Glacier clinches No. 3 seed with victory

On to the playoffs.

Glacier and Flathead wrapped up regular season softball action at the Conrad Complex with Crosstown II on Friday.

Glacier claimed 9-0 and 3-1 victories for the doubleheader sweep. Glacier also won the first doubleheader meeting this spring, 14-4 and 20-2.

The Wolfpack now leads the crosstown series 14-1, having won 14 straight.

Friday's first game carried the most weight being a conference contest. The win gave Glacier (6-6 league) the No. 3 seed.

That also earned the Wolfpack a home Western AA playoff game with Missoula Hellgate on Wednesday. The best two-out-of three series is tentatively set to begin at 1 p.m. at Kidsports Complex. Games will follow at 3 p.m. and 5, if necessary.

Flathead (5-7 league) hits the road for playoff action, at Missoula Big Sky on Thursday. The first pitch of the three-game set is set for 1 p.m.

"That first game, there was a lot of pressure on us," Glacier coach Joel Bemis said.

"If we won, we hosted (a playoff game). If we lost it, we go on the road. And, it was the crosstown game. There was a lot on the line. Our girls were pretty relaxed. That was a pretty good win for us."

It also helped Glacier that it jumped out to a fast start in the opener, taking a 2-0 lead on a Jena Willis two-run home run to right center.

Glacier did all of its scoring in the first four innings.

"The girls were gassed, emotionally drained," Bemis said for the second game.

"It was good for them to win a close game."

Brittany Franklin had the big blow for Glacier in that outing, a solo home run to right field in the sixth inning.

Taylor Twichel put Flathead on the scoreboard with some heads-up base running in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Twichel reached on an error and advanced to second on the same play.

"She stole third and got up (to make it home) on the overthrow," Flathead coach Tim Severson said.

"She's really fast."

Flathead kept Glacier off the scoreboard through four innings.

"I was really happy with the way they pitched," Flathead coach Tim Severson said of Elaina Gordon and Iris Matulevich, who shared duties in both games.

"They both threw strikes. I'm really pleased with how they got in there and battled. We played stronger defensively behind them in the second game."

Flathead turned a dandy double play in the final thanks to the steady glove and quick thinking of Meghan Bourassa.

"We've improved defensively this year," Severson said.

"We just need to find a couple of timely hits and then we get on the other side of the column with a W."

Flathead pitching ace Sidney Alberts missed the doubleheader with a shoulder injury.

"Glacier is a very good team," Severson said.

"I still think they are one of the best teams in the state. They have a very good group of seniors who show a lot of class."

Glacier 222 300 0 - 9 7 0

Flathead 000 000 0 - 0 2 1

Jessie Compton, Kendra Bouley (6) and Brittany Franklin; Elaina Gordon, Iris Matulevich (4), Gordon (6) and Alexa Mrgich, Jesse Erickson. W - Compton. L - Gordon.

GLACIER - Anna Costa 0-3, Erin Fitzsimmons 0-1, Shayna Atlee 1-3, Jena Willis 2-2, Franklin 0-4, Baylee Quay 1-3, Paige Latimer 2-3, Megan Connolly 0-3, Sabrina Kenfield 1-3, Bouley 0-3.

HR-Willis; RBI-Willis (2), Atlee, Costa, Quay, Kenfield.

FLATHEAD - Julia Morrow 1-3, Erickson 0-3, Mrgich 1-2, Adrienne Carroll 0-2, Alisha Lingle 0-1, Meghan Bourassa 0-3, Gordon 0-3, Christyne Hanson 0-2, Taylor Twitchel 0-2, Cherise Stivers 0-2.

Glacier 000 110 1 - 3 4 1

Flathead 000 001 0 - 1 2 2

Willis, Bouley (4), Compton (6) and Franklin; Gordon, Matulevich (4), Gordon (5) and Erickson, Kaylee Henderson (6). W - Bouley. L - Gordon.

GLACIER - Costa 0-3, Atlee 0-3, Willis 1-3, Franklin 1-2, Quay 0-2, Latimer 1-2, Kenfield 0-1, Bouley 0-2, Fitzsimmons 0-3, Connolly 0-1, Compton 1-1.

HR-Franklin; RBI-Franklin.

FLATHEAD - Morrow 0-3, Lingle 0-3, Erickson 0-2, Henderson 0-1, Gordon 0-3, Carroll 1-3, Bourassa 0-3, Cassidy Smith 1-2, Hanson 0-2, Twitchel 0-2.