Softball Flathead seeks revenge, a sweet ending versus Glacier
Flathead pitcher Maitlynn Betts releases a pitch against Glacier on Tuesday at Glacier High School. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Kenna Vanorny slides safely into home ahead of the throw in the bottom of the 6th inning against Flathead on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Sophie Smith is tagged out at the plate by Flathead catcher Jayden Russell in the bottom of the 4th inning on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Glacier's Sophie Smith is tagged out at the plate by Flathead catcher Jayden Russell in the bottom of the 4th inning on Tuesday. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Jack Foster managed to find a silver lining after dropping both ends of a Western AA conference softball doubleheader to crosstown rival Glacier earlier this season.
“They know they can compete with them,” the Flathead head coach said of his players.
“They know they have a chance. The opportunity is there if we just go out and play well.”
That’s just what the Bravettes (4-13 overall, 2-9 Western AA) will try to do today in their rematch with the Wolfpack on senior day at Kidsports Complex.
The first game, which will count in the Western AA standings, is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. with the nightcap to follow at approximately 5. Glacier won the first two meetings 6-3 and 9-5.
“The kids really are (looking forward to crosstown),” Foster said.
“Last time we played them, it was two pretty good games. We’re expecting the same thing (Thursday).”
While Flathead aims to give its seniors a victory in their final home game, Glacier has its eyes on playoff seeding.
The Wolfpack (9-7, 6-5 Western AA) holds a tiebreaker with Helena High and would secure the No. 3 seed in the Western AA conference outright with a victory over their crosstown rivals. In that scenario, Glacier would host Flathead again next Thursday for a best-of-3 series of state play-in games.
“We have to win this first game to get to that point,” Glacier coach Abby Connolly stressed.
“The top half of their lineup especially is really strong.
“They continue to get better and better each week, so we’re not taking them lightly. We’re excited for a good crosstown matchup.”
Sage Vanterpool will get the start in the circle for Glacier in Game 1. The sophomore righty boasts an even 2.00 ERA on the year and has tallied 72 strikeouts, the second-most in Western AA.
Offensively, Alivia Atlee paces a potent lineup with a .512 batting average.
Sophie Smith (.469) and Allee Meyer (.412) also eclipse the .400 mark.
“We’re just hoping to kind of finish off the season with that second-half success that we’ve been seeing,” Connolly said.
Fittingly, Flathead is likely to be led on senior night by its three 12th graders — Jayden Russell, Hailey Junk and Kaileigh Denna.
Russell claims a .459 batting average on the year to go with 12 RBIs. Junk (.382) and Denna (.365) are second and third on the team in batting average, respectively.
Junior Maitlynn Betts, who has struck out 43 and walked only nine this season, will get the start in the circle for the Bravettes.
“The seniors we have, have all been here longer than I have,” joked Foster, now in his second season at Flathead.
“They’ve all been great kids and great leaders. It’d be really nice to send them out on a winning note.”