Making the grade

Ava Grady was on her game Tuesday.

The Glacier sophomore went 3-for-4 at the plate and drove in four runs while throwing four no-hit innings in the circle as the Wolfpack beat Flathead 11-4 in Crosstown softball at Glacier High School.

Grady struck out eight batters and issued just one free pass pitching.

“I just took it pitch-by-pitch and tried to make a play for my team,” Grady said. “My arm felt pretty good today.”

Olivia Warriner opened in the circle for the Wolfpack (11-3), allowing four runs in two-plus innings of work.

The Bravettes (4-10) got the early jump on Glacier, as Tegan Strauss and Olivia Nyman each knocked in a run with doubles to go up 2-0.

After one run came in for Glacier on a ground out, Grady tied the game in the bottom of the first with a triple to the fence in right.

Sophia Torgison’s single in the second restored Flathead’s two-run advantage.

“We battled. I was really proud of how we came out of the gate. Right off the bat we had a great approach at the plate,” Flathead coach Brittany Burnham said. “We were hitting the ball well. I like how aggressive we were on the basepaths, that is something we have been working on a lot.

“I think we are really close ... we need to focus on the fact that we are heading in the right direction in these last two weeks of the season.”

June Stickney then tossed a no-hit second for the Bravettes.

Stickney worked three innings and allowed five runs on seven hits.

Sophia Frederick’s RBI single capped off a three-run third, giving Glacier a 5-4 lead. Frederick finished the game 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs.

After a pair of scoreless frames, the Wolfpack bats started rolling in the sixth. Seven straight singles helped Glacier plate six in the inning and take a commanding 11-4 lead.

“We couldn’t get our bats rolling until late. We were hitting the ball well, we just couldn’t find the grass,” Wolfpack coach Gary Evans said. “It’s hard (playing the same team twice), you get to know them, but they also get to know you.”

Joslyn Crofts entered for the final frame, striking out three Bravettes to end the game.

Glacier and Flathead now head on the road for a Saturday doubleheader with Helena and Helena Capital starting at noon.

Flathead 220 000 0 - 4 8 2

Glacier 203 006 x - 11 18 1

June Stickney, Macey McIlhargey (4) and Gwyn Hennell. Olivia Warriner, Ava Grady (3), Joslyn Crofts (7) and Emma Smith.

FLATHEAD — June Stickney 0-3, Sophia Torgison 2-4, Macey McIlhargey 1-3, Tegan Strauss 2-4, Olivia Nyman 2-3, Reese Rosenberg 0-3, Makenna Korf 0-2, Danica Hennell 1-3, Kinsey Lake 0-1.

GLACIER — Karley Allen 2-5, Olivia Warriner 2-3, Taelor Holt 1-4, Ava Grady 3-4, Emma Smith 2-4, Sophia Frederick 3-3, Chloe Farrell 2-3, Avery Bailey 0-1, Addy Cunningham 1-3, Ella Bailey 1-3, Lanee Anderson 0-2, Tensley Conner 2-2.