BILLINGS — Columbia Falls has forced a second State A softball championship game with Billings Central.
The Wildkats defeated the previously undefeated Rams 14-3 in five innings in the first title game on Saturday at Stewart Park.
Columbia Falls (25-4), looking to defend its state title, scored six runs in the second to take a 6-1 lead and another seven runs in the fifth.
The Rams, in search of their first state title since repeating in 1994 and 1995, are now 25-1.
Bella Mann, Onnika Lawrence and Haden Peters all homered for Columbia Falls with Mann hitting a grand slam in the fifth.
Maddie Moultray pitched the first four innings for the Wildkats in the first championship game, striking out six and allowing three hits and three runs (two earned).
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The Rams earned the right to advance to the championship game by toppling Columbia Falls 7-2 in the undefeated semifinal earlier Saturday.
The Rams were the state runner-up last year, falling to the Wildkats 8-2.
The Wildkats bounced back with a 10-8 win over Polson in the third-place game to earn a rematch with the Rams for the state title.
Glendive 14, Lockwood 13 (loser-out)
Glendive moved on to play Laurel by winning a slugfest. Glendive scored five runs in the top of the seventh and Lockwood had four in the bottom half of the last inning.
Glendive (9-18) totaled 24 hits and Lockwood 19. Neither team committed an error.
Leadoff bater Ashley Eaton was 4 for 4 with three runs and three RBIs for Glendive. Jaelin Jimison was 5 for 5 with two runs and two RBIs for the winners. Meridith Sackman was 3 for 5 with five RBIs.
Emily Baenziger was 3 for 5 for Lockwood (8-13-1) with three runs and an RBI. Marley Chiasson batted 3 for 4 for the Lions with three runs and two RBIs. Kianna White was 3 for 5 with three RBIs.
Frenchtown 13, Lewistown 7 (loser-out)
Frenchtown (20-8) scored five runs in the second and eight in the fourth to bust the game open. Lewistown totaled two runs in the first, one in the second, three in the third and one in the seventh.
Both teams had three errors. Lewistown totaled six hits and Frenchtown 13.
Brooklyn Smith was 3 for 4 with two runs and three RBIs for the Broncs. Bailey Hansen was 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs and Aspen Courtney 2 for 4 with a run and two RBIs.
Avery King pitched the final five innings for Frenchtown and struck out seven.
For the Golden Eagles (17-12), Jaden Martin was 2 for 2 with two runs and an RBI. Kylie Moline was 2 for 3 with an RBI.
Polson 7, Frenchtown 3 (loser-out)
Behind four first-inning runs, Polson (20-7) advanced.
Both teams tallied nine hits and neither team committed an error.
Avery Starr pitched the first 6.2 innings for Polson and struck out six. Starr also shined offensively with two home runs, batting 2 for 3 with two runs and four RBIs.
Mckenna Hanson was 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI from the leadoff spot for Polson.
Frenchtown (20-9) was led by Saige Williams, Ryan Lucier and Bailey Hansen with two hits. Hansen doubled twice.
Polson advances to play Laurel (22-7) in a loser-out game at 1 p.m.
Laurel 10, Glendive 0 (loser-out)
The Locomotives (22-7) strung together three runs in the first, two in the fourth, two in the fifth and three in the sixth to end the game after six frames.
Laurel totaled 15 hits, compared to three for Glendive (9-19). Neither team had an error.
Krista Gauslow finished 3 for 4, including two doubles, with a run and four RBIs for the Locomotives. Leadoff batter Emerson Gunther was 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI. Gunther doubled and tripled.
Brynn Notbohm had a double and was 2 for 3 with two runs and an RBI for Laurel.
Adrienne Roth pitched the first five innings for Laurel and allowed two hits and fanned four.
Polson 17, Laurel 6 (loser-takes-fourth)
Polson scored six runs in the top of the fifth en route to a victory over Laurel.
With the win, Polson advanced to the third-place game.
Laurel (22-8) was hurt by eight errors.
Polson struck for 12 hits and Laurel 13.
Polson leadoff hitter Mckenna Hanson was 3 for 4 with three runs and three RBIs. She hit one of two Polson homers, with Olivia Jore connecting on the other. Jore was 2 of 5 with two runs and four RBIs.
Kailey Smith was also an offensive force for Polson with a 2-for-5 performance with three runs and an RBI.
Avery Starr pitched six innings in relief for Polson (21-7) to earn the win.
Laurel led 6-5 after two frames.
Maddy Moorman and Charley Mclean each were 3 for 4 for the Locomotives. Mclean doubled three times. Brynn Notbohm drove in two runs.
Billings Central 7, Columbia Falls 2 (undefeated semifinal)
The Rams remained undefeated at 25-0 as Gianna Haney threw a one-hitter over seven innings. She gave up two runs, both unearned, and walked eight and struck out 11.
With the win, Central advances to the championship game and will play the winner of Columbia Falls (23-4) vs. Polson (21-7).
The game was a rematch of the 2023 state championship, won by Columbia Falls 8-2.
Central jumped on top early, scoring four runs in the second for a 4-0 lead. The Rams added three more runs in the top of the fifth for a 7-0 advantage.
Columbia Falls scored both of its runs in the bottom of the sixth.
The Rams finished with seven hits and two errors and the Wildkats had one hit and three errors.
Lydia Todd and Ally Kowalczyk each had two RBIs for the Rams.
Maddie Moultray had the Wildkats’ hit. Moultray was the pitcher for Columbia Falls and struck out 13 and walked four.
Columbia Falls 10, Polson 8 (loser-takes-third)
Defending state champ Columbia Falls set itself up for a rematch with Billings Central, whom the Wildkats fell to in the undefeated semifinal, in the state championship game with a victory over Polson.
The Wildkats scored four runs in the bottom of the first for a 4-1 lead and tacked on one run in the third, fourth and fifth innings and three in the sixth.
Polson scored two in the third, three in the fourth and two more in the seventh on a pair of solo homers.
The Wildkats had 13 hits and Polson six. Polson committed four errors and the winners two.
Polson (21-8) did hit four home runs in the game, with Mckenna Hanson blasting two and Carli Maley and Olivia Jore one each.
While he was disappointed his team didn’t win the state title, Polson coach Jami Hanson was proud of his team and how they competed in the tough field.
“I think we are right there with them,” Hanson said. “Some things didn’t go our way. We played a lot of softball today and I’m very proud of them. They did everything the Lady Pirates way.”
“Our goal was to bring home hardware. They did their job. I’m very proud of them.”
Maddie Moultray pitched the full seven innings for the Wildkats and struck out 14 and walked two. She also homered twice and had a double, finishing 3 of 4 at the plate with two runs and four RBIs. Haden Peters also homered for Columbia Falls.
Columbia Falls (24-4) defeated Central for the state title last season.
Email Gazette Sports Editor John Letasky at john.letasky@406mtsports.com or follow him on X/Twitter at @GazSportsJohnL
