AA softball: Glacier downs Bison, Rustlers
GREAT FALLS — For the first time in softball program history, the Glacier Wolfpack has defeated the Great Falls C.M. Russell Rustlers — one of two victories in the Electric City on Friday.
After defeating the Great Falls Bison, 6-4, the Wolfpack (2-0) took down the Rustlers for a historic 4-1 victory, capping a perfect afternoon.
Before earning their first-ever victory over CMR, Glacier had to hold off a feisty Great Falls squad who threatened the Wolfpack’s 6-1 advantage late in the contest.
Trailing by five, the Bison scored three runs in its final inning at the plate, but couldn’t overcome Glacier ace Ali Williams.
Williams dominated both in the circle and at the plate for the Wolfpack, shutting out the Bison through the first four innings while going 3 for 4 with a home run and four RBIs.
Glacier scored two runs in the top of the first and posted another two-spot in the sixth for their final tally.
“In that first game, we had a pretty good start offensively,” Glacier coach Andy Fors said.
“Defensively, Ali did a great job pitching for us. The Bison made a little surge at the end there but we had to dig in and hold them off and the girls were able to do it.”
Williams got the call again in Game 2, nearly shutting out the Rustlers after allowing just a single run in the fourth inning.
The junior pitcher had plenty of help from the Wolfpack bats as Kayleena Ikeda and Kaite Wiley both had two hits and an RBI for Glacier — who put up three runs in the top of the third.
Wiley’s RBI came on a double.
“We put Katie in the nine spot to use her as a second lead off and that paid off big time for us in that second game,” Fors said.
“For our program, we have never beaten the Rustlers. So to come to Great Falls and get two wins early in the season against two good teams is great for us. The Great Falls schools are always well coached and are very solid. For us to be able to play with these teams, it was good to see the girls compete, especially early in the season.”
Glacier is back in action on Monday, hosting the Columbia Falls Wildkats at Kidsport Complex at 3 p.m.
Glacier 200 112 0 — 6 7 1
GFH 000 010 3 — 4 9 3
Ali Williams and Christine Connolly. Marina LaRocque and CJ Konesky. W — Williams. L — LaRocque.
GLACIER — Kayla Russell 1-4, Mackenzie Brester-Knight 0-4, Williams 3-4, Kayleena Ikeda 1-4, Erin McHugh 0-4, Ali Newton 0-4, Emma Shew 0-4, Connolly 1-4, Katie Wiley 1-3.
GREAT FALLS — Mari Held 1-4, Alyssa Marez 2-4, Konesky 2-4, Bailey Ferda 0-1, McKenzie Staats 0-3, Marina LaRocque 0-4, Tierney Weinholz 3-4, Bailey Durnell 1-4, Kelsey Walker 0-3, Hannah Schaffer 0-3.
2B — Williams 2, Connolly, Marez, Konesky 2, Durnell. HR — Williams. RBI — Williams 4, Russell, Konesky 3, Weinholz.
Glacier 003 100 0 — 4 8 0
CMR 000 100 0 — 1 7 3
Ali Williams and Christine Connolly. Quinn Hartman and Katie Huisman. W — Williams. L — Hartman.
GLACIER — Kayla Russell 1-4, Erin McHugh 1-4, Williams, 1-3, Kayleena Ikeda 2-4, Mackenzie Brester-Knight 0-3, Connolly 0-4, Ali Newton 0-3, Serra Monroe 0-2, Katie Wiley 2-3, Emma Shew 1-1.
C.M. RUSSELL — Savanna Voyles 3-4, Caitlin Soltesz 0-4, McCall Enott 1-3, Hartman 0-2, Courtney Schroeder 1-3, Myla Robbins 0-2, Kierstin Evenson 0-2, Huisman 2-3, Tanaya Krenik 0-3.
2B — Wiley, Shew, Enott, Schroeder. RBI — McHugh 2, Ikeda, Wiley, Huisman.