Breakers Softball Off To State

As we approach the Memorial Day weekend and many of us are preparing to take time off, many of our local sports heroes are preparing for their final weekend of play. Here in Missoula the Loyola Breakers are getting ready for a trip to Belgrade Montana for the 2018 State Class B/C Softball Tournament May 24th-26th.

The Breakers go into the tournament this weekend as the fourth seed out of the west finishing their season 15-9 overall, and going 2-2 at the Class B Western Divisional in Florence last weekend. Loyola finished the Divisional with a close 11-8 loss to Plains-Hot Springs on Saturday and look to shake off the loss and make a run at a state title.

From the mound the Breakers are lead by the strong arm of Kayla Hickethier who has won 14 out of the 21 games she has pitched this season. Hichethier has been a menus to opposing batters, striking out 160 players who have stepped to the dish, struck out the first two batters of the inning 44 times, and finished with a .597 first pitch swing strike percentage. Hickethier is more than just a force in the pitchers circle, she is also a team leader, though she wants to win a state title the Loyola pitcher has another goal this weekend, “To get closer with my teammates and see how we can play against really good teams.” Hickethier and the Breakers will have long road ahead as they have Shepherd and Lincoln County on their side of the Bracket.

At the plate Loyola is a force to recon with as they are stacked with players who are swinging the bat with purpose. Of the batters driving the Breakers .358 average is their catcher Carly Tipp who is second to Hickethier in RBI’s with 30, and is a close second to Hickethier with an average of .449 in the 24 games the duo have played. Senior veteran Natalie Goodman is who has a on base percentage of .551 in the 21 games she has held down third base. One player who has been hot for Loyola all season long is first baseman Molly Miltko who found her grove mid way through the season and the Breakers have road her wave since.

The Breakers will start thier run at a state title Thursday afternoon at 4:00 pm against the number one team out of the East in Shepherd.