'MAC Attack' heads to state tourney
Melea Burke
MAC senior pitcher Loren Erickson winds up during MAC’s divisional tourney opener against Plains Friday. MAC won 7-5.
Melea Burke
Melea Burke
Melea Burke
Sophomore Lindsay Johnson heads for second base with a smile.
Melea Burke
Melea Burke
Senior Sara Nerby gets a base hit against Plains during divisionals last weekend.
Melea Burke
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
ST. IGNATIUS — With rainstorms, cold weather and puddles to contend with this spring, the MAC softball team just laughed. They’ve dealt with worse weather, including 2 inches of snow at last year’s state tournament. MAC stands for Mission, Arlee and Charlo, since it’s a combined team of girls from the three different schools.
After beating Ronan three times and finishing third at the district tourney, the MAC Attack — as the team is known to fans — just managed to take fourth at divisionals, meaning the girls are headed to the state tournament starting Thursday in Great Falls.
With five seniors, two freshman starters and assorted juniors and sophomores, the makeup of this year’s team “is different, but the outcome is the same,” according to senior pitcher Loren Erickson.
Captains Sahriha Camacho, Alyssa Doty, Erickson and Sara Nerby are the team leaders, Weaselhead said. They’re also humble, but they also are top of the batting order. Nerby leads off, followed by Erickson, then Camacho, with Doty — probably the best hitter, according to her teammates — batting cleanup.
The MAC girls are a tightly knit group who make sure to keep each other “pumped up” during games.
“We support each other,” Nerby explained.
“We’re MAC family,” Camacho agreed.
That’s one of the best things about her team, Weaselhead said, “just that they are a family, MAC family, and the way they get along. It’s awesome how they all pull together.”
It’s extra special to see these girls work together, since during the rest of the school year, their schools compete against each other in other sports. The elementary school counselor in St. Ignatius, Weaselhead played league softball, but girls’ softball wasn’t available at her high school. She’s watched this year’s seniors since they were third-graders, back when she began teaching in Mission.
“Two years ago we were fourth at state; last we were third at state,” Weaselhead said.
This year, they hope to keep climbing.
Western B-C Divisionals
MAC 7, Plains 5
MAC: Sara Nerby 1-4; Loren Erickson 1-4; Sahriha Camacho 1-2; Alyssa Doty 2-3; Emyli Gillingham 2-4; Jordyn Eichert 0-2; Morgan Malatare 1-3; Emilie Charlo 1-3; Trinda Foust 0-1; Mik Roylance 0-2.
Extra bases: Erickson 2B, Camacho 2B, Doty HR
RBI: Camacho 2, Doty 2, Charlo 1, Nerby 1, Erickson 1.
Ronan 6, MAC 0
MAC: Sara Nerby 1-3; Loren Erickson 0-4; Sahriha Camacho 1-3; Alyssa Doty 1-3; Emily Gillingham 0-3; Jordyn Eichert 0-2; Morgan Malatare 0-2; Emilie Charlo 0-2; Trinda Foust 0-2.
MAC 11, Loyola 6
MAC: Sara Nerby 0-5; Loren Erickson 1-4; Sahriha Camacho 2-5; Alyssa Doty 0-3; Emyli Gillingham 3-4; Emilie Charlo 0-3; Morgan Malatare 0-3; Jordyn Eichert 1-4; Courtney Charlo 2-3.
RBI: Gillingham 3, Erickson 1, Camacho 1, C. Charlo 1
Deer Lodge 13, MAC 12
MAC: Sara Nerby 2-4; Loren Erickson 0-3; Sahriha Camacho 2-5; Alyssa Doty 1-4; Emyli Gillingham 3-5; Emilie Charlo 0-3; Morgan Malatare 2-4; Jordyn Eichert 1-3; Courtney Charlo 0-4.
Extra bases: Camacho 2B.
RBI: Camacho 1, Gillingham 2, Malatare 2, Eichert 1, C. Charlo 1, Nerby 1, Erickson 2.
