Defending champ Glacier opens AA state softball tournament with Billings West

Glacier, the defending Class AA state softball champions, will face Billings West on Thursday in a 2 p.m. first-round game at the 2016 state tournament at the Conrad Complex.

Glacier (18-5 overall, 10-2 league) is the second seed from the Western Division. West (13-10, 7-5) is the third seed from the Eastern Division.

That winner advances to a Friday matchup at 10 a.m. with either Great Falls C.M. Russell (19-2, 11-1), the top seed from the Eastern, or Helena High (12-11, 6-6), the fourth seed from the Western. Those two teams also play at 2 p.m. Thursday.

The Glacier/West loser faces the CMR/Helena loser on Friday at noon.

Glacier (21-3) beat Missoula Big Sky 6-3 for the state title last year in Missoula. The Wolfpack won the regular-season title in the Western and was the division’s top seed for state.

Sharing the complex with AA this week is the Class B-C state tournament. Ronan, the top seed from the Western, will play Huntley Project, the fourth season from the Eastern, on Thursday at 2 p.m. in a first-round matchup. That winner advances to a Friday showdown at 10 a.m. versus either Glasgow/Nashua or Florence/Carlton.

The Ronan-Huntley Project loser plays Friday at noon against either Glasgow/Nashua or Florence/Carlton.

Conrad/Choteau defeated Ronan 12-2 in last year’s B-C state championship game in Belgrade.

The Class A state softball tournament also starts Thursday over in Belgrade.

Columbia Falls, the second seed from the Northwestern Division, will face Corvallis, third seed from the Southwestern Division, at 2 p.m. That winner plays again at 6 p.m. against Belgrade/Manhattan Christian, the top seed from the Central Division. The Columbia Falls-Corvallis loser is back in action 10 a.m. on Friday.

Polson (17-7, 3-3), the third seed from the Northwestern, has a first-round matchup with Hamilton/Victor, the second seed from the Southwestern, on Thursday at noon. That winner will face Laurel, the top seed from the Eastern, at 4 p.m. The Polson-Hamilton/Victor loser will play Friday at noon.

Frenchtown, the top seed from the Northwestern, has a first-round bye. The Broncs beat Belgrade/Manhattan Christian 11-2 in last year’s state championship game in Anaconda.

All three double-elimination tournaments run through Saturday.

Class AA

Thursday At Conrad Complex

2 p.m.

Field 3 — Great Falls C.M. Russell (19-2, 11-1) vs. Helena High (12-11, 6-6)

Field 4 — Glacier (18-5, 10-2) vs. Billings West (13-10, 7-5)

4 p.m.

Field 1 — Missoula Big Sky (19-2, 11-1) vs. Billings Senior (12-11, 5-7)

Field 4 — Great Falls High (16-7, 8-4) vs. Helena Capital (13-9, 8-4)

Class B-C

Thursday At Conrad Complex

2 p.m.

Field 1 — Ronan vs. Huntley-Project

Field 2 — Glasgow/Nashua vs. Florence/Carlton

4 p.m.

Field 1 — Conrad/Choteau vs. Plains/Hot Springs

Field 2 — Anaconda vs. Columbus/Absarokee/Park City

Class A

Thursday Belgrade Softball Fields

Noon

Field 1 — Miles City vs. Lewistown

Field 3 — Hamilton/Victor vs. Polson

2 p.m. —

Field 1 — Columbia Falls vs. Corvallis

Field 3 — Glendive vs. Havre

Second Round

4 p.m.

Field 1 — Frenchtown-Alberton vs. Miles City/Lewistown winner

Field 3 — Laurel vs. Hamilton-Victor/Polson winner

6 p.m.

Field 1 — Belgrade-Manhattan Christian vs. Columbia Falls/Corvallis winner

Field 3 — Butte Central vs. Glendive/Havre winner