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The C.M. Russell High softball team is off to the state tournament.
The Rustlers (14-7) earned the state berth behind a strong pitching performance from starting pitcher Ella Cron and timely hits as they took down Billings Skyview 4-2 on Thursday, May 21, at the Multi-Sports Complex in a play-in contest.
As the higher seed in the Nos. 4-5 Eastern AA playoff matchup, CMR needed just the one win over the Falcons (6-13) to reach next week’s tournament on May 28-30 in Missoula – avoiding the “if-necessary” game as Cron struck out 15 Skyview batters.
More: Vote for Prep Athlete of the Week, May 19-22
More: Montana Eastern AA division girls track and field leaders
“One goal is accomplished,” CMR head coach Alex Hurley said. “We’ve got many more to accomplish here, but we made it through the first one, to just get through this game, compete every inning and finish with a win. So, to do that is a great feeling. I’m proud of our girls for doing what they needed to do throughout the game to get that ‘W.’”
The playoff contrasted with the two regular-season games between the clubs, in which the teams combined for 52 runs in two CMR one-run victories.
Taylor Gallardo briefly handed the Falcons the lead at 1-0 on an RBI ground out in the opening frame before Ruby Dean tied things up for CMR on a single in the bottom of the first.
The Rustlers capitalized on a Skyview error in the third inning as a would-be pop out fell through to score a pair.
Kaylee Baker brought Skyview within one with a two-out RBI single in the top of the sixth before Rilee Mares added some CMR insurance with a solo home run on the first pitch of the bottom half.
The sophomore Cron struck out the final two batters of the game to extend the season. Cron allowed just two hits, three walks and one earned run behind her 15 punchouts in the complete-game win. Skyview’s Brooklyn Arce was solid in the defeat, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and one walk.
“Ella was very good on the mound again today,” Hurley said. “It’s good to see her have some dominance up there. She’s throwing hard and her spins are looking good. She’s done a good job. She allowed a few on base, but our defense has been playing solid behind her. To hold them to two runs, we’re very proud of her for holding it up on the mound for us today.”
Mares again led CMR at the dish with a 2-for-3 showing with the home run, her sixth in the last seven games. Hurley said the senior first baseman has been stellar with the stick and glove this season.
“Rilee Mares is just hungry,” Hurley said. “She made an unbelievable play at first today to keep a runner on third and just all the way around, offensively, defensively, she’s locked in and she’s doing what she needs to do. She plays a huge role for us, so to have her bat be consistent and strong for us, it’s really good for our lineup.”
CMR’s seed and first-round opponent in the state tournament is still to be determined as of Thursday prior to the conclusion of the remaining play-in games.
Great Falls High (No. 6) faces off with No. 3 Billings Senior on Friday, May 22, at 2 p.m. on the road, needing two wins to advance to the tourney.
The Class AA state meet takes place at Fort Missoula Regional Park on May 28-29 and moves to the University of Montana Softball Field for the trophy rounds on Saturday, May 30.
This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: CMR softball advances to state tournament as Ella Cron strikes out 15
Continue reading...
The Rustlers (14-7) earned the state berth behind a strong pitching performance from starting pitcher Ella Cron and timely hits as they took down Billings Skyview 4-2 on Thursday, May 21, at the Multi-Sports Complex in a play-in contest.
As the higher seed in the Nos. 4-5 Eastern AA playoff matchup, CMR needed just the one win over the Falcons (6-13) to reach next week’s tournament on May 28-30 in Missoula – avoiding the “if-necessary” game as Cron struck out 15 Skyview batters.
More: Vote for Prep Athlete of the Week, May 19-22
More: Montana Eastern AA division girls track and field leaders
“One goal is accomplished,” CMR head coach Alex Hurley said. “We’ve got many more to accomplish here, but we made it through the first one, to just get through this game, compete every inning and finish with a win. So, to do that is a great feeling. I’m proud of our girls for doing what they needed to do throughout the game to get that ‘W.’”
The playoff contrasted with the two regular-season games between the clubs, in which the teams combined for 52 runs in two CMR one-run victories.
Taylor Gallardo briefly handed the Falcons the lead at 1-0 on an RBI ground out in the opening frame before Ruby Dean tied things up for CMR on a single in the bottom of the first.
The Rustlers capitalized on a Skyview error in the third inning as a would-be pop out fell through to score a pair.
Kaylee Baker brought Skyview within one with a two-out RBI single in the top of the sixth before Rilee Mares added some CMR insurance with a solo home run on the first pitch of the bottom half.
The sophomore Cron struck out the final two batters of the game to extend the season. Cron allowed just two hits, three walks and one earned run behind her 15 punchouts in the complete-game win. Skyview’s Brooklyn Arce was solid in the defeat, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and one walk.
“Ella was very good on the mound again today,” Hurley said. “It’s good to see her have some dominance up there. She’s throwing hard and her spins are looking good. She’s done a good job. She allowed a few on base, but our defense has been playing solid behind her. To hold them to two runs, we’re very proud of her for holding it up on the mound for us today.”
Mares again led CMR at the dish with a 2-for-3 showing with the home run, her sixth in the last seven games. Hurley said the senior first baseman has been stellar with the stick and glove this season.
“Rilee Mares is just hungry,” Hurley said. “She made an unbelievable play at first today to keep a runner on third and just all the way around, offensively, defensively, she’s locked in and she’s doing what she needs to do. She plays a huge role for us, so to have her bat be consistent and strong for us, it’s really good for our lineup.”
CMR’s seed and first-round opponent in the state tournament is still to be determined as of Thursday prior to the conclusion of the remaining play-in games.
Great Falls High (No. 6) faces off with No. 3 Billings Senior on Friday, May 22, at 2 p.m. on the road, needing two wins to advance to the tourney.
The Class AA state meet takes place at Fort Missoula Regional Park on May 28-29 and moves to the University of Montana Softball Field for the trophy rounds on Saturday, May 30.
This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: CMR softball advances to state tournament as Ella Cron strikes out 15
Continue reading...
