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Great Falls High softball staged a comeback to defeat C.M. Russell High, rallying from a 4-0 deficit. Senior Ava Newmack's home run was pivotal in the sixth inning.
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The big rally came late for the Great Falls High softball team, but head coach Robb Soltesz saw the fight in his team from the jump.
Down 4-0 after a half inning to C.M. Russell High, senior Drew Swingley cracked a double to lead off before Ava Newmack sent one over the fence to deep left centerfield to cut the early deficit in half.
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While the fireworks would come five innings later for the Bison, Soltesz said the early response was a sign of things to come.
“They showed they didn’t have any quit in them from the get-go," Soltesz said. "They just kept chipping away.”
The no-quit attitude led to a five-run sixth inning for Great Falls High — pairing nicely with a strong relief pitching performance from Kinslee Reeves — as the Bison rallied to take down the rival Rustlers 9-8 on Friday, May 8, at the Multi-Sports Complex.
Ava Newmack clocked a pair of home runs for the Bison for three total RBIs, while Swingley added a solo shot and a crucial RBI with two outs in the sixth-inning rally.
The Great Falls High (4-10 overall, 2-7 Eastern AA) victory came despite Rilee Mares and Myli Adams combining for five CMR homers, the former tallying three solo jacks and the latter blasting a three-run shot in the first and a solo in the fourth.
Mares third home run of the evening put the Rustlers up 8-3 with no outs in the top of the fifth, with Reeves eventually spelling the starter Swingley in the circle for the Bison.
Ava Newmack cut it to 8-4 with her solo bomb in the bottom of the fifth before freshman Nina Newmack belted an RBI double to start off the sixth-inning Great Falls High surge. Landry Moog knocked in another run on the following at-bat, and Swingley made it a one-run affair four batters later on an infield single.
The Rustlers (9-5 overall, 5-4 conference) elected to intentionally walk Ava Newmack with two outs to load the bases, and senior Avery Rains delivered for the Bison with an RBI single to tie the game — with the eventual game-winner scoring as well on a CMR throwing error.
The final score of the game has not been provided in the excerpt.
Ava Newmack hit a home run for Great Falls High during the game.
Great Falls High was down 4-0 after the first half inning before making their comeback.
The head coach of the Great Falls High softball team is Robb Soltesz.
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“It was fun to watch them battle for seven innings, and we've done that off and on this year,” Soltesz said. “But the whole seven innings was just great.”
Reeves and the Great Falls High defense held CMR scoreless over the final three innings, with the pitcher slinging back-to-back strikeouts for the last two outs to close the game.
“(Swingley) was pitching tough,” Soltesz said. “She was struggling with her change up, which is her best pitch, and she threw her lights out the other day, and it just wasn't quite working like she wanted it to, but she still did a good job of keeping (CMR) off balance. She was pretty effective. And then we transitioned to (Reeves) and she was just dialed in today. So, it was great. Great one-two punch.”
Reeves picked up the victory in relief while Adams was tagged with the loss for CMR, finishing with six strikeouts while surrendering two walks and 10 hits.
Following Saturday, May 9’s makeup doubleheader for both teams against Billings Skyview and Billings Senior, the teams are both home on May 12 for a nonconference twinbill against the Kalispell schools at noon and 2 p.m. at Multi-Sports.
The Bison and Rustlers conclude the regular season with the second crosstown matchup on May 15 under the lights at 7 p.m., with potential postseason seeding implications on the line.
This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Rally lifts Great Falls High softball to crosstown win over CMR