Hawks take down defending state champs

The Lady Hawk softball team took down the defending state champions last weekend, proving they are a powerhouse in Class B play.

The Hawks beat state champion Conrad 6-2 in their first game of the Cut Bank tournament last Friday. It was quite a way to bounce back from a touch 0-9 loss at Mission last Wednesday. The Hawks would go 2-2 in the Cut Bank tournament, besting the CowDawgs and the Shelby Coyotes.

The Thompson Falls Lady Hawks took on Mission-Arlee-Charlo (MAC) falling 9-0 on Wednesday.

At Mission-Arlee-Charlo (MAC) on Wednesday, the Lady Hawks weren't able to score in the first inning, while a MAC triple hit would bring in two runs for an early lead. Both teams would remain scoreless in the second inning. MAC would add to their lead in the fourth inning after a single drew a run. MAC would keep the batting Lady Hawks runless in the fifth inning while adding three more runs to make the score 6-0. The Lady Hawks kept their defenses but MAC was able to sneak in three more runs to take the win.

The Lady Hawks shook off their loss and headed to Cut Bank for a two day long tournament, where they went 2-2. The Hawks started with a 6-2 win over the Conrad CowDawgs, where they were able to score a run in the top of the first inning. The CowDawgs were able to answer with a run of their own, tying the game going into the second. Thompson was able to sneak in two more runs to make their lead larger, while keeping Conrad runless. At the top of the third inning, the soaring Hawks were able to hit in another run while keeping the CowDawgs from scoring. In the fourth inning Thompson took their 4-1 lead and made it 6-1 after scoring two more runs, it would be at the bottom of the fifth inning when the CowDawgs would get another run but it wouldn't be enough for the win.

Olivia Harnett led for the Hawks with two runs, with Olivia Fitchett, Sarah Koskela, Brooklyn Cork, and Annalise Fairbank each getting one.

Next the Lady Hawks took on the Cut Bank Wolves, falling 7-6.

It would be at the bottom of the second when the Wolves were able to get a run, and they would keep the Lady Hawks scoreless. Cut Bank would add to their lead in the third inning, keeping the Lady Hawks runless. In the fourth Thompson would make a comeback, scoring two epic runs while keeping the Wolves at bay. Cut Bank would make their lead larger by scoring three quick runs to put the score 6-2. Both teams would remain scoreless in the sixth inning, but the Lady Hawks were able to score four runs at the top of the seventh inning, tying up the game. It was short lived as the Wolves were able to break past the Thompson defense to put one more run on the board for the win.

Gabi Hannum led for the Hawks with two runs, while Fairbank, Harnett, Koskela, and Addie Traver each scored one.

The next day had no shortage of competitive softball as the Lady Hawks took on the Huntley Project Red Devils, falling 10-7.

Huntley was able to get on the board in the top of the first after a single drove in a run, but Thompson was quick to answer with three runs of their own to take the lead. The Red Devils added one more run in the second inning while keeping the Lady Hawks scoreless. Thompson would keep Huntley to no runs in the third while adding two more to lengthen the score gap. But the Red Devils turned the game on its head after two singles allowed four runs for the Red Devils to take the lead. They added another run in the fifth while the Lady Hawks added two, tying up the game. Huntley was able to sneak in three more runs in the sixth inning to take the win.

Koskela led for the Hawks with three runs, Fitchett with two, with MacKenzie Robinson and Olivia Harnett each getting one.

For their last game the Lady Hawks had a quick win over the Shelby Coyotes 16-1.

In the first inning the soaring Hawks were able to stop the Coyotes from howling by keeping them scoreless. Thompson was able to take a three-nothing lead in the bottom of the first. The Coyotes were able to hit a double to score a run in the second inning. They were met with the tenacious Lady Hawks who would score 12 runs in the second inning. After keeping Shelby scoreless in the top of the third Thompson was able to sneak in one more run to take the win.

Robinson led for the Lady Hawks with three runs, and Kassidy Dana had two. Cork, McGillis, Traver, Kylee Borgmann, and Sam Hertell each got one.

The Plains Trotters took on the Eureka Lions falling 16-1 in three innings due to the mercy rule.

The Trotters opened the scoring game after Aubree Butcher singled, scoring a run. The Lions flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the first after scoring 12 runs on four hits to take a 12–1 lead. While Plains was able to get on the bases, they weren't able to add any runs in the second inning. Eureka was able to find home plate three more times. The Lions would add one more run while keeping the young Trotters to no runs to take the win. Butcher and Teirainy Bellinger were a force together in the lineup, as they each collected one hit for Plains. Jaelyn Carr and Trystan Larsen each stole multiple bases for the Trotters.

The Lady Hawks and Trotters take to the road for the divisional tournament in Florence with Thompson Falls' first game Thursday at noon.