Wildkats have high hopes this season

The Columbia Falls Wildkat softball team returned to action this week with head coach Rick Lawrence back at the helm.  The team also welcomed Melinda Davis as the new assistant coach as they began preparations for the upcoming 2026 season.

Although the Kats lost all-conference seniors Annika Reid, Addy Bowler, Taylor Lingle, and Sydnee Burke, they still have plenty of talent returning.  Leading the way is standout junior Onnikka Lawrence, along with seniors Bella Mann (Nicholls State commit) and Kylie Gjesdal-Davis (Williston State commit).  Also returning key contributors from last season who will be providing their skills on the field are all-around athlete Alexa Friske and Chavelle Bedford.

Unlike in previous years, the Kats have a wealth of pitching talent to rely on. Both Ella Branstetter and Katie Bulawsky are returning for another season. As a freshman, Branstetter earned second team all-conference honors, while Bulawsky received honorable mention as a sophomore.  Freshman Kahlan Baumgartner is also joining the ranks.  “Bulawsky and Branstetter are coming along really good.  Baumgartner has gotten better just through open gyms, and she should do pretty good at the JV level,” said Lawrence.

Pitching is not the only position where the team will have some depth.  “We are pretty good and deep with catching, too, with Mann, Kate Lewellen and Kendal Moultray,” added Lawrence.

As for the competition, “There are a lot of teams that look to be pretty equal coming into the season.  The usual suspect is Polson as they are always a top team.  Ronan hangs around and competes along with Frenchtown, Dillon, and Hamilton.  But I think Libby has a lot of potential.  They are quick, fast, and can hit!  They are well coached,” said Lawrence.

The Kats will have their first set of games in Polson on March 28 with the competition and time still to be determined at press time.  They’d like to see some time on the field beforehand to get a feel for things, but for now they have been practicing in the junior high gym due to the conditions of the fields.

“We are excited to get the season started.  Looking to come out of the two games next weekend with a lot of positive and some questions answered about filling positions left open from our four seniors graduating.  

“Our coaching staff thinks this team has a ton of potential.  If we make the routine plays, manufacture runs like we think we can, plus do something cool like a diving catch or a home run every game, we should be competing in the number one spot in our conference heading into state!  We have a goal to play to on Saturday at the state tournament and we think this team can do that,” Lawrence said.