Trotters celebrate Senior Night with sweep of Troy

The Plains-Hot Springs softball team made sure Senior Night was going to be a memorable one.

The Trotters swept Troy Saturday to give them a four-game winning streak and a memorable sendoff for players Kenzi Blood, Skylar Bergstrom and manager Dacia Black-Garrison.

The Trotters shut out the Lady Trojans, 11-0 in five innings in the first game and took the doubleheader with a 21-6 triumph in the second contest.

In between games, the team, family members and fans took time to recognize the trio.

Bergstrom lettered in softball three years and in band twice. She also lettered all four years as a wrestling manager. Bergstrom is planning on attending the University of Montana Western and majoring in environmental sustainability.

Blood is a two-year letterwinner in softball, one year in girls wrestling and three years as a wrestling manager for the boys team. She is enlisted in the U.S. Navy.

Black-Garrison played volleyball for four years, lettered three times, and was academic All-State three years. She also played basketball two years and managed softball for one year. She is planning on attending college and pursuing a degree in counseling psychology.

With the sweep Saturday, the Trotters improved to 8-6 with four games remaining next week. Friday, they play a doubleheader at Loyola Missoula and Saturday at Mission.

“We’re getting better and better as we get to the end of the regular season,” first-year head coach Dani Crowe said.

The Deer Lodge native played softball at the University of Montana.

“We’re all learning something new every day and they’re a fun group of girls, so we’re enjoying it,” Crowe said.

In the opener, the Trotters scored single runs in each of the first two innings before exploding for five in the third and four in fourth.

Madison Elliott reached on a two-out, infield single and scored on an error. In the second inning, Celsey VonHeeder led off with a double to right field and scored on Jolena Caldwell’s groundout to short.

In the third inning, Skylar Bergstrom and Faith McGonagle each singled to begin the five-run rally. An error allowed them to move up a base. Bergstrom then scored on a grounder by Blood.

VonHeeder’s single brought home two more runs as McGonagle and Blood crossed the plate for a 5-0 lead.

An error allowed Carlie Wagoner to reach base and later, VonHeeder scored on a wild pitch. Caldwell knocked in another run with a groundout as Wagoner scored for a 7-0 lead.

In the fourth inning, the Trotters flashed some leather to keep Piper Bergstrom’s shutout intact.

Troy pitcher Elaine Folkerts led off with a smash off the body of Bergstrom in the circle, but first baseman Kaylah Standeford alertly snagged the ball out of the air for the first out.

Troy catcher Paige Burger thought she had a hit on a sinking liner to left, but Wagoner dove to make a great catch.

VonHeeder finished the inning when she ably fielded a ground ball and threw to Standeford at first for the final out of the frame.

In the bottom of the fourth, Plains-Hot Springs tallied four runs for an 11-0 lead.

Bergstrom and McGonagle reached base to begin the inning. Blood’s single to center scored Bergstrom. Two flyouts ensued, but Caldwell kept the inning alive when she drew a walk.

Standeford then ripped a single to score two runs and make it 11-0.

In the second game, Blood had two hits and four RBIs, Skylar Bergstrom had three hits and two RBIs while junior Genna Deschamps was 4-for-4 with four RBIs.

In the circle, Celsey VonHeeder had seven strikeouts as she collected the win.