Bravettes open state softball play versus CMR

It was a sad moment Wednesday for the six senior members of the Flathead Bravette softball team.

That's when Flathead head coach Dale Beerman reminded the six - Ashley Fusaro, Britanni Danielson, Brandi Boreson, Amanda Lidstrom, Kris Robertson and Rachel Bennett - that Wednesday's practice would be their last at the Conrad Complex.

"That's pretty sad," the coach said.

"But I think we're ready. We're ready to play again."

The Bravettes left early this morning for the Class AA state softball tournament at Helena's Batch Fields.

They play Great Falls Russell (No. 1 from the Eastern AA) at 2 p.m. today. The winner will play the winner of Helena Capital/Billings Senior at 10 a.m. Friday. The loser plays the loser of that game at noon Friday.

CMR and Flathead have met just once this year - during the season-opening Great Falls jamboree.

The Lady Rustlers won 4-0.

Two or three of those runs were unearned, Beerman said.

"We've gotten a lot better since then."

The Rustlers also have a pretty decent pitcher.

"She hits her spots pretty well. She's not overpowering, but she's smart," Beerman said.

"I don't think they make many mistakes," Beerman said of the Lady Rustlers. "I think they run a lot. So we practiced some bunt defense this week.

"They play similar to what we play. Hopefully, we'll win the short game battle. Then maybe (junior outfielder Liz) Dwyer will get up and hit one out," Beerman joked.

It was Dwyer's homer in the bottom of the 10th inning that helped Flathead defeat Helena High in a best of three playoff last Thursday.

The Bravettes are still riding that high.

"Hopefully, we can get going right off the bat," the coach said.

"It would be just so nice to be sitting there on Saturday waiting for somebody to play us. It's possible with this team," he said.

"If we keep our heads in it. Stay focused. That magic word," he said.

"They can play with anybody. They could win this whole thing," the coach said.