Only Libby and Ronan have played a conference game, and that was Tuesday. Browning hasn’t had a game at all.

But the Northwest A softball race should start shaping up soon, with defending State A champion Polson playing at Columbia Falls Thursday, hosting Ronan Friday and traveling to Libby Saturday.

Columbia Falls is set to play Ronan and non-conference foe Stevensville Saturday, down at the University of Montana’s stadium.

The Wildkats then head to Libby next Tuesday.

“The next week will be huge for us,” Columbia Falls coach Dave Kehr said. “Polson, Ronan, Libby, these conference games coming up now are the meaningful ones.”

Kehr’s Wildkats are 6-1, having gone 4-0 at the Lewistown Invitational last weekend. Their lone loss came 6-1 to Class AA Glacier in a game that was tied 1-1 in the fifth inning.

“We have a lot of sophomores,” Kehr said. “That’s a big group for us, and they cover a lot of the positions. But everybody is contributing really.”

Columbia Falls has seniors Haylee Lawrence and Abbie Darsow leading the way, with juniors Aspen Dawson and Sydney Mann right behind. To that core you can add sophomores Demye Rensel, Kylee Stacey, Haden Peters and Maddie Moultray.

Moultray, Mann and Peters all can pitch, and Kehr credits a strong rec league with developing talent.

“There are pitchers coming through that aren’t brand new,” he said. “Now we’re getting pitchers coming through that have been doing it for three years, and that’s made a difference.

“Once you start playing at 10 or 12U, all of a sudden you see a big difference. Then it just keeps rolling. That’s Polson’s and Frenchtown’s ticket to success. They play a lot of summer ball, and just a lot of ball.”

The Wildkats could be in the hunt for a state trophy, something they’ve done once — taking third in 2013. Libby has had more success, with five state titles and two runner-up finishes. But those all came before 2009; of late Polson and Frenchtown have been the teams to beat.

Libby will give Browning its first action Friday, in a game that has been moved to Libby.

Seniors Taylor Munro (pitcher), Sidney Rusdal (outfield) and Courtney Benson (second base) have led the way for the 3-2 Loggers, while juniors Destiny Crawford and Mackenzie Foss build on last year’s successes.

Veteran coach Dean Thompson likes the play of sophomores Mylie Rayome, who has moved to third from the outfield, and Paislee MacDonald, who has pitched capably.

“We’re still moving girls in and out in a couple places,” Thompson said. “But our outfield has been solid.”

Like Columbia Falls, Libby is feeling the benefits of a strong youth program.

“Sidney Rusdal is batting the ball well for us, and she’s played for me since, oh gosh, grade school,” Thompson said. “I’ve coached some of these kids since they were 9 or 10 years old.”

Ronan rallied on Libby three times before falling 12-11 on Tuesday, and the Maidens have bolstered seniors Kira Sherman and Ashlee Walker with youngsters like LouRaisia Weatherwax.

Polson, meanwhile, remains the favorite. The conference MVP and top pitcher Katelyn Druyvestein alone makes the Pirates tough to beat; then there are seniors Turquoise Pierre and Anna Vert.

“Druyvestein is one of the top throwers in the state,” Thompson said.

Whitefish is playing a junior varsity schedule this season. That leaves five Northwest A teams to decide which three head to the State A tournament, March 26-28 in Hamilton.