Bunts lift Wolfpack

Glacier's Joel Bemis had a message for the Wolfpack during Wednesday softball practice.

"If you are called upon to bunt, you need to do it," Bemis informed the Glacier players.

Bemis was a bit worried heading into Thursday's crosstown softball game with the Flathead Bravettes.

"I had a feeling it was going to be a close game because (Bravette pitcher) Meagan Hash has been throwing really well lately. They've played everybody the second half very closely," he said of the Bravettes.

Sure enough, the game was tight.

In the bottom of third inning, with Hash and Glacier pitcher Kendra Bouley locked in a scoreless pitcher's dual, Bemis called for a bunt from Zoey Pettit.

"I told her, if they go into their slap defense, bunt it down the third base line.

"I thought she could make it with her speed. I thought, if she can put this bunt in the right spot, she can make it," he said.

Pettit dropped the ball two feet in front of the plate and then beat out the throw.

Glacier's Megan Connolly moved Pettit with a second bunt and when the Bravettes failed to cover third base, Pettit hustled right over.

A third bunt from Bouley put the Wolfpack up 1-0. It added one more insurance run in the sixth and came away with a 2-0 victory over Flathead in the conference game.

"We didn't cover the bunt, first to third. It was a mistake on our part. That's just our inexperience coming through," said Flathead coach Tim Severson.

The Wolfpack (5-7, 9-10) then tacked on an 11-1 win in the second game.

"When we really needed it, they executed," Bemis said of the Wolfpack.

"I was pleased with that. It was a pretty pressure situation and they came through," the coach said.

"For us to get anything going, we had to go small ball. That first run was huge. The way it was going, both pitchers were battling. It was exactly what we needed," he said.

Both pitchers were outstanding - Bouley struck out just four Bravettes, but gave up just two hits and no walks.

"We played solid defense. It's exciting to see the team work together defensively," the coach said.

Hash was as good - one strikeout, four hits and no walks.

"Meagan Hash pitched a great game," Severson said.

"We brought some young girls up the second game and gave them some opportunities," he said.

He added compliments to sophomore Casey Roylston and freshman Aubrey Montayne. Both hit doubles in the second game.

It appears the Wolfpack will likely be the No. 5 seed in next week's Western AA playoff. According to Bemis, Glacier will be on the road at Big Sky.

The Bravettes, meanwhile, will be headed to Western AA leader Hellgate for their playoff next week.

"We're competing well and we're looking forward to the playoff game," Severson said.

Glacier 2, Flathead 0

Flathead 000 000 0 - 0 2 3

Glacier 001 001 x - 2 4 1

Meagan Hash and Megan Olszewski. Kendra Bouley and Brittany Franklin.

Flathead - Meagan Hash 1-3, Kendra Bennett 1-3, Megan Olszewski 0-3, Chrystine Hanson 0-3, Kassie Martin 0-3, Cherise Stivers 0-3, Brenna Palmer 0-2, Casey Roylston 0-2, Emily Jones 0-2.

Glacier - Anna Costa 0-3, Britney Brown 0-3, Brittany Franklin 1-3, Lyndsey Hoffenbacker 1-3, Abby Connolly 0-3, Micah Hergesheimer 0-3, Zoey Pettit 2-2, Megan Connolly 0-1, Kendra Bouley 0-1.

2B - Hoffenbacker. RBI - A. Connolly, Bouley.

Glacier 11, Flathead 1

Flathead 000 01 - 1 3 1

Glacier 004 43 - 11 12 0

Elaina Gordon and Alexa Mrgich. Kendra Bouley and Brittany Franklin.

Flathead - Kassie Martin 0-3, Taylor Twichel 0-2, Christyne Hanson 0-2, Mrgich 1-2, Christy Price 0-2, Karlee Stacy 0-2, Casey Roylston 1-1, Hailley Johnson 0-1 Aubrey Montayne1-1.

2B - Roylston, Montayne RBI - Montayne.

Glacier - Pettit 1-3, Brown 3-4, Franklin 2-3, Hoffenbacker 1-3, A. Connolly 2-3, Hergesheimer 0-3, Kristen Storle 1-3, M. Connolly 1-2, Bouley 1-2.

3B - Brown, Franklin.2B - Brown. RBI - Brown 5, Franklin 3, Hoffenbacker 1, A. Connolly 2.