The high school softball season is down to the final week and Columbia Falls and Polson are traveling to Sidney in search of hardware.
The Wildkats (13-8 overall, 3-3 in Northwestern A) are the No. 2 seed from this corner of the state and will face Havre at 1 p.m., Thursday, May 25. The winner advances to play No. 1 seed from the East, Miles City.
Polson (11-7, 3-3) will play Lewistown at 11 a.m., Thursday. The winner advances to play Hamilton/Darby.
In other action, Glendive plays Stevensville, 11. a.m. Thursday and Butte Central plays Sidney at 1 p.m.
The defending state champ, Frenchtown (17-1, 6-0), has a first-round bye and takes on the winner of Glendive and Stevensville at 3 p.m., Thursday.
In the Class AA ranks, Missoula Big Sky swept Glacier last week to end the Wolfpack’s season just shy of the state tournament.
Big Sky won 8-5 and 13-1 to clinch a trip to this week’s state tournament in Great Falls. Glacier ended the season 7-15 overall and 4-8 in Western AA. In the first game, Kali Gulick, Anna Schrade and Alivia Atlee hit homeruns for Glacier.
Helena swept Flathead in two games to end the Bravettes’ season. In a playoff matchup on May 19, Helena won 10-0 and 16-1 to advance to the AA state tournament. Flathead ended its season 2-19 overall and 0-12 in conference.
In the Class B/C ranks, Libby (20-6 overall, 8-0) in the North division, is rolling into this week’s state tournament with a top seed. The Lady Loggers will play Great Falls Central at 2 p.m., Thursday in Frenchtown.
In other action, Glasgow plays St. Ignatius, Florence plays Shepherd and Huntley Project takes on Missoula Loyola.