The Capital City Classic girls fastpitch softball tournament moves into its third and final day of competition today.

After two days of pool play to determine seeding for bracket play, the championships in four different age-groups will be contested this afternoon.

In the 18U division, some of the teams to beat are the Electric City Heat, Polson, Red Deer Sliders, Glacier Emeralds and Helena Thunder.

The Helena Thunder lost their first game in pool play, falling to the Emeralds 7-1. The Capital City group bounced back to win their next game 5-3 over the Havre Ponies. Carly Grant started on the hill, going the first two innings before Sarah Jackson came in to relieve. Grant allowed one hit and struck out four batters. It was Jackson's pitching debut and she went 3 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and three runs, while fanning six. Grant came back in to record the final out.

"That's my first time pitching in an actual game, and it was very exciting," Jackson said. "It was a great experience, I'd like to do it more often."

The Thunder's offense was sparked by a two-run double by Jordyn Gillespie, Megan Graff's two-bagger, a sacrifice fly by Grant and Britt Mayer's RBI single.

"We're moving a lot of players around in different positions," said coach Mike Miller of the Thunder, which is comprised of a blend of Helena High and Capital High players. "Last week in Bozeman we played well in the pool play and not so good in the tournament bracket, so maybe this weekend will be the reverse of that."

The Thunder lost to the R.D. Sliders in their third game by a score of 5-2.

In the 14U age-group, some of the better performers heading into bracket play are the Montana Bandits, Electric City Heat, Billings Bulldogs, Spokane Storm, Great Falls Select, Master Sports, Billings Extreme, Helena's MountainWest Crush and Helena Silverstorm.

The MountainWest Crush lost to the Billings Bulldogs 10-0, and then defeated the Calgary Diamond Devils, 7-3.

After tying the Belgrade Wolfpack 3-3, the Silverstorm took the measure of the Polson Lakers 3-2 in a pitcher's duel. Jayden Tripp, who worked hard on the rubber for the complete game victory, kept the Wolfpack hitters at bay with her two-seam fastball. Maddison Ellis sparked the offense, while shortstop Amy Nordahl was the defensive stalwart, according to coach Cheri Tripp.

The Montana Madness, the third local club in the 14U category, lost twice, to the Bozeman Stealers and Glacier Emeralds 11-2 and 6-4, respectively.

Some of the better performances in pool play in the 12U division were Electric City Heat, Billings Force, Polson Wave, Billings Bulldogs, Great Falls Selects, Glacier Green, Frenchtown Fury and Bozeman Stealers.

The Helena 12U Thunder dropped a pair of contests Saturday, to the Billings Force 11-1, and the Selects 7-2. The Montana Madness lost to Billings Bulldogs, 10-0, and then were dumped by the Bitteroot Sparks, 13-2.

In the 10U division, a few of the top showings in pool play belonged to the Bitteroot Sparks, Glacier Emeralds, Billings Bulldogs, Electric City Heat and Bozeman Stealers.

In the 10U division, the Helena Thunder fell to the Bitteroot Sparks 10-1, and then defeated the Belgrade Wolfpack, 13-6. Hayden Starz pitched the complete triumph. "She gave up only two hits and struck out four batters," said coach Scott Murphy. The big hitters for the game were Ricky Powers, Syndey Lattice and Hunter Heaton. Murphy said that shortstop Jordan Hinman, second baseman Abby Crist, and left fielder Nina Murphy all earned web-jems for their defense.

The Classic is a 54-team event, with action taking place at Mihelish Park, Ramey Field, Ryan Fields, Batch Fields and Northwest Park.

Reporter Curt Synness: 449-2150 or curt52s@bresnan.net