Kats improve to 10-5 to start May off right

Columbia Falls Wildkat softball went 2-0 in conference action and 4-1 in non-conference play as well as improving their overall record to 10-5 this past week.

They started off by making light work against Browning in double-header action     last Tuesday with dominating 21-0 and 28-0 wins.

On Thursday, the Kats faced a challenging matchup against the AA Flathead Bravettes, ultimately losing 19-9. The Bravettes, took an early lead with a home run in the first inning and continued to dominate, hitting a total of four home runs throughout the game.  Despite Columbia Falls’ efforts, they were unable to narrow the gap.  Onnikka Lawrence emerged as a standout performer for the Wildkats, leading the team at the plate by going 3-for-4 and driving in four runs, including a two-run homer in the second.

Pitcher Katie Bulawsky took the loss for the Kats, going 2-2/3 innings and surrendering 11 hits and 12 runs (seven earned), along with two strikeouts during her time in the circle.  After Bulawsky exited in the third inning, Ella Branstetter entered the game to pitch relief.  Branstetter allowed five hits and seven runs (three earned) during her appearance.  

The Wildkats would commit six errors in the game while Flathead had just two.

“In the Flathead loss, Flathead was really hitting the ball.  Good luck to them the rest of season,” said head coach Rick Lawrence.

Next up, the Kats traveled to Frenchtown Friday and Saturday.  They’d face off against four teams to include the Stevensville Yellowjackets, Billing Central Rams, Dillon Beavers, and the Fergus County Golden Eagles.  

On Friday, Columbia Falls faced off against the Stevensville Yellowjackets and emerged with a 12-2 win.  Stevensville struck first, with Maddix Yeager hitting a two-run homer over the outfield fence in the top of the first inning.  The Kats responded in the bottom of the first, scoring five runs to take the lead 5-2.  The Kats continued to build on their advantage, adding two runs in the third inning, three in the fourth, and two more in the fifth to secure their victory. 

Columbia Falls collected 12 hits in the matchup.  Bella Mann and Ella Timlick each made a significant impact at the plate, tallying two hits and two RBIs apiece. 

Branstetter led the Kats in the circle.  She gave up three hits and struck out three.

Next up were the Rams.  Though the Kats had a lead of 9-5 heading into the bottom of the fourth, the Rams piled up six runs in that inning and added one more in the fifth.  They took advantage of three errors committed by the Wildkats to win the game, 12-9.

Kylie Gjesdal-Davis went 3-for-3 at the plate, highlighted by a two-run homer over center field in the second that put the Kats ahead.  

Bulawsky started in the circle for the Kats.  She’d last the contest and would give up eight hits and 11 runs (six earned).  She’d fan four.

On Saturday, Columbia Falls matched up against the Dillon Beavers and the Fergus Golden Eagles, securing victories in both contests with scores of 9-3 over Dillon and 11-1 against Fergus. 

Kendyl Moultray went 3 for 3 and Gjesdal-Davis drove in three and send another three-run home run over the outfield fence in the Fergus matchup.

Bulawsky dominated the circle.  She’d strike out three and give up four runs and just one hit throughout the contest.

For the last matchup, the Kats faced off against Dillon.  The Beavers would have a lead for first two and tie it back up in the top of the fourth.  Columbia Falls, however, would capitalize on timely hits from both Mann and Lawrence to pull away for the remainder of the game in the bottom of the fourth.

Gjesdal-Davis was once again hot in the batter’s box going 2 for 4 with three RBIs.

Branstetter would go the distance in the circle.  She’d fan five and give up five hits along with three runs over the course of six innings.

“It was a good weekend of games, and we went 3-1.  We beat ourselves in the Billings Central game by committing three errors.  They led to five unearned runs.  The score was 9-12, but take away those errors, and we win 9-7.  

“I am feeling pretty good about where the team stands competitively in the state.  I think these young ladies can beat any team.  Will they, we will see, but I think they can.

“In the past five games ... we had 62 hits and scored 50 runs.  We had 45 RBIs and the team’s average is .443 with an OBP of .484.  The girls have fun on the field and in the dugout.  They feed off of each other on offense battling hard at the plate.  They’re never on their heels protecting and attack every pitch.  It has been fun to base coach this team,” Lawrence said.

The Kats will have one game this week with a home matchup against the Whitefish Bulldogs on Thursday starting at 5:30 p.m.