Glacier hosts Crosstown softball Thursday

The first of two Crosstown softball games is Thursday, weather permitting, with a 5 p.m. start on Glacier High School’s diamond. 

The host Wolfpack would be the favorite on paper, and haven’t lost a game to Flathead since 2016, but that’s why they play these things. Last year’s battles went Glacier’s way both times, 9-2 and 7-0. 

The Pack were cruising along at 5-0 before suffering back-to-back league losses. Then they scuffled until about midway through a game with winless Hellgate before exploding for 11 runs over the fourth and fifth innings. 

Senior Olivia Gibbons went the distance, allowing two hits and striking out two in the 11-0 win. She has started four games and has yet to allow an earned run; she has fanned 10 in 14 1-3 innings. 

Olivia Warriner, a sophomore, had made three starts with a 1.94 earned-run average and 11 strikeouts in 18 innings. Freshman Ava Grady had 21 strikeouts in 10-plus innings of relief. 

Flathead, with junior Macie McIlhargey battling injury, has mainly used senior Lacie Franklin in the circle. She has 25 strikeouts and a 7.00 ERA in 31 innings. Sophomore Danica Hennell has pitched in three games in relief. 

The Bravettes’ Mackenzie Brandt is tied for the Western AA lead in home runs with four; that’s despite missing two games. Teammate Olivia Nyman has driven two out of the park as well, and Reese Conley is hitting .480. 

Four different Glacier players have gone yard once: Gibbons, Grady, Cazz Rankosky and Addison Cunningham.