Bravettes, Wolfpack split softball doubleheader

The future is bright for the Glacier Wolfpack and Flathead Bravettes softball teams all because of their underclassmen aces in the circle.

Glacier sophomore Ali Williams and Flathead freshman Kylee Beccari pitched all 14 innings of the crosstown softball doubleheader on Thursday, each leading their team to a win in two tightly contested games at Kidsports Complex.

Williams struck out 12 Bravettes in the first game, a 3-2 Glacier victory, while Beccari gave up just two hits in the second contest, giving Flathead a 2-1 win.

The two young stars were pleased with their respective performances while realizing the birth of a friendly rivalry can really bring out their best stuff.

“(Ali) is an amazing pitcher. She’s really good.” Beccari said. “I’ve always thought she was amazing pitcher even when we we’re little and I’ve always been in awe of her.”

“I’ve played against Kylee a lot,” Williams added.

“It’s just fun to get to hit against her and I thought she pitched really well for them today.”

Williams stole the show in the first matchup, holding Flathead to five hits and the 12 strike outs. But Beccari kept the Bravettes in the game, which came down to the final inning.

Trailing 2-1 in the top of the seventh, Flathead sophomore shortstop Abbie O’Brien ripped a double, driving in the game-tying run, as senior Cassidy Smith scored from second.

Alas for Flathead, the momentum was short-lived.

In the bottom of the seventh, with runners on first and second, Glacier senior Hannah Atlee bunted, hoping to advance sophomore Kayleena Ikeda to third. The throw to third got past O’Brien, who was charging toward the bag from her shortstop position on the wheel play. Ikeda popped up quickly from her slide and scored to win the game.

“In that situation, instead of putting pressure on Hannah to come up with the hit, we tried put the pressure on their defense to make the play and fortunately it went our way,” Glacier head coach Andy Fors said.

The crushing defeat to their crosstown rival could have deflated the Bravettes, but spirits were high at the start of the second game.

“I told the girls to come back in the first inning the same way we ended the seventh,” Bravettes head coach Ashley Fusaro said.

“The first game was a great game, and it really proved to them that they could comeback and win that second one.”

Williams and Beccari trotted back into the circle for Game 2. Fans around the field at Kidsports Complex wondered how far they would go into the second contest, and when the seventh inning rolled around they had their answer—they went the distance.

Beccari’s two hitter was highlighted by the Bravettes’ solid defense. Flathead didn’t commit an error in the game, putting the pressure on the Wolfpack.

“We really worked well together as a team,” Beccari said. “I had great defense backing me up out there.”

Williams struck out eight batters in the second contest, giving her 20 on the day. But one crucial mistake proved to be the difference in an intense battle.

Flathead led 1-0 heading into the top of the fourth when senior catcher Kaylee Henderson belted her fifth home run of the year — a solo shot over the center field fence.

“I think I got my drop ball working most of the time. There was one time when it didn’t work, when Kaylee hit one over, but other than that I felt pretty good out there,” Williams said with a chuckle.

Glacier put up one run in the bottom of the fourth on another sacrifice from Atlee, scoring Ikeda from third, who opened up the inning with a triple.

But that’s all Beccari would allow, and Flathead held on to split the twin bill.

The doubleheader was the final regular season contests for both teams, who take some momentum into the playoffs.

“We’re hitting our stride at the right time, at our peak of the season, coming into our playoff game next week,” Fusaro said.

“I think we’re in a good spot,” Fors added.

“It makes a huge difference that we’re in a place where we get to host our game next Thurdsay, and we’re looking forward to that.”

Game 1

Flathead 100 000 1 — 2 5 3

Glacier 002 000 1 — 3 6 2

Kylee Beccari and Kaylee Henderson. Ali Williams and Hannah Atlee. L — Beccari.

FLATHEAD — Abbie O’Brien 2-4, Iris Matulevich 0-3, Kaitlin Torgerson 1-3, Kaylee Henderson 1-3, Lynsey Potter 0-3, Kylee Meredith 1-3, Cassidy Smith 0-1, Kylee Beccari 0-2, Niea Sutton 0-1, Shayla Tweet 0-3.

GLACIER — Taylor Riggles 2-4, Kayla Russell 1-4, Kayleena Ikeda 2-4, Williams 0-1, Atlee 0-2, Christina DuFour 0-3, Tacey Howe 0-3, Katie McHugh 0-3, Anna Jenks 1-3.

2B — O’Brien 2, Torgerson, Henderson, Riggles. RBIs — O’Brien, Williams, Atlee.

Game 2

Flathead 100 100 0 — 2 3 0

Glacier 000 100 0 — 1 2 1

Kylee Beccari and Kaylee Henderson. Ali Williams and Hannah Atlee. W — Beccari. L — Williams.

FLATHEAD — Abbie O’Brien 1-3, Iris Matulevich 0-3, Kaitlin Torgerson 0-3, Kaylee Henderson 1-3, Kylee Meredith 0-3, Cassidy Smith 1-3, Lynsey Potter 0-3, Beccari 0-3, Tweet 0-2.

GLACIER — Taylor Riggles 0-3, Kayla Russell 1-3, Kayleena Ikeda 1-3, Williams 0-2, Atlee 0-3, Anna Jenks 0-2, Katie McHugh 0-3, Tacey Howe 0-2, Christina DuFour 0-1, Cheyenne Compton 0-1.

2B — Smith. 3B — Ikeda. HR — Henderson. RBIs — Henderson, Atlee