Guess who's going to state? The Wolfpack

The Daily Inter Lake

MISSOULA - Thursday was a historic day for the Glacier Wolfpack softball program.

The Wolfpack, in just its second year of existence, has qualified for the Class AA state softball tournament.

The Wolfpack defeated Missoula Big Sky in two games, 18-3 and 12-4, to advance to next weekend's softball extravaganza in Helena.

"It's a big day for the program, a big day for these girls," said head coach Joel Bemis.

"That was our goal all year. We talked about winning two games and getting to the state tournament. Now that we're there, we'll refocus and do our best and compete," he said.

"They really stepped up and played well today. The girls are excited. We're all excited," he said.

The Wolfpack had 28 hits on the day. Of those, five were home runs.

To put that in perspective - Glacier hit four home runs throughout the season.

"To have five in one day was pretty neat to see," Bemis said.

"We hit the ball hard," he said.

"To see them come out and hit five home runs in two games … that just means you are on. They had good confidence at the plate. They supported each other, they were confident and they did it," Bemis said.

Sophomore Kendra Bouley picked up both wins in the circle.

It was her 16th birthday - but she was the one who gave the gift.

She gave up a two-game total of five hits, walked three and hit one batter.

"She was tough. She had a passed-ball play where she put the runner out at home. She broke her fingernail off. She put a little tape on it and just stayed in there. She's a competitor," the coach said.

The only downer for the day was that Glacier committed five errors in the second game.

"None of them really hurt us. The way we were hitting the ball … it didn't matter," Bemis said.

Bemis added his thanks to Glacier assistant coaches Lissy Boar, Shirley Willis and Andy Fors.

"The whole staff … they've put in a lot of work this week getting the girls ready. I want to commend the coaching staff for getting the team ready all year," he said.

Glacier 18, Big Sky 3

Glacier 410 094 - 18 13 2

Big Sky 201 000 - 3 3 3

Kendra Bouley and Brittany Franklin. Kayla Weishaar and Kelsey LaVaute. W - Bouley (5 strikeouts, 3 hits, 0 walks 0 hp). L - Weishaar.

Glacier - Brittany Brown 1-2, Zoey Pettit 2-5, Brittany Franklin 3-5, Lyndsey Hoffenbacker 1-3, Abby Connolly 0-3, Micah Hergesheimer 0-2, Sabrina Kenfield 1-2, Bailey Quay 2-3, Megan Connolly 2-5, Kendray Bouley 1-5. HR - Kenfield, M. Connolley. 3B - Franklin. 2B - Bouley, Hoffenbacker. RBIs: Pettit 2, Franklin 6, Hoffenbacker 2, A. Connolly 1, Kenfield 1, M. Connolly 2.

Big Sky - Katelyn Kropp 0-3, Kirsten Wagner 1-3, Rachel White 0-3, Kelsey LaVaute 1-3, S. Shelby Quamme 1-3, Ashley O'Reillyy 0-3, Kelsey Lacostic 0-2, Karissa Gordon 0-2, Weishaar 0-2. HR - LaVaute, 3B - Wagner. 2B - Quamme. RBI - LaVaute.

Glacier 12, Big Sky 4

Big Sky 210 000 1 - 4 3 2

Glacier 007 113 x - 12 15 5

Weishaar and LaVaute. Bouley, Jesse Compton (7) and Franklin. W - Bouley (2 hits, 3 BB, 1hp).

Big Sky - Kropp 0-4, Wagner 1-2, White 0-3, LaVaute 0-2, Quamme 1-3, O'Reilly 1-4, Lacostic 0-3, Gordon 0-2, Weishaar 0-3. RBIs: O'Reilly 2.

Glacier - Brown 3-4, Pettit 1-4, Franklin 2-4, Hoffenbacker 1-4, A. Connolly 2-4, Sabrina Kenfield 1-4,Quay 2-4, M. Connolly 2-4, Bouley 1-4. HR - Quay, M. Connolly, Bouley. 2B - Brown, Franklin, Hoffenbacker, A. Connolly. RBI: Franklin 3, Hoffenbacker 1 A. Connolly 2, Kenfield 1, Quay 1, M. Connolly 2, Bouley 1.