Ladyhawks dominate higher class
For the third consecutive week, the Thompson Falls' softball team wrapped up an undefeated week of play, but this past week was perhaps the most impressive so far.
For the third consecutive week, the Thompson Falls' softball team wrapped up an undefeated week of play, but this past week was perhaps the most impressive so far.
After beating a tough Florence team on Tuesday with a final score of 8-3, Thompson Falls traveled to Frenchtown where they went 4-0 in a two-day stretch against four Class A schools.
"It says a lot. We played some pretty good teams there and we seemed to manage all of them," said Coach Randy Pirker. "We just play ball and these teams play against a higher bunch and we seem to match up with all of them."
It was a dominating performance in more ways than one for the Ladyhawks. The offense was firing on all cylinders once again. For the whole tournament they outscored their opponents 31-8.
On defense senior Kyla Molzhon proved why she's going to be a force later this year in the postseason as she pitched every single inning for Thompson Falls and struck out an incredible 50 batters over the five game stretch including double digit strikeouts against Stevensville, 16, and Florence, 12.
For Coach Pirker, the week was a test of endurance for Molzhon and she passed with flying colors.
"She's building her endurance very well. I was a little worried about Florence and Loyola, but what I saw after this weekend she'll handle it just fine," said Pirker.
This upcoming week the Ladyhawks will face their toughest doubleheader of the season by playing both Florence and Loyola on Saturday at home.
Against Florence on Tuesday it was Stephanie Larkin who carried the big lumber going 3-4 with a double, Kayla Stark and Makayla Becker also had two hits in the game collecting two RBIs a piece.
On Friday, in a 5-3 close win over Anaconda, freshman Kelsey Fitchett didn't record a hit in the game, but drove in two runs in the game proving to be the difference. Also in a 6-2 win over Stevensville Hannah Peters went 2-2 at the plate with two singles driving in a run.
On Saturday, the team perfomed even better than Friday where they were plagued with fielding errors, which Coach Pirker says may have been a result from nerves. On Saturday they were error free and pounded Hamilton 10-3 behind a 4 RBI game from Peters as she went 4-4 from the plate and hit two doubles. Both Molzhon and Fitchett each added two doubles for the game.
Against Corvallis Peters finished off her great tournament by adding another two RBIs in the 10-0 game. Molzhon and Larkin also had a multiple hit game as they both recorded two hits in the contest.
Even though they beat their competition soundly on Saturday, Coach Pirker says the tournament was a great test for his team as the high level of competition made the girls have to focus throughout an entire game or risk letting the opposition come back in a hurry.
"Even though we're beating these teams 10-3, or 10 to nothing you have to worry about them every second," says Pirker.
As for this weekend the Ladyhawks will start off their tough doubleheader by facing Florence at noon on Saturday followed by the Loyola Varsity at 4:00 p.m. and Coach Pirker says if you love softball you should definitely make it out to these games.
"It will be spectacular, no doubt about it."