For third year in row, Cats win conference crown

The Columbia Falls baseball team won its third North Conference title in row with an 11-3 conference record and an overall record of 15-4.

The Wildcats took the crown by securing a win over Libby last week and then they won the tiebreak over Bigfork as they had beaten Bigfork by more runs than Bigfork had beaten them by earlier in the year.

Bigfork was also 11-3 in conference play.

The Wildcats now face Columbus/Red Lodge/Joliet/Park City in the opening round of the state playoffs on Thursday in Polson. Game time is 12:30 p.m. at O’Malley Park.

The Cats were helped by Polson, which downed Whitefish last week 10-0.

Columbia Falls meanwhile took care of business against Libby May 19, winning 13-6. Zeke Dunn got the win, striking out 10 while only allowing two hits over five innings. Tayvin Beach got the save with two strikeouts, giving up two runs.

Highlight of the game was Nico Young’s three-run homer in the bottom of the second to put the Wildcats up 7-2.

They add two more in the fifth and four in the bottom of the sixth for insurance.

The Cats head into state with a lot of solid arms with Jett Pitts, Young, Tayvin Beach and Dunn all capable of winning a game for the Cats.

Pitts also leads the squad in hitting and when he’s not on the mound is super solid at third.

In the outfield, centerfieler Jory Hill is one of the best in the state and they’ve been getting solid hitting through the lineup, with notable performances from Tristan Victor, Jaxson Cadwell and plenty of others. If the Cats get past Red Lodge they’d face a formidable Dillon squad, who is 17-0-1.