The Florence Lady Falcons are the State Class B sofball champions.
In 1997, Florence began their softball program. Like any fledgling program, they had growing pains but it didn’t take long for the program to get rolling. In 1999, they took second, and in 2000, they won their first state championship. Fast forward 17 years, and the Lady Falcon softball program notched their ninth state championship on Saturday against Libby. Florence has brought home state championships in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2014, and now, 2017. During that time, they have also finished second four times.
This year’s victory was over Libby, the team they lost to last weekend at the Western B Divisional. But last week, two of Florence’s three pitchers were injured. Florence coach Rob Ralls said they rested their pitchers and got them healthy this week. The strategy worked. Brianna Hoffman pitched three complete games – the undefeated game on Friday and the championship game on Saturday.
Hoffman, who moved here from Oregon last summer, is a junior that has had lots of experience. She said she had to learn new rules and new dynamics when she moved to Florence. “I just had to go with it and make it the best I could,” she said. “I couldn’t have done it without the team here.”
“When you get a player like Brianna,” said Ralls, “it’s special.”
But he didn’t discount the rest of the team. In the opening game of the tournament against Shepard, sophomore Shannon Byrne was the pitcher and struck out 14 batters. Another sophomore, Natalie Dulac led the offense throughout the season, batting .500. She started the offense off in the championship game when she hit a double in the third inning that scored two Falcons. That gave Florence a one run lead.
Libby came back in the bottom of the fourth inning and scored two more runs to take the lead back. But Florence didn’t lose focus. In the top of the fifth, leadoff batter Emily Kinnaman hit a triple to put the tying run on third base. Byrne stepped up next and hit a single to score Kinnaman. Then it was Dulac who hit the ball to third and was put out at first. But she advanced Byrne to second base. Senior Chloe Arthur hit a single to get on base and stole second. Shay Waldbillig walked and the bases were loaded. By the end of Florence’s at bat, three Falcons had crossed the plate and Florence was in the lead. They went on to score four more runs and win the championship, 9-3.
Dulac summed it up. “We have a saying, take it pitch by pitch. I think that was my motto too.”
She went 4-for-5 at bat with two doubles and four RBIs. Byrne went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
Florence won their opening game against Shepard, the No. 3 team from the east, 10-4. Although Shepard scored first, Florence came back in the third to score twice. The Falcons continued to hit in the next three innings. Chloe Arthur went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs. Byrne went 2-for-4 with two triples.
“We struggled a bit early,” said Ralls. “We don’t see to many left handed pitchers. But we had extra base hits and didn’t leave many runners on base. That’s the name of the game.”
After defeating Shepard, Florence took on MAC, the co-op team of Mission, Arlee and Charlo. These two teams played ten innings in their last regular season game in Florence in mid May, and MAC won that game. MAC pitcher RanDee Charlo is tough and held Florence scoreless in three innings. Waldbillig walked and was on first but Charlo struck out the next two batters. Hoffman stepped to the base and knocked a double. Then Destini Greer hit a single knocked the runners in. Byrne hit another double to score Greer. MAC came back and scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth but Florence came back for another run in the top of the seventh. By then Hoffman had settled in pitching and was throwing strikes. Florence went on to win, 4-2, and advance to the undefeated round.
Libby had defeated Great Falls Central and Huntley Project to advance to the undefeated game. Florence scored in the first inning but so did Libby. Libby then scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take the lead. Florence hit several pop flies which gave the Loggers easy outs. Hoffman walked and then Kinnaman hit a double to score the runner. Florence took the lead in the fifth when Dulac walked and then Arthur hit a single. Both runners scored and Florence took the lead. Byrne went 1-for-3 with a double. Waldbillig went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Florence went on to win, 5-3, and advance to the championship game.
Saturday was Ralls’ birthday. “It couldn’t have been a better day.”
“I don’t know how you explain a championship,” said Arthur. “I couldn’t when I was a freshman and I can’t do it know, except it feels 10 times better the second time. Last year we went in through the loser’s bracket and everyone kept saying, the worst we could get is third. Not one person said it this time because it wasn’t even in our mind. We were going to be No. 1.”