Sports

sports Bulldogs nip Maidens, 8-5

Story and photos by Rob Zolman / Valley Journal

ST. IGNATIUS — Taking on visiting non-conference cross county foe Ronan Maidens on Tuesday, April 5, the MAC Lady Bulldogs held off a late comeback from the Maidens to grab an 8-5 win.

MAC bats started the game big, scoring two runs in the first and second innings for an early 4-0 lead, while MAC pitcher Payton Smith held the Maiden without a run.

The Maidens broke the scoreless stretch with two runs in the top of the third, however, MAC picked up two crucial runs to keep pace with Ronan in the bottom half of the third inning.

Headed into the fourth inning down 6-2, the Maidens cut into the deficit by scoring two more runs.

MAC responded by scoring a run in each the fifth and sixth innings to cement the narrow three-run victory.

Payton Smith led MAC at the plate with two RBIs in the win, while Gabby Smith, Jerny Crawford, Rheid Crawford, Hayleigh Smith, Kate Young and Bennan Anderson each finished with one RBI.

Payton Smith pitched the first three innings striking out four and giving up two runs on five hits and no walks.

Picking up the win for MAC in the circle, Izzy Evans finished off the final innings striking out two and giving up three runs on five hits and two walks.

Kiara Sherman took the loss for the Maidens allowing eight runs on 13 hits striking out one.

At the plate for the Maidens Ashlie Welker finished 3-for-4, while LouRasia Weatherwax booked two RBIs on two hits which included a double and a home run.

LouRasia Weatherwax Lettie Umphrey slides into second base

Izzy Evans Kiara Sherman

Sibling skiers complete successful season

Photos and news from Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation

WHITEFISH — Polson siblings Otto and Greta Lund have been making the trip to Whitefish Mountain Resort every weekend to train for ski racing with the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation (FVSEF) team for the past several winters. Their persistence has paid off with some outstanding results this year.

Over the 2021-22 winter, Otto won four of seven slaloms in the Under 16 (U16) age class, three of five giant slaloms, and three of six super-g’s. Greta skied her way onto the podium in the U14 age class nine times, with four podiums including two wins in super-g, one podium in giant slalom, and four podiums including one win in slalom.

Both qualified to represent the Northern Division team at regional championship events this March. Western Region championships include competitors from the Far West (California and Nevada), Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, northern Idaho), Alaska, Intermountain (Utah, southern Idaho, southern Wyoming), and Northern divisions (Montana, western South Dakota, northern Wyoming).

Otto Lund was one of just four Northern Division boys who raced in the Under 16 (U16) Western Regional Championships held March 14-17 in Big Sky. The FVSEF team also qualified three girls for the U16 championships including Kellie Klepper and Raiya McCutcheon from Whitefish and Melody McNalley from Columbia Falls. Greta Lund was one of eight Northern Division girls who competed at the U14 Wester Regional Championships held March 24-27 at Mammoth Mountain, California. The FVSEF team also qualified Jackson Surber from Missoula and Sydney McPhie and Lola Zinser from Whitefish for the Mammoth races. FVSEF teammate and fellow Polson Pirate Jordon Jurasek also qualified for and raced in the U18 Western Regional Junior Championships held March 12-17 at Mission Ridge near Wenatchee, Washington.

The Northern Division recognized Otto at their annual end of year awards ceremony last weekend in Bridger Bowl. For the season long Gold Cup which is open to all Senior (21 and older), U21, U19, and U16 age classes, Otto was second in the overall standings and received a scholarship of $300.

Right: Greta Lund wins the Big Sky super-g race this past winter racing season.

Below left: Otto Lund races in the giant slalom.

BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT: Lower Crow land acquisition to protect sh in eastern Montana

The Bonneville Power Administration is working with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes to acquire an 80-acre property located about 6.5 miles southwest of Ronan in Lake County, Montana. When the purchase is complete, the CSKT would own and manage the property for sh and wildlife conservation purposes, and the We appreciate the opportunity to United States government, through BPA, would hold a conservation easement to ensure serve you and your clients!permanent protection of the habitat on the property.

