VanCampen, Vessar, Franklin clinch Bravettes’ state berth

BUTTE — The Flathead Bravettes didn’t get a sweep Saturday, but they made the State AA tournament.

Sawyer VanCampen’s two-run, seventh-inning home run provided the difference in Flathead’s 6-5 win over Butte in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday.

According to Butte coach Ryan Stosich that win gave the Bravettes sixth place in the Western AA — no matter what happened in the second game, which was a 14-4 Butte win — and their first state tournament berth since 2007.

The State AA tournament begins Thursday in Helena.

Laynee Vessar also homered for the Bravettes (5-14), a two-run shot in the first that put her team up 3-0. Mckenzie Brandt tripled and scored in the first; Ava Besson had three hits and scored twice for Flathead.

Lacie Franklin went the distance on the hill, allowing 10 hits — including a

Rian Ferriter homer — and a walk and hitting one batter. She gave up four singles and two runs in the seventh as Butte closed to 6-5; then she fanned the next two batters, her fourth and fifth strikeouts of the game, to end it.

The second game went less smoothly: Madisyn Swanson homered for the Bulldogs (4-16), who rapped out 14 hits before the game ended in the sixth inning under the 10-run rule.

VanCampen had another two hits and drove in two for Flathead. Brandt hit two doubles.

Flathead 310 000 2 - 6 9 3

Butte 011 010 2 - 5 10 2

FLATHEAD — MacKenzie Brandt 1-3, Ava Besson 3-3, Sawyer VanCampen 1-3, Kinsey Lake 0-5, Kaidyn Lake 1-3, Laynee Vessar 2-3, Macey McIlhargey 0-4, Ellie Eve 0-4, Brynn Mailman 1-3.

BUTTE — K. Leary 1-4, A. Becker 0-0, A. Godbout 2-4, R. Ferriter 3-4, G. Ferriter 0-3, M. Swanson 2-4, D. Lafond 1-4, A. Lee 0-1, S. Radcliffe 0-2, B. Godbout 1-4, T. Drakos 0-3.

2B — Ferriter, Godbout. 3B — Brandt. HR — VanCampen, Vessar. Ferriter. RBIs — VanCampen 3, Vessar 2, Brandt 1. Ferriter, Swanson, Godbout.

Butte 411 062 - 14 16 0

Flathead 100 030 - 4 8 6

McIlhargey and Vessar. R. Ferriter and G. Ferriter.

BUTTE — Leary 3-5, A. Godbout 0-3, R. Ferriter 2-4, G. Ferriter 2-4, Swanson 2-5, Lafond 0-2, Lee 1-2. B. Godbout 2-4, Drakos 1-3, Skeel 3-4.

FLATHEAD — Brandt 2-3, Besson 0-3, VanCampen 2-3, Kai.Lake 0-3, Vessar 1-3, Mailman 0-3, Mcilhargey 1-3, Julia Stumpf 0-1, Kin.Lake 1-2, Franklin 1-2.

2B — R. Ferriter 2, B. Godbout, Skeel. Brandt 2. HR — Swanson. RBIs — G. Ferriter 3, R. Ferriter 2, Leary 2, Swanson 2, B. Godbout 2, Skeel, A. Godbout. Besson, VanCampen.