BELGRADE — The Eastern AA divisional softball tournament started on Tuesday in Belgrade with eight teams vying for four berths to the State AA tournament.
First Round:
(2) Great Falls High 14, (7) Bozeman Gallatin 1
Great Falls' Stephanie Joblanski went 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. Ryen Palmer had two hits, two RBI and three runs scored as the Bison cruised passed Gallatin 14-1 in the first round.
Bison pitcher Tehneson Ehnes pitched five innings, giving up only one hit with six strikeouts.
(3) Billings West 21, (6) Great Falls CMR 5
West's Emma Balsam went 4-for-5, scoring four runs and driving in five RBI as the Golden Bears dropped CMR 21-5 in the first round. Chloe Nelson had four RBI and two hits. Lauren Blaschak went 3-for-3 with one RBI.
The game finished in five innings due to the 10-run rule.
(4) Belgrade 14, (5) Billings Skyview 5
Belgrade's Kenna Thomas went 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored. Arin Eaton had one hit and three RBI. Shaylis Olser went 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI, as Belgrade topped Billings Skyview 14-5 in Tuesday's first round.
Eaton pitched a complete game, giving up three earned runs and striking out three.
Falcons senior Natalie Beck finished 3-for-4 with three RBI.
(1) Billings Senior 8, (8) Bozeman High 2
Senoir' Hollis Baker went 2-for-3, scoring two runs and driving in two RBI. Alexis Waddingham went 2-for-2, while driving in two RBI, and top-seeded Billings Senior started the divisional tournament with an 8-2 win over Bozeman.
Billings Senior pitcher Riley Reinhart pitched a complete game, giving up only one earned run and striking out eight.
Semifinal round:
(3) Billings West 9, (2) Great Falls High 6
Lauren Blaschak went 3-for-4 with five RBI and three runs scored to Billings West advance to the championship game with a 9-6 win over Great Falls High in the semifinal round. Chloe Nelson went 3-for-4 with one run and two RBI for the Golden Bears.
Tehneson Ehnes had one hit, one run scored and two RBI for the Bison.
The Bears advance to the championship at 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
(4) Belgrade 5, (1) Billings Senior 4
Belgrade's Arin Eaton went 2-for-3, scoring one run while driving in three RBI, and Taylor Thomas was stellar on the mound for Belgrade, pitching 5.1 innings, giving up only one earned run, as the Panthers upset Billings Senior, 5-4, in Tuesday's semifnal round. Arin Eaton pitched 1.2 innings to finish the game, giving up zero earned runs.
Kennedy Venner pitched a fine game for the Broncs. She pitched six innings, giving up only four hits, while striking out eight and giving up five earned runs.
The Panthers advance to the championship to take on Billings West at 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
