PLAINS – It was an ideal home opener. Sunny weather, some pomp and circumstance, then a lot of good softball.

Coach Jon Zigler and his Plains Trotters opened season play hosting the Ennis Mustangs in well-attended games played in picture-perfect weather in Plains Saturday. The No. 10 ranked B-C team in the initial state power poll, the Mustangs won both ends of the action-packed doubleheader 19-4 and 6-5 over the very young Trotters.

Now 0-2 in non-conference play, the Trotters open Western B-C action with three home games in four days this coming week, hosting Troy Friday, Eureka Saturday and Sanders County rival Thompson Falls next Monday.

Before the games and season officially began, an honor guard presented the colors for the national anthem, and Plains mayor Chirs Allen threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

Zigler said a rough sixth inning in the first game Saturday, led to the Trotters losing contact with the very good Mustangs. The second game could have went either way, he said.

“We held Ennis in check for most of the game,” he offered. “We were leading 5-3 going into the bottom of the last inning when we committed a costly error and Ennis got a couple timely hits to win 6-5 on a walk-off.”

In spite of the eventual loss, Zigler was impressed with the fight-back of his team. “I was extremely proud of how the girls responded in that second game,” he said.

Zigler said freshman pitcher Bri Kulawinski deserved a win for all her efforts Saturday pointing to her 14 innings pitched and 16 strikeouts for the day on defense, and her five for eight day hitting at the plate offensively.

“The team really feels bad that we couldn't get her the win in that second game,” Zigler said. In addition to her fine pitching, Kulawinski hit a double and scored twice in that game.

Emery Jospehson had two hits and scored two runs in that game, Taylor Saner belted two doubles and scored a run, Karissa French went three for four with two runs batted in, Randi Kilgore and Montana Taylor hit a double apiece, Claire Lakko and Cooper Spurr a base hit each, and Taryn Meredith also had quality at bats.

In the first game with Ennis, Josephson went one for two with a run scored, Kulawinski went four for four with two runs scored, Saner two for three with an RBI, Taylor three for three with a double, Kilgore two for four with a double, Lakko one for four with a run scored and French one for two. Spurr and Meredith also contributed to the Trotter offense against Ennis.

    ATTEMPTING TO BUNT, Plains Trotter senior Taylor Saner tries to advance the baserunners while teammate Emery Josephson (20) awaits the play from second base during doubleheader action against Ennis in Plains Saturday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)