BPA’s funding of the property purchase would support conservation of Endangered Species Act-listed species considered in the 2020 ESA consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the operations and maintenance of the Columbia River System. It would also support ongoing e orts to mitigate for the e ects of the Federal Columbia River Power System on sh and wildlife in the mainstem Columbia River and its Montana Land Title Association and tributaries pursuant to the Paci c Northwest Electric Power Planning and Conservation American Land Title Association Member Act of 1980.

Information describing BPA’s environmental review requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act is available at www.bpa.gov/environmental-initiatives/efw/ categorical-exclusions. A map and fact sheet mailed to local area landowners will be available to the public upon request once the transaction closes.

For more information, call BPA project manager, Cecilia Brown, at 503-230-3462 or email ckbrown@bpa.gov. You can also call the BPA Communications department toll-free at 800-622-4519; please refer to the “Lower Crow” land acquisition

sports shorts

TENNIS

Ronan Chiefs and Maidens

On Tuesday, April 5, the Ronan Chiefs fell 2-5 to the visiting Columbia Falls Wildcats, while the Lady Wildkats swept the Maidens 6-0.

Chief Dillon PrettyOnTop defeated Wildcat Dale Blickhan in three sets 3-6,6-4,6-3 and Beau Decker picked up a two set 6-1, 6-0 win over Orion Barta.

The visiting Libby Loggers and Lady Loggers on Thursday slipped past both the Chiefs and Maidens by identical scores of 4-3.

For the Chiefs, Decker came away with a 6-0, 6-0 singles match victory, while singles doubles teammates Larenz Alvarez/ Brady Dresden and Dylan Schock/Isaac Cantlon defeated their Libby opponents.

On the Maidens’ side of the court, doubles duo Aaliyah Decker and Alyssa PrettyOnTop picked up a 6-0, 6-2 win. Kaileen Howard and Angie Paca nabbed single wins for Ronan.

Polson Pirates and Lady Pirates

Pirate Chris Lake and Lady Pirate Clara Todd were the lone match winners for Polson tennis during non-conference matches against visiting Dillon on Friday.

On Saturday, Polson hosted a set of tennis duals with Dillon and the Whitefish Bulldogs.

Whitefish defeated both Polson tennis squads 5-2, while the Pirates slipped past Dillon 4-3 and the Lady Pirates fell 4-3 to the Dillon girls.

Against Whitefish, Lady Pirates Clara Todd and Katie Smith picked up wins in their singles matches, while Torrin Ellis and doubles team Trent Wilson/ Owen McElwee nabbed wins for the Pirates.

Todd, Smith and Hope Morrison won their Dillon matches for the Lady Pirates, while Ellis, Wilson, Lake and Otto Lund snagged singles wins over Dillon.

SOFTBALL

Ronan Maidens

Playing in Missoula on the University of Montana Lady Griz softball field on Wednesday, the Maidens fell 11-7 to the Corvallis Lady Blue Devils.

On Saturday, Maiden pitcher Kiara Sherman struck out five and gave up 10 runs on 10 hits in a 10-3 loss to the visiting Frenchtown Lady Broncs.

Polson Lady Pirates

Under the lights Tuesday night, April 5, the Polson Lady Pirates moved to 3-0 on the young season with a 16-0 shutout win over visiting Hamilton Lady Broncs.

In the circle for the Lady Pirates, Katelyne Druyvestein picked up her third win of the season holding the Lady Broncs bats hitless, striking out seven and walking three.

Druyvestein also led the Lady Pirates at the plate with three RBIs followed by Carli Maley and Jaivin BadBear with two RBIs apiece.

MAC Lady Bulldogs

Playing on the road in Troy, MAC Lady Bulldogs made quick work of the hosting Troy Lady Trojans in a 23-2 mercy-rule win late Friday afternoon.

Picking up the win for MAC in the circle, Izzy Evans allowed one run on one hit striking out two and walking one.

Evans helped her cause at the plate going 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and four RBIs, while Jerny Crawford booked four RBIs on two home runs. Also for MAC, Bennan Anderson posted four RBIs and a home run and Payton Smith had three RBIs which included a double and a home run.

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