Trotters softball takes third

GREAT FALLS – The Trotters capped off a successful season with a deep run in the State Tournament over the weekend. 

Plains finished third and were only one win away from playing for state championship. 

The three day State B-C softball tournament, marking the conclusion of this year’s season, was held at the Great Falls’ Multi-Sports Complex from Thursday, May 29 to Saturday, May 31.

Plains played five games over three days and the team showed impressive durability throughout the tournament.

“The girls just dug in, they were focused all weekend and they had the desire to win,” Trotters Head Coach Jeff Rude said. 

The Trotters started hot during the season’s final tournament, upsetting top-seeded Huntley Project High School of Worden, by a score of 5 to 4 in extra innings. 

Plains jumped out to a four run lead after three innings of play and appeared set to move on to the second round of the tournament before Huntley Project launched a rally of their own. 

The eastern Montana team tacked on four runs to tie the game up, forcing the two sides to resolve the contest in extras. 

Only one extra inning was needed as catcher Alex Green smashed a solo home run to give Plains the go-ahead run. 

Green went 2 for 4 on the day, her other hit being a bases clearing RBI double. Green drove in four of the five runs scored by Plains in the game. 

Tia Thompson handled the pitching duties for Plains, striking out nine batters in the victory. Notably, Thompson ensured Huntley Project did not equalize in the bottom of the 8th inning, ending the opening round contest. 

Following the win, Plains faced the Conrad-Choteau softball team early Friday morning. 

The Trotters fell in the contest 4 to 1, but since the state tournament is a double elimination event, the Plains girls were not disqualified from the tournament. 

In game against Conrad-Choteau, Plains had the early lead, holding the Conrad team scoreless until the sixth. 

However, the sixth inning proved pivotal, with the eastern team pushing four runs across the plate. 

The Trotters did collect six hits in the loss, with Diana Woodward having an impressive day at the dish, going 3 for 4. 

The defeat against Conrad meant the Trotters had to play another game on Friday, with an early afternoon match against divisional rival Ronan, who had also suffered an early round loss in the tournament. 

Plains rebounded well, staying alive in the tournament by beating Ronan 10 to 6, thanks to a five run top of the seventh, which broke a 5 to 5 tie. 

In the elimination game, Thompson kept Plains in the game from the circle, while the Trotters offense secured the victory with their late game outburst. 

Green and Josey Carr led the offensive charge, with both players going 2 for 4 in the third game of the tournament. 

Green and Carr both drove in three runs during the game, with Jena Peterson adding two RBIs of her own. 

The win ensured a top four finish for Plains during the tournament and kept them alive for the championship.

In order to get a chance to play on Saturday, the Trotters still had to win one more game on Friday, facing Glasgow High School in the late afternoon. 

Plains showed no signs of slowing down, despite playing three games in one day, handing Glasgow a 12 to 6 defeat.

The Trotters were in control of the game for its entirety, putting the contest away early after going ahead by a score of 10 to 2 after three innings of play. 

The double-digit outpouring of offense came from all over the Plains lineup. 

Sami Kinzie had a double, going a perfect 3 for 3, while driving in five runs to lead the team to the win. 

Peterson added a double of her own, going 4 for 5 and driving in three runs in the fourth game of the tournament.

Hailey Coe also added an extra base hit for Plains. 

The win gave Plains an opportunity to play for the state championship, if they could get by their early round nemesis, Conrad-Choteau. 

Unfortunately, the early morning contest on Saturday did not end in favor of Plains. The final score was Conrad-Choteau 4 and Plains 0.  

Conrad held the Trotters to one hit during the season finale, with senior Alex Green breaking up Tristin Achenbach’s attempt at a no hitter. 

Nevertheless, the Plains girls should hold their heads high, following an impressive third place finish in the state tournament.

This achievement is all the more impressive when one considers that Plains was the lowest seed from the western division in the tournament. 

The Trotters have certainly gained a lot of experience throughout the course of the season and with only two seniors graduating, they are prepped to excel in the immediate future. 

“It was a good group of girls, they practiced hard and competed throughout the season,” Rude said.