In a thrilling Northwest A softball showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats, Ronan edged past Polson 10-9 on Thursday in a game that featured multiple lead changes and plenty of drama. This rare matchup, only the fourth meeting between the two programs since 2004, proved to be a memorable one.
Polson (7-9) came out swinging, scoring three runs in the first inning without recording a single hit. They extended their lead to 6-2 in the second, thanks to RBI singles from Abbigail Sanford and Jaliyah Pierre. But Ronan (5-8) showed resilience, answering with four runs in the bottom of the second to tie the game. Autumn Lozeau and Keeley Jackson drove in runs with timely singles, while Marie Cheff added a sacrifice fly.
The back-and-forth continued in the fourth when Polson's Logan McCrea delivered an RBI single to put her team ahead 7-6. McCrea was unstoppable at the plate, finishing 4-for-4 with four singles and three runs scored. But Ronan refused to back down, responding in the fifth with Lozeau and Sierra McGreevey each driving in runs to reclaim a 9-7 lead.
Polson tied the game in the sixth after a Ronan error allowed two runs to cross the plate. However, the Maidens had the final word, scoring the winning run in the bottom half on another Polson error. Shelby Taylor, Jackson, and McGreevey each collected two hits for Ronan, while Lozeau and Jackson drove in two runs apiece. Esther Montoya earned the win in relief, allowing just one earned run over four innings.
In other Northwest A action, Columbia Falls dominated early, scoring nine runs in the first two innings to cruise past Whitefish. Onnikka Lawrence drove in four runs, and Kahlan Moultray added six RBIs on two hits for the Wildkats (11-5). Lawrence also showcased her power with a triple and a double, while Kendal Gjesdal-Davis scored four runs and stole three bases. Columbia Falls finished with nine hits and 10 stolen bases, with Ella Branstetter allowing just two hits over 4 1/3 innings while striking out four. Whitefish (2-10) scored all three of its runs in the third, with Avery Britz driving in two for the Bulldogs.