Plains softball routs Deer Lodge

It had been awhile since the Plains Trotters fastpitch softball team’s home-opening win over Sanders County rival Thompson Falls.

But they shook off any concerns they may be rusty 11 days after their thrilling 9-8 win over T-Falls, scoring 18 runs in the top of the second inning as they routed Deer Lodge 23-1 on the Lady Wardens’ home field Saturday afternoon.

The win squared Plains’ season record at 2-2.

Senior shortstop Izzy Butcher got the Trotters run onslaught going in the first inning when she scored with one out in the opening frame. After a three-up, three-down bottom half of the first, including a pair of strikeouts by Deer Lodge batters, the Trotters prepared for what would be a major offensive assault.

All nine of the first nine batters to come to the plate scored for Plains, as they batted through the entire line-up twice and brought five batters up to bat for the third time in the second stanza.

Butcher scored a pair of runs in the second and had four runs scored for the game as she added another run scored during the Trotters’ top half of the third. Sophomore Kassidy O’Keefe scored three runs in the second for Plains during a 20-plus hit barrage in the inning.

Deer Lodge finally got the final out of the top of the second, then scored their only run of the game in the bottom half of the inning.

But Plains added another four runs in the top of the third, then held Deer Lodge scoreless in the bottom of the inning as the game was called after three innings due to the 10-run, three inning minimum Mercy rule.

The Trotters play three games this week, including an afternoon game today (Tuesday) against visiting Mission. They then host Anaconda Thursday afternoon before hitting the road for a game Saturday in Eureka.