The Butte Central Invitational brings softball teams from across the state to the Mining City for a chance to preview potential state tournament opponents. Although the tournament consists of mainly Class A schools, there are also Class B/C schools in the tournament as well. Pairings are made so that schools that do not play each other during the regular season will play. This gives the teams a chance to see what they might be facing at the state tournaments that are in two weeks.
On Friday, Stevensville took on Polson and Great Falls Central. The Polson Pirates had seven hits and scored 12 runs to win, 12-2. Sarah Morrison was the pitcher for Stevensville. Haley Kampka went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI. Sam Hambrick also went 1-for-2 with a double.
Seven runs, seven hits, and in the case of Great Falls Central, seven errors led to the 7-7 tie at the tournament in Butte Central at the end of regulation play. Morrison and Kampka had pitching duties for the Lady Yellowjackets. Mikayla Newman went 2-for-3. Mikayla Davids had a double and two RBIs and Kampka and Dani Trangmoe each had an RBI.
Corvallis defeated Sidney, 9-6, behind the pitching of Kayla Fields. Corvallis got hot early and scored three runs in the first inning. They finished with 10 hits. Taia Tully went 1-for-3 with a double. Hannah Capko, Hannah Brown, Kiley Mullen and Bobbie Stephen each had an RBI.
Hamilton lost to last year’s Class B champion, Conrad, 9-0. Conrad pitcher pitched a no-hitter in the game.
On Saturday, Hamilton topped Sidney, 14-5, with Sky Lopez pitching. Kloie Nye had two hits and a home run and an RBI. Kelsie Meis had two hits, two doubles and four RBIs. Tessa Della Silva also had two hits, a double and two RBIs. Rachel Richardson had two hits and three RBIs.
Corvallis tied Great Falls Central at 8 all at the end of the regulation game time. Hannah Capko went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Hannah Brown was 1-for-1 with a double. Kambrey Powell went 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Corvallis defeated Browning, 16-1. Capko went 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Powell went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Stevensville topped Whitefish, 7-4. Haley Kampka took the win for the Yellowjackets. Makayla Davids went 2-for-3 with a double and tow RBIs. Sam Hambrick was perfect at bat, going 2-for-2. She knocked in two runners. Stevensville had five hits in the game.
In their second game on Saturday, the Yellowjackets took on Libby. Libby took the win, knocking in 14 runs while Stevensville only scored two runs. They had two hits in the game.
Florence knocked in five runs in the third inning and in the fifth inning to best Laurel, 11-9. Shannon Byrne was the winning pitcher for the Lady Falcons with Shay Waldbillig catching. Sarah Schurg had a home run and two RBIs. Brooklyn Little was perfect at bat, hitting 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs. Chloe Arthur, Byrne, Natalie Drozdz, Natalie Dulac and Destini Greer all had RBIs.
Florence slammed Browning, 26-0 in three innings. Kali Leibenguth had a home run and two RBIs. Arthur, Rilee Mangun, and Waldbillig each had doubles and Arthur also had a triple. Arthur had four RBIs.
Florence made a trip to Lincoln County on Thursday where they took on Libby and Troy. Libby knocked in five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to come from behind and take the 6-4 win. Shannon Byrne was the pitcher for the Lady Falcons. Byrne and Sarah Schurg each had doubles. Byrne went 1-for-4, and Schurg was 1-for-1 with an RBI. Natalie Drozdz also had an RBI in the loss.
Florence topped Troy, 16-4, in a five-inning game that was shortened due to the 10-run rule. Schurg was the winning pitcher. Rilee Mangun and Destini Greer each had doubles. Mangun was 1-for-1 and as were Destini Greer, Danara Greer, and Natalie Dulac.