Wolfpack wallops Flathead in softball
<p>Glacier sophomore Kayleena Ikeda (behind) dives back to first as Flathead first baseman Cassidy Smith digs a pick throw out of the dirt Thursday afternoon during the second game of a softball doubleheader at Kidsports Complex. </p>
<p>Glacier sophomore Kayla Russell slides safely into third past Flathead third baseman Mackenzie Twichel Thursday afternoon during the first game of softball doubleheader at Kidsports Complex. </p>
Prior to Thursday’s doubleheader against crosstown-rival Glacier, Flathead coach Ashley Fusaro said her biggest concern was Glacier’s big bats.
Turns out that concern was warranted as Glacier (6-2 overall, 4-0 Western AA) racked up 16 hits in five innings to win game one 17-4, then smacked 11 hits in a 7-2 win to complete the sweep at Kidsports Complex.
The wins are Glacier’s fourth and fifth in a row. Only game one counted toward the conference standings.
“I’d have to say we’re doing a lot better than I think any of us expected,” Glacier right fielder Taylor Riggles said.
Riggles, Glacier’s no. 9 hitter, smashed a grand slam in the fifth inning of game one to end it via the 10-run rule and finished the day with three hits in six at bats. No. 8 hitter Anna Jenks also batted 3-for-6, accentuating the depth of Glacier’s offense.
“That is such a nice thing when (assistant) coach (Mark) Fischer and I sit down and take a look at the lineup,” Glacier head coach Andy Fors said. “To have strength one through nine, to be able to rely on those girls in the eight and nine spots to, if nothing else, keep what we have going or even give us a spark and get us rolling.
“Those girls in the bottom half of our order really helped us today.”
Glacier also got major contributions from other parts of its order. Leadoff hitter Jena Willis, No. 5 hitter Marysa Rogozynski and No. 6 hitter Hannah Atlee led the Wolfpack with four hits apiece.
“We come up with confidence that we can hit,” Atlee said. “It’s nice to have fast pitchers because we make contact and it goes far.”
Flathead (2-5, 1-2) grabbed a 3-2 lead after 2 1/2 innings of game one, but Glacier answered in the bottom of the third. Atlee scored the go-ahead run when Rogozynski got caught in a rundown between second and third. Flathead’s throw home was nearly in time for catcher Kaylee Henderson to make the tag, but the home plate umpire ruled Henderson interfered with Atlee’s path to home plate. Glacier followed that up with a sacrifice fly, a single and an RBI double to take a 6-3 lead.
In the fourth inning, Glacier’s Ali Williams blasted a two-run homer so far beyond the left field wall that it landed near first base on a different field at the complex. Glacier batted around in a nine-run fifth inning that ended with Riggles’ walk-off grand slam.
Flathead pitcher Sidney Alberts finished with six strikeouts and allowed nine earned runs.
“Sidney does a good job of throwing real hard and we were just fortunate to put the bat on the ball and score some runs today,” Fors said.
Willis, Glacier’s game one pitcher, allowed three earned runs on five hits while striking out six.
Abbie O’Brien led Flathead’s offense with two hits in three at bats.
Glacier took a 3-0 lead in the second inning of game two before Flathead answered with two runs in the top of the fourth. Willis smacked a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame to restore Glacier’s three-run edge and Williams pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.
“We didn’t play our best, that’s for sure,” Fusaro said. “A couple calls didn’t go our way in the first game and took us out of it, but the bottom line is we didn’t hit.”
Flathead turned three double plays in game two, including an unconventional 8-3.
“Our defense played fantastic,” Fusaro said. “Three double plays in the second game, but we have to be able to respond offensively.”
Glacier travels to Missoula Hellgate today. It beat the Knights 8-3 on April 2. Flathead plays a doubleheader at Hellgate on Saturday.
Flathead 102 01 — 4 5 4
Glacier 204 29 — 17 16 2
Sidney Alberts and Kaylee Henderson. Jena Willis and Hannah Atlee.
FLATHEAD - Abbie O’Brien 2-3, Iris Matulevich 1-3, Sidney Alberts 1-3, Cassidy Smith 0-2, Kaylee Henderson 0-2, Mackenzie Twichel 0-2, Shayla Tweet 0-2, Lynsey Potter 0-2, Kijrstjn Kruse 1-2.
GLACIER - Jena Willis 2-4, Kayla Russell 2-3, Kayleena Ikeda 1-4, Ali Williams 2-3, Hannah Atlee 2-4, Marysa Rogozynski 3-3, Katie McHugh 0-3, Anna Jenks 2-3, Taylor Riggles 2-4.
2B - O’Brien, Alberts; Willis, Riggles. 3B - Russell. HR - Williams, Riggles. RBIs - Alberts 2, Matulevich; Riggles 5, Atlee 4, Rogozynski 3, Williams 2, McHugh.
Flathead 000 200 0 — 2 6 1
Glacier 030 202 X — 7 11 3
Raylene Kerney and Kaylee Henderson. Ali Williams and Hannah Atlee.
FLATHEAD - Abbie O’Brien 1-4, Iris Matulevich 0-4, Sidney Alberts 0-4, Cassidy Smith 1-3, Kaylee Henderson 2-3, Shayla Tweet 1-3, Raylene Kerney 0-3, Kijrstjn Kruse 1-3, Mackenzie Twichel 0-3.
GLACIER - Jena Willis 2-4, Kayla Russell 1-3, Kayleena Ikeda 1-3, Ali Williams 1-3, Hannah Atlee 2-3, Marysa Rogozynski 1-3, Katie McHugh 0-3, Anna Jenks 1-3, Taylor Riggles 1-2, Christine Connolly 1-1.
2B - O’Brien; Willis, Atlee, Jenks, Connolly. HR - Willis. RBIs - Tweet; Willis 3, McHugh, Riggles, Connolly