Troy softball earns state berth with third-place finish at Western B Divisional

The Troy softball team battled through a busy Saturday at the Western B Divisional tournament and secured a return trip to state.

The Lady Trojans went 2-1 on the day, falling to eventual divisional champion Florence before bouncing back with wins over Anaconda and Mission-Arlee-Charlo. Troy finished third at the divisional tournament and earned the No. 3 seed to next week’s Class B-C State Tournament in Billings.

Troy is now 14-10 on the season.

Florence opened the day by shutting out Troy 10-0 in the semifinals. The Falcons, who later defeated Three Forks 8-6 in the championship game, scored three runs in the first inning and used a six-run fourth to pull away.

Taylor Pyette hit an RBI double in the first inning, Lacie Larson added a sacrifice groundout and Elizabeth Camp followed with an RBI single. In the fourth, Pyette and Camp each drove in two runs, while Maggie Schneiter added an RBI double.

Jaden Fisher threw six scoreless innings for Florence, allowing one hit and striking out six. Ellah Wallace recorded Troy’s lone hit.

Troy responded in a big way in the loser-out game against Anaconda, rolling to a 26-2 win in three innings to clinch a state tournament berth.

The Lady Trojans scored 13 runs in the first inning and eight more in the second. Kristi Jellesed drove in seven runs, delivering two-run singles in both of Troy’s big innings. Wallace and Allie Borgmann each added two-run triples as Troy piled up 19 hits.

Claira Folkerts earned the win, allowing two hits and two runs.

Troy then claimed third place with an 8-3 win over Mission-Arlee-Charlo.

The Bulldogs took a 3-0 lead after scoring once in the first and twice in the second. Kieran Incashola singled in GG Hawk in the first inning, and Bella Dillard and Hawk added RBI singles in the second.

Troy answered in the bottom of the second. Wallace scored on an error, and Ainsley Huitron lined a two-run single to center field to score Jellesed and Hailey Dungan, tying the game at 3-3.

The Lady Trojans took control with four runs in the fourth. Addyson Fisher delivered a two-run single, Ellie Borgmann reached on an error that brought home another run, and Dungan added an RBI single to make it 7-3.

Halle Wallace earned the complete-game victory, allowing six hits and three runs.

Jellesed finished 3 for 3 at the plate, while Fisher and Huitron each drove in two runs. Fisher also stole two bases as Troy finished with eight steals as a team.

The Class B-C State Tournament begins May 28 at Stewart Park in Billings. Troy will open the tournament against Manhattan.