Kats nab three conference wins in a week

Columbia Falls Wildkat softball went 3-0 in conference play this past week, picking up impressive wins over Whitefish (17-0), Ronan (9-8), and Libby (17-7), and boosting their overall record to 4-1.  

The Kats opened their week on Tuesday with a dominating 17-0 win over the Whitefish Bulldogs in four innings.  The team got off to a slow start, but things picked up in the top of the third.  A series of defensive missteps by Whitefish allowed Columbia Falls to launch a 13-run streak, seizing control of the game.  Bella Mann, Onnikka Lawrence, and Chevelle Bedford each hit singles that drove in two runs apiece.  Kylie Gjesdal-Davis and Dayvian Edwards also singled to each bring in a run.   Columbia Falls went on to score four more runs in the fourth to mercy rule the game.  Mann and Chevelle Bedford each collected two hits along with three RBIs.  Gjesdal-Davis and Edwards both had two hits, while Lawrence collected three RBIs.

“Whitefish is getting better every year.  I think Jack is a good and patient coach with lots of experience.  Took us a couple innings to get going, but then we scored 17 in 2 innings, for a 17-0 win,” head coach Rick Lawrence said.

Sophomore Ella Branstetter led the charge for the Wildkats in the circle, delivering an impressive performance with six strikeouts, one walk, and allowing three hits.  

The Wildkats would host the Ronan Maidens in their season opener Thursday.  The Maidens started strong, scoring the first run of the game in the top of the first.  Marie Cheff would cross home plate after a hit by Hadassah Read and in the second, Ronan added to their lead when Kai-Cee Sorrell scored on a line drive to center by Sierra McGreevey.

The Kats would find themselves on the board in the bottom of the third when Lawrence blasted a two-run homer over the center field fence, tying the game and shifting momentum.  The Kats continued their offensive push in the fourth on singles from Bulawsky and Alexa Friske, along with doubles by Mann and Ella Timlick which would bring in four more runs.  

Ronan answered back in the sixth hoping to stage a comeback.  They’d capitalize on singles and defensive errors by the Wildkats to advance runners and see four cross home plate.  The Maidens kept the pressure on, scoring two more in the top of the seventh and narrowing the lead to just one run.  However, stellar pitching from Bulawsky secured the win for the Kats.  She recorded the final two outs, stopping the Maidens’ rally and closing out the game 9-8 in favor of Columbia Falls.

“Ronan has a young new coach in Macao Jackson who is just out of college.  She was one of the best pitchers we faced when she pitched for Ronan.  I think the high school girls will really relate to her and trust her opinion!  I already see they will play hard for her and compete in every game.  Winning 9-8, we made it a closer game than I think it should have been with a couple mental errors in the 5th and 6th innings.  Other than that, we played pretty good defense and hit pretty decent,” said Lawrence.

Branstetter started in the circle, throwing two innings and allowing 2 runs on 4 hits with 2 walks. Bulawsky entered in the third, finishing the game with 6 runs allowed on 5 hits, 9 strikeouts, and 3 walks.  At the plate, Lawrence would collect two hits along with two RBIs, along with Kate Lewellen, Mann, Friske, and Gjesdal-Davis with 2 hits apiece.

Libby would be the final game of the week for the Kats on Saturday.  Their bats came alive and lead them to a commanding 17-7 victory over six innings.  Lawrence went 4-for-4 with three RBIs. 

“Libby came in with a ton of confidence, they can really hit the ball and put up runs. They came into the game scoring 36 runs and giving up 7 in their first 3 games.  I am really proud of our girls for hitting and taking the extra base anytime we could.  We played defense well, and I moved some girls around to positions they hadn’t played yet this season and they did great!  Great 17-7 win in 6 innings.  We have been trying different things every game, with our batting lineup and positionally on defense.  Trying to find what will work the best.  This team is selfless, not worried about the position they are playing or where they are in the batting lineup, as long as it is helping the team reach its goals, win, and compete,” said Lawrence.

Bulawsky pitched a complete game for the Wildkats, striking out six, walking one, and surrendering nine hits with six earned runs.

“Our team is doing a pretty good job finding a way to get on base.  Some are really seeing the ball well and hitting it hard!  I have to say we have two that are pretty new to the varsity lineup, and they are both doing good in their role as DP, making the best of the opportunities they get at the plate, Dayvian Edwards and Ella Timlick.  Bedford and Kylor Gietzen are so fun to watch on the bases!  Unfortunately, our all-conference catcher Mann is dealing with some knee injuries and is not catching right now.  The good is she is a tough kid and excelling in the outfield until she can find her way back to leading from behind the plate.  The other good thing for the team is we have two more very capable catchers in Lewellen and Kendal Moultray who are splitting time and getting the job done behind the plate,” said Lawrence.

“We have Browning and Frenchtown this week.  Happy to see Browning has a varsity and JV team with 34 girls out this year.  We will be able to get everyone playing time.   Frenchtown is the defending champs so it will be great to see where we stack up!  Love competing against good teams, it always makes us better,” added Lawrence on this week’s upcoming matchups.

The Wildkats will have two home games this week.  Thursday, they will play the Browning Indians beginning at 5 p.m. followed by the Broncs out of Frenchtown on Saturday starting at 3 p.m.