Hawks advance to state

It will be the first time since 2010 that the Blue Hawk softball team has made it to state. Thompson Falls shook up the stands at the divisional games in Anaconda last weekend and came out victors after four challenging games.

It all started on Thursday when the Hawks went up against their former victors, the Ennis Mustangs. The Mustangs had previously beat the Hawks when they played each other at the Grizz stadium. Coach Jared Koskela said they had some good scouting and motivation to win. Eleven hits later they did just that. The score was 7-0, Blue Hawks, at the top of the fifth inning and an 8-5 final score for the win.

Teagan Saner and Alivia McCormick smacked doubles while Mackenzie Robinson made the sacrifice bunt. Stealing bases were Sarah Koskela and Robinson and with the RBI’s were: Saner, McCormick, Olivia Fitchett, Cheyla Irvine and Robinson. Saner hit the home plate for three runs. Fitchett pitched eight strike-outs. “The whole team hit very well and did the little things right. We got a bunt to work and hit opposite fields from normal. Olivia Fitchett has become our Ace pitcher and got a few Ennis batters to chase, which resulted in more pop-outs and strike-outs than the last time we played,” said Koskela.

Friday’s game against the Florence-Carlton Falcons ended in a 13-2 loss for the Blue Hawks. The team made a total of four hits and grabbing a base were: Saner, Robinson, McCormick and Brooklyn Cork. Fitchett struck-out four and Koskela struck-out two. “Florence used their experience against us and hit our pitching really well. We made a few uncharacteristic errors and cannot do that against superb teams,” said Koskela.

Then it was the game of the season for the Blue Hawks, “tough and gritty,” said Koskela. It was the bottom of the sixth and the Three-Forks Wolves were ahead 6-3. Olivia Harnett was at bat when McCormick was stealing to third base. The Three Forks catcher tried throwing to third but hit Harnett’s bat instead, the ball bounced off and two runs were made by the Hawks. The play was argued by Three Forks but the “batter’s box” rule prevailed. Koskela said that they teach their batters to stay in the box and it worked out well. “That turned the tide and we ended up striking out the last batter to end the game and all the hard work we put in paid off right then and there. Surreal moment,” said Koskela.

The Hawks racked up nine hits, Saner cracked a triple, Cork and Koskela hammered doubles, Irvine and Koskela grabbed the steals and Saner, Irvine and Harnett seized the RBIs. Fitchett struck out eight players.

“We knew we belonged at state, we just had to prove it,” said Koskela. The Blue Hawks first game in the B/C State Tournament, starting this Thursday,in Anaconda, is against the number one eastern team, Shepherd. “Our focus is to shock the state. We will have fun regardless and hope to steal a win or two,” said Koskela.