MAC takes out Plains softball

Even a quick glance at the Plains-Hot Springs softball roster reveals the youth on the squad, which has just one senior and two juniors.

Seven of the 18 players listed are eighth graders, three are sophomores, two are freshmen and the rest are juniors. 

The talent is there, the experience factor is yet to come. 

But under the guidance of experienced coach Jon Zigler, that is not a bad thing for the future. 

The Trotters began their week last Monday with an 11-1 loss to Sanders County rival Thompson Falls, dropping them to 0-8 on the season, then turned their sights on a road game in St. Ignatius against Mission-Arlee-Charlo (MAC) this past Thursday, hoping to find their first win of the year. 

But it was not to be found against the Lady Bulldogs, who came into the game with a 5-1 mark, their only loss a defeat at the hands of Troy. 

Plains got on the scoreboard first with three runs in the top of the first inning on a double by sophomore Aubree Butcher and a single from Tia Bellinger.  But MAC erased that lead and took a lead of their own with six runs in the bottom of the first, fueled by a three-RBI single off the bat of Maddy Hanken. 

The Trotters recovered one of those runs in the top of the third, cutting the MAC advantage to 6-4, but the home team plated a run of their own in the bottom of the inning to push the lead back to three, 7-4.  

Plains was held scoreless the rest of the way, while the Bulldogs put up three runs in the fourth, three more in the fifth and two scores in the bottom of the sixth. 

Maia Christopher was 3-5 at the plate for MAC with three runs batted in.  Her three hits included a home run and two doubles.  Hanken also had three hits and three RBIs for the Bulldogs. 

Plains had three players with two hits each, including eighth grader Emery Josephson, Butcher and Karissa French.  Butcher and French knocked in one run each for the Trotters, who fell to 0-9 with the loss. 

Next up for Plains is a home game this Thursday (April 17) at 3 pm against Eureka.  They travel to Troy this Friday afternoon for a game against the Lady Trojans.