There is no better time than now to get victories as softball begins to wrap up the regular season, and local teams accomplished just that. Every Lake County softball squad got wins this weekend as state contests quickly approach.

Polson 16, Browning 0

Polson got a dominant win over Browning on May 12 to start their week.

This game was over quickly with the Lady Pirates earning 10 runs in the first inning. There was no resistance from Browning as Polson looked primed to get an early game-day win. 

They nabbed two runs in the second and four runs in the third to close out the scoring. Polson won 16-0 in three innings.

Adrienne Crockett led the team in RBIs with three. Ahri Rushing and Natalie Nash tied for most runs scored with three. Maddie Turner earned a no-hitter with five strikeouts. 

Columbia Falls 11, Polson 8

Polson suffered a loss to Columbia Falls in a back-and-forth contest on May 14.

It was a close battle between divisional opponents with the Wildkats getting an early lead. However, Polson battled back in the second, leading 4-3 after two. 

Columbia Falls retook the lead in the third inning and kept it despite Polson scoring in response in the fourth.

The Lady Pirates took the lead again in the sixth, going up 8-6. However, Columbia Falls dropped five runs in the sixth and stopped Polson from scoring in the seventh. Polson lost 11-8.

JJ Pierre led the team in RBIs with three while Logan McCrea led the team in runs scored with three.

Polson 9, Havre 6

The Lady Pirates closed the week out with a close win against Havre May 15.

Polson, despite playing it close, led the entire game with an early 6-0 lead after the first two innings. Havre got on the board in the third inning but Polson still kept steady with scoring answers.

Despite Havre’s five runs in the fourth and fifth innings, Polson stayed calm and closed the game out with two runs to take the 9-6 win in five innings.

McCrea, Turner and Rushing all notched two RBIs. Pierre and Gracie Hammer both scored two runs.

Columbia Falls 22, Ronan 5

Ronan dropped their first game of the week to Columbia Falls May 12.

The Maidens kept this game close for the first three innings by only trailing 4-2 against a strong Wildkat team. However, Columbia Falls picked up the scoring with six runs in the fourth inning. 

The Maidens couldn’t score enough to keep up as Columbia Falls pinned Ronan with an 11-run sixth inning.

Ronan lost 22-5.

Marie Cheff led the team in RBIs with three. Sierra McGreevey got four hits to lead the team as well.

Ronan 15, Butte 6

Ronan rebounded with a win over the Butte junior varsity squad May 15.

Despite going down 5-2 after the first two innings, Ronan flipped this game around with a seven-run third inning. The Maidens closed this game out early by keeping the Lady Bulldogs scoreless in the fourth while getting six runs.

Ronan won 15-6 in four innings.

Autumn Lozeau led the team with three hits. Lozeau, Hadassah Read, Shelby Taylor and Kai-Cee Sorrell all tied with two RBIs.

Ronan 5, Dawson County 4

Ronan got a final win of the week over Dawson County on May 15.

The Maidens and Lady Red Devils were tied up for the first four innings with each team matching their scoring output. However, the Maidens only needed a walk-off run to get the win in this one.

They scored two runs at the bottom of the fifth to secure a 5-4 win.

Nevaeh Perez was the star with three RBIs on two hits and two runs scored.

MAC 18, Thompson Falls/Noxon 8

MAC had the most successful week out of all Lake County schools, starting with a win over Thompson Falls/Noxon Softball May 12, and continuing with three more triumphs.

MAC only needed one inning to clinch this game as an impressive eight-run second inning set the stage. The Lady Blue Hawks put up five runs in the third inning to answer but it wasn’t enough.

The Lady Bulldogs won 18-8.

Avia Lee and Bella Dillard led the team in RBIs with three each. Alecia Steele led the team in runs scored with four.

MAC 16, Plains 1

MAC also got a win in their first of two matches against Plains on May 14.

The Lady Bulldogs were consistent in scoring runs in all four innings played. They also never trailed with that consistency as Plains only managed one run in the first inning.

MAC won 16-1 in four innings.

Steele led the team in RBIs with five while GG Hawk led the team in runs scored with four.

Plains Softball 4, MAC Softball 3

MAC didn’t get their second win against Plains in their doubleheader May 14.

It was a much closer game with MAC leading for most of it. The Lady Bulldogs were up 3-0 until the fourth inning when Plains tied it up. They eventually went into extra innings where Plains scored the winning run in the 10th.

MAC lost 4-3.

Hawk, Kieran Incashola and Jada Domebo all scored RBIs in this one.

MAC 5, Conrad 4

MAC got a redemption win in another close one, this time against Conrad on May 16.

Conrad was the one controlling most of this game, taking the lead in the second inning. MAC couldn’t find a way to go up until the seventh, when Lee singled a ground ball for the walk-off run scored by Domebo.

MAC won 5-4.

Domébo and Lee both had RBIs while Hawk led the team in runs scored with three.

MAC 14, Cut Bank/Shelby 5

MAC got a comfortable win to close the week out over Cut Bank/Shelby on May 16.

The Lady Bulldogs claimed the lead in the second inning and never relented. They scored in four of the next five innings while keeping Cut Bank/Shelby to just four runs for the rest of the game. 

Consistent run scoring and solid defense helped MAC in this 14-5 win.

Lee led the team in RBIs with three while tying with Domebo for most runs scored with three.

    MAC's Alecia Steele sprints for home plate against Thompson Falls/Noxon on May 12 at St. Ignatius High School. (Christa Umphrey Photo)
  

    MAC's GG Hawk eyes down a pitch against Thompson Falls/Noxon on May 12 at St. Ignatius High School. (Christa Umphrey Photo)