After of flurry of preparation, building and painting, the new softball field at Florence was christened on Saturday with a double header against Thompson Falls. The field has been moved 15 feet to the south to allow access all around the field. New fencing, sod, a warning track and new dugouts are all up. There are a few things left to do but it was enough for the Lady Falcons to get their first two wins on the Otto Thill Field.
In the first game, Florence won, 13-1. Freshman Jaiden Larson knocked the first home run on the field with a long ball over left field in the bottom of the fourth inning. She also had what seemed to be a home run earlier but that run was attributed to errors by Thompson Falls.
Thompson Falls scored first with a run in the second inning but Florence caught fire and scored twice in that inning, three runs in the third inning and eight runs in the fourth. Shannon Byrne was the winning pitcher in the game that was shortened by the 10-run rule.
Byrne had three hits including two triples and two RBIs. Natalie Dulac had two runs including a double and a home run. She knocked in four runners.
The second game of the day was more of the same for Florence. They won, 16-0. Kylie Kovatch was the winning pitcher. Kovatch had two hits with a double, a triple and two RBIs. Larson had two hits with a double and an RBI. Emily Kinnaman had two hits with a triple and two RBIs. Dulac, Rilee Mangun, Dani Zahn, Larson and Danara Greer all had RBIs.
Florence doubled up on Troy in Troy on Thursday. They defeated the Trojans, 24-1 in the first game with Byrne pitching. She also had five hits and three RBIs. Mangun had three hits with tow RBIs. Dulac had three hits and six RBIs. Zahn had two hits and two RBIs. Kolbi Wood had three hits and two RBIs. Larson had two hits and an RBI. Kinnaman had two hits and an RBI. Kovatch and Greer each had a hit and an RBI.
Kinnaman went the distance in the second game and notched the 23-1 five inning win. She also had two hits and an RBI. Byrne had two hits and three RBIs. Mangun had three hits and four RBIs. Zahn had three hits and four RBIs. Kasidy Yeoman had three hits and two RBIs.Greer had two hits and two RBIs. Kovatch had two hits.
Florence will play Frenchtown on Saturday at noon for the grand opening of their new field.
Corvallis bested Hamilton, 13-5, in valley action on Thursday. Gabby Krueger was the winning pitcher with Jordan Taggart taking the loss. Hamilton had two errors and Corvallis had five errors.
Ashlyn Nixon had two home runs and seven RBIs. Sammy Knapp had two hits and an RBI. Carla Soto had two hits and an RBI. Megan Bradshaw had a hit and an RBI. Kate Bayner also had an RBI.
Hamilton’s Mikayln Brickley had a double and two RBIs.
Corvallis played Butte Central on Saturday and out hit them, 18-16. Krueger was again in the circle and took the win. Corvallis had 13 hits and five errors while Butte Central had 10 hits and six errors.
Nixon smashed another home run and went 3-for-5 at bat with a double and two RBIs. Keeley Knapp had three doubles and three RBIs. Maria Hickey went 2-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. Maria Bradshaw had tow RBIs in the win too.
Hamilton lost to Butte Central, 3-1, on Saturday. Taggart took the loss. SophiaDoyle had two hits and Abby Johnson, Chantele Sisson, Phoebe Howard and Kyla Shepherd each had a hit.
Stevensville lost to Frenchtown, 13-3, on Thursday. A strong first inning by Frenchtown set the tone for the game. The Broncs scored six runs and had the Yellowjackets playing catch up. Sarah Morrison took the loss. Syd Paul had three hits.Haley Kampka had a double and an RBI. Kaylee Berning had a hit and an RBI. The hit of the night was Dani Trangmoe’s home run and RBI.
Joe Dulac says
Dear Jean, I would like to respectfully correct your statement in your softball article in the April 10, 2019 edition of the Bitterroot Star. I am proud to say that my daughter, senior and four year varsity starter, Natalie Dulac, was the player who christened the newly renovated Florence field with the first homerun over the left field fence during our home opener with Thompson Falls. I have the video for your viewing pleasure , should you request.