), Hayleigh Smith hit a key single.

GF Selects-Mitchell 9, Avs-Ries 1

Rheid Crawford (1BB)

MT Avs-Ries 9, Wolfpack-Blue 2

 Rheid Crawford (2RBI)

12U Avs-Craun (19-15-1)

  This Missoula-based softball squad features one Mission Valley area player among their roster in Kooper Page (Mission). 

Xtreme 16, Avs-Craun 10 

Kooper Page (3RBIs)

Avs-Craun 14, Bozeman Stealers-Laufenberg 8

Kooper Page (7IP: 5K)

Avs-Craun 12, Wolfpack-Green 9

Kooper Page (1.2IP: 2K)

Avs-Craun 18, Wolfpack-White 3

Kooper Page (3H)

Bombers-Newell 6, Avs-Craun 5

 10U Division (13tms)

10U Avs-Hanninen (34-3)

  This Missoula-based softball squad features a pair of Mission Valley area players among their roster in Shanel Manuel (Ronan) and Payton Smith (Charlo). Manuel was a key pinch runner much of the tournament, scoring four runs with three stolen bases (3SB). Payton Smith batted .333AVG for the tournament that included three hits, a double, four walks, and also pitched in two games (5IP: 13K).

10U championship

Avs-Hanninen 5, Warriors-Black 1

Avs-Hanninen 15, Warriors-Black 3 (semi)

Avs-Hanninen 18, Frenchtown Fury 2

Payton Smith (2IP: 6K)

Avs-Hanninen def. Lil Lakers (see below)

Payton Smith (1-2,2B,2BB)

10U Lady Osprey

  The Missoula-based Lady Osprey feature a pair of Mission Valley area players in Sophia Forgey (Arlee) and Chante Leader Charge (Polson).

Warriors 9, Lady Os 5 (3rd place)

Lady Os def. Lil Lakers (see below)

Lady Os 15, Fury 12

Lady Os 15, Wolfpack 3

Lady Os 10, Big Sky Blitz 5

MT Warriors 11, Lady Os 2

Lady Osprey 9, Kalispell Emeralds 6

  The Polson-based Lil Lakers wrapped up their summer softball schedule by placing for the fourth time this summer: State (4th), Great Falls (1st), Splash (3rd), Kalispell (2nd). 

Lady Os 11, Lil Lakers 9 (4th place)

Lil Lakers 512 1 –  9 6 6

Lady Os   015 5 – 11 7 2

Nikki Kendall (3K,1PO,2A) and McKenna Hanson. Jayden Gagner and Sami Arndt. W – Gagner. L – Kendall.

LIL LAKERS – Kendall 0-0, Izzy Fyant 0-3, Hanson 2-3, Caitlyn Ward 1-2, Kailey Smith 1-3, Samantha Rensvold 0-1, Alexis Johnson 1-2(E), Tyneesha Brown 0-2, Taylor Henricksen 1-1, Bella Paul.

LADY OSPREY – Bre Hewitt 1-3, Jordan Whitmire 0-2, Arndt 2-2, Gagner 0-1, Morgan Olson 1-3, Chante LeaderCharge 0-3(2E), Sophie Reeves 0-0, Sophia Forgey 0-2, Grace Hood 2-3, Rylee Crane 1-3.

 3B – Johnson. RBIs – Kendall, Smith, Brown, Henricksen; Crane. BB – Kendall 3, Ward, Rensvold 2, Johnson, Brown; Whitmire, Gagner 2, Forgey. HB – Henricksen. SB – Rensvold; LeaderCharge 2, Forgey. Runs – Kendall, Hanson 2, Ward 2, Rensvold, Johnson 2,Henricksen; Whitmire, Arndt 2, Gagner 2, Olson 2, LeaderCharge 2, Hood, Crane.

Lil Lakers 9, Maidens 5

  Nikki Kendall 2-3 (Sac,2SB,2R, 6IP: 14K,2H,4W), McKenna Hanson 1-3 (3B,RBI,2R), Caitlyn Ward 2-4 (RBI,R), Alexis Johnson 2-3 (3SB,R), Taylor Henricksen 2-3 (2x2B,RBI,R), Kailey Smith 1-4 (RBI,SB,R).

Lil Lakers 15, Stealers 3

  Nikki Kendall 2-3 (3R,3SB, 4IP: 7K,2A), McKenna Hanson 3-3 (HR,2B,2RBIs,3R,SB), Izzy Fyant 1-2 (RBI,BB,2R), Caitlyn Ward 2-3 (3RBI, 2R).

Lil Lakers 19, Emeralds 4

  Nikki Kendall 3-4 (SB,3R, 3IP: 6K), Samantha Rensvold 1-2 (2RBIs, 2BB, 2R), Taylor Hendrickson 2-3 (2B,3RBIs,3R), Alexis Johnson 1-2 (BB,RBI,3R), Caitlyn Ward 1-3 (RBI), McKenna Hanson (RBI).

Avs-Hanninen 13, Lil Lakers 1

  Nikki Kendall (4IP: 7K,1PO), Alexis Johnson (1-2)

Lil Lakers 15, Big Sky Blitz 5

  Nikki Kendall (3IP: 5K,2A), McKenna Hanson (3RBIs)

10U Ronan Mighty Maidens

  The Ronan-based Mighty Maidens placed in all five of their tournaments leading up to state: Missoula Garden City Walkoff (3rd), Polson Splash (2nd), Great Falls EC Heat Classic (2nd), Frenchtown Summer Sizzler (1st), Belgrade Bridger Mountain Classic (3rd).

Lil Lakers def. Maidens (see above)

Brogan Youngren 1-3 (2SB,R), Tyariah Morigeau (BB,SB,R), Kaydance Santos (BB,SB,R), Ella Dubeil (BB,SB,R), Kelsey Gillen1-2 (RBI), Wenona Yellow Owl (BB,2SB,R).

Warriors 10, Maidens 4

Mighty Maidens 18, Belgrade Wolfpack 4

Several scores supplied courtesy of coaching staff of various teams and umpire Mark Evertz.