Wildcats erupt after early deficit, defeat Vikings
COLUMBIA FALLS — After falling behind in the first inning, Columbia Falls erupted for 12 runs across three innings, rolling to a 15-4 win in a clash between Northwest A foes on Tuesday evening. “I just had a good time out there and played ball,” Wildcats pitcher Jett Pitts said. “We’re like a family, baseball is a sport that is 90 percent mental and we knew that today.
” Bigfork (4-1) set the tone early. Rye Rodriguez worked a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Max Schara’s RBI single. A dropped third strike allowed another run to cross, giving the Vikings a quick 2-0 edge.
It didn’t last. Columbia Falls (4-2) responded immediately, loading the bases in the bottom half before Tristan Victor lined a two-run single to tie it. Jaxson Cadwell followed with an RBI hit, and just like that the Wildcats were in front 3-2.
The Wildcats broke it open in the second, stringing together quality at-bats and taking advantage of mistakes to plate seven runs. Jory Hill and Nico Young each drove in runs to start the surge. Pitts doubled to bring two home, and Wyatt Dodson capped the inning with a two-run double that stretched the lead to 10-2.
“I love baseball season, I am having a great time — we went out there and had fun,” Hill said. Bigfork answered briefly in the third, scoring twice with the help of an error. Grady Campbell provided the highlight, swiping home to cut the deficit to 10-4.