Coaches from around Montana have been shoveling snow from softball fields and tracks for days or weeks in preparation for the start of spring sports.
The spring season arrived Monday, as athletes participating in spring golf, softball, tennis, and track and field were eligible to begin practicing. The first eligible day for competition is March 14 for golf and March 23 for softball, tennis and track.
Only half of Montana’s golf classifications play in the spring, with golfers from Class B or Class C schools hitting the links. Golfers from Class AA or Class A schools carded their rounds in the fall.
The State B golf meet will be May 15-16 at Eagle Rock Golf Course at Shepherd. The State C meet will be the same days at Fairmont Golf Course in Anaconda. Missoula Loyola (Class B) and Harlowton (C) won last year’s state boys golf titles. Three Forks (Class B) and Manhattan Christian (C) are the defending girls champions.
The state softball tournaments are slated for May 24-26, with Class AA playing its tournament in Helena, Class A playing in Frenchtown and Class B/C in Belgrade. Great Falls CMR (Class AA), Belgrade (A) and Florence (B-C) are the defending state champions.
The State AA tennis tournament will be May 17-18 in Kalispell, the State A tournament May 24-25 in Polson and Ronan, and the State B-C tournament May 17-19 in Great Falls. The Bozeman boys and girls (Class AA), Billings Central boys (A), Libby boys (B-C) and Townsend girls (B-C) won 2017 tennis championships. Billings Central and Glendive tied for the State A girls title.
Great Falls will host the State AA and State C track meets on May 25-26, while Laurel will host the State A and State B meets the same days. Billings West (Class AA), Sidney (A), Fairfield (B) and Ennis (C) won last year’s boys state track titles. Missoula Sentinel (Class AA), Belgrade (A), Bigfork (B) and Fort Benton (C) won the girls championships.
Coaches and administrators are encouraged to submit meet and game results to sports@ktvh.com.
