BILLINGS — After a delay of an hour as fields continued to dry at Stewart Park after a record-setting rainfall in Billings on Thursday, State A softball action got underway at 9 a.m. on a sunny and windy Friday.
Ronan 7, Glendive 6
Ronan (19-7) moved on to a game against defending champion Columbia Falls (21-3) later in the day with the first-round win.
“Anytime you get a win, you are happy,” said Ronan coach Andy Luedtke.
“We started off hitting the ball well and pitched well,” Luedtke said.
Ronan is in search of its first state title, and the team just has to “go one game at a time,” Luedtke said.
Glendive (7-18) dropped into loser’s bracket play later Friday.
Frenchtown 12, Lockwood 3
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Junior Avery King pitched six innings, striking out 11, and a seven-run third propelled Frenchtown (18-7) to the win.
“So far, so good,” said Frenchtown coach Eli Field of the first-round win. “Avery King came out and threw a really good game and got us off to a good start.”
As for other keys to the win, Field said his squad “ran the bases well and did the things we like to do.”
“We played aggressive and found ways and got a few hits when we needed them.”
Ryan Lucier was 3 for 3 for Frenchtown, scoring three runs. Maya Skinner and Alexis Godin doubled for the winners. Brooklyn Smith added a triple for Frenchtown.
Overall, Frenchtown had 15 hits and Lockwood nine.
Field said the Frenchtown players are taking things in stride and didn’t let the first day’s rainout affect them.
“The girls have handled it well,” he said. “I haven’t heard one complaint.”
Lockwood, making its first state tournament appearance, fell into consolation play later Friday.
For the Lions, Ali Lovegreen was 2 of 4, including a double, with two runs from the leadoff spot. Emily Baenziger tripled, scored a run and had an RBI. Marley Chiasson and Kinzie Turner each had two hits and an RBI for the Lions.
Dillon 8, Lewistown 7 (10 innings)
Dillon scored the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning on a wild pitch.
The Beavers (15-9) were up 5-0 after three innings, scoring one run in the second and four in the third. Lewistown scored four in the fourth and three in the fifth to go up 7-5. Dillon knotted the score at 7-all in the bottom of the fifth.
“It was a great game,” said Dillon coach Alyssa Creighton. “It was the longest game we played all year.”
Kiera Southard hit a grand slam for the Golden Eagles in the fourth inning. Riley Roche also homered for Lewistown.
For Dillon, Kylie Konen was 3 for 5, including a double, with two runs and three RBIs. Emily Brevig also had a two-base hit and was 2 for 3 with two runs and two RBIs.
“I’m definitely proud,” said Creighton. “We came out firing and got ourselves ahead and that saved us and we had some key hits in the bottom of our lineup.”
Adyson Creighton pitched 8.1 innings for the Beavers and had 11 strikeouts and five walks.
Kayla Jensen pitched the full game for the Golden Eagles and had 11 strikeouts and two walks.
Lewistown totaled nine hits and Dillon 14.
“It was the biggest pitcher’s battle I’ve ever seen,” said Creighton, who is Adyson’s mom. “It was a good hitting day and man that was a pitching battle.”
Catcher Kinzy Kreighton is Adyson’s twin, said mom and coach Creighton.
Dillon will play last year’s state runner-up Billings Central (22-0) later Friday afternoon. Lewistown drops into the loser’s bracket.
Hamilton 5, Havre 2
Hamilton (16-9) pitcher Mariah Johnson led the Broncs to the victory.
Johnson pitched seven innings, allowing seven hits, two runs (one earned), two walks and a strikeout.
“Our pitcher came in and she was hitting her spots and pitching extremely well,” said Hamilton coach Hannah Martinez. “Our defense was strong and our hitters were selective. We came in knowing we’d have to hit our pitch and not something they wanted us to chase. Overall, it was a great win.”
Johnson was also 4 of 4 at the plate batting leadoff. Addison Flynn was 1 for 2, including a homer, with a run and two RBIs.
Trailing 1-0, Hamilton scored four runs in the top of the fifth. Hamilton added a run in the sixth and Havre pushed a run across in the bottom of the seventh.
Both teams totaled seven hits. Hamilton had four errors and Havre 2.
For Havre (18-8), Rachel Jette was 3 for 3 with a double.
Hamilton will play Polson (18-6) in a winner’s bracket game. Havre is in the consolation bracket.
“We are going to keep on rolling,” said Martinez.
Email Gazette Sports Editor John Letasky at john.letasky@406mtsports.com or follow him on X/Twitter at @GazSportsJohnL
