Glacier’s Mohl signs with Grizzlies softball

Glacier High School’s Kynzie Mohl is one of four players that signed with the softball program at the University of Montana on Wednesday.

Joining Mohl, a catcher, with the Grizzlies as freshmen next fall will be Dana Butterfield of Hillsboro, Oregon; Grace Hardy of Missoula Sentinel; and Presley Jantzi of Albany, Oregon.

Butterfield is a pitcher, Hardy an infielder and Jantzi an outfielder.

“I’m excited for this class,” said fourth-year Griz softball coach Melanie Meuchel. “It not only fills some needs and adds some depth, but it’s a group that has some great skill.”

Hardy and Mohl bring the number of in-state players to suit up for the Grizzlies to 12 in the program’s fledgling existence.

“You’re always trying to make the program better by bringing in athletes who will raise their game and raise the game of our athletes in the program,” Meuchel said. “I’m glad we’ll be signing two Montana kids in this class. They’ll add to our program with their skill sets. The state is definitely adding depth to this sport. I’m thankful we could grab two of the best.”

In two years with the Wolfpack Mohl has batted .425 with 57 hits and 43 runs batted in. Twenty-one of her hits have gone for extra bases; she has 11 career home runs.

“This kid can hit,” Meuchel said. “When she steps into the box, she has a presence about her that she is going to win this at-bat. She drives the ball with a lot of power.”

“I have always dreamed of playing for the Grizzlies,” Mohl said in a release from UM. “ When Coach Meuchel offered me, I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of their family. I’m very excited to finally become a Grizzly next fall.”

Hardy, who also has experience as a pitcher, was last seen batting .510 as a sophomore for the Spartans, a season cut short by injury prior to the state tournament. Before that she attended about every camp the program has offered.

“Grace grew up around Griz softball. We’ve seen her at a lot of our camps, and she’s had friends play for us, so she’s followed it,” said Meuchel. “I’m excited she’ll be able to stay and play in her hometown.”

The addition of Butterfield will give Montana a pitcher in its three most recent classes, following Ashley Ward and Allie Brock. Butterfield was a second-team all-state selection in Oregon as a sophomore, when she went 20-3 for Glencoe High with a 1.43 ERA and 254 strikeouts in 151 2/3 innings pitched.

She also was named the Pacific Conference Pitcher of the Year as the Crimson Tide won the league title.

Butterfield also plays for the Northwest Bullets. Her age-group club team won a Premier Girls Fastpitch national championship in Irvine, Calif., in August 2018.

Jantzi has been a standout at West Albany High, earning first-team all-state honors as a sophomore after being named honorable mention all-state as a freshman. She, too, plays for the Northwest Bullets.

She made The Oregonian’s list of the state’s best hitters at the end of her sophomore year, when she was hitting .592, with three home runs and an on-base percentage of .683.