Offense powers Glacier to crosstown softball victory

There was no quit in the Bravettes, but Glacier’s offense proved too much in an 11-5 Wolfpack victory at ABS Park Thursday evening.

Olivia Warriner powered Glacier (4-0) with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate, driving in three runs. She added four innings in the circle, allowing two runs on one hit.

“I just felt confident and that went a long way,” Warriner said. “I just waited on the pitch I wanted and that helped me the most today.”

After Glacier took a 1-0 lead in the first, Flathead (0-4) took advantage of two errors and a walk to score two runs in the bottom of the second. Kinsie Lake drove in a run on a fielder’s choice.

Glacier had a quick answer in the third. Warriner opened the frame with a triple, then Taelor Holt brought her home with a single to tie the game. Ava Grady gave the Wolfpack the lead, 3-2, with a double to center that scored Holt.

In the fourth, Glacier used five singles to score five runs and take a commanding 8-2 lead.

“We hit really well, one through nine all hit well ... Crosstown’s always tough, you never know what is going to happen,” Wolfpack coach Gary Evans said.

Sophia Frederick opened the fifth inning with an inside-the-park home run after she laced a pitch to the fence in right field. Warriner drove in another run during the frame to make it 10-2 Glacier.

After the Wolfpack added one more in the top of the seventh, Flathead loaded the bases looking for a rally. Olivia Nyman delivered a one-out triple that cleared the bags and made it 11-5.

“We had a lot of really bright spots and showed out potential today,” Flathead coach Brittany Burnham said. “We were kind of on a roller coaster today, we started strong, then took a dip with our energy and let some balls drop that we probably should have caught, but I am proud of how they ended.”

Ava Grady shut things down from there, closing out the game by getting Macey McIlhargey to ground out.

Grady threw three innings in relief for Glacier, allowing three runs on two hits. She fanned eight. Warriner struck out a pair.

McIlhargey started in the circle for Flathead and went two innings. She allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one. June Stickney threw five innings in relief, fanning four.

Both teams are back at home Saturday for a doubleheader against Helena and Helena Capital, starting at noon.

Glacier 102 520 1 - 11 13 4

Flathead 020 000 3 - 5 3 5

Olivia Warriner, Ava Grady (5) and Emma Smith. Macey McIlhargey, June Stickney (3) and Gwyn Hennell.

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

FLATHEAD — June Stickney 0-4, Danica Hennell 0-4, Olivia Nyman 1-3, Macey McIlhargey 0-3, Paulina Holland 0-0, Tegan Strauss 1-3, Reese Rosenberg 0-2, Lily Anderson 0-3, Kinsie Lake 1-3, Makenna Korf 0-3.

2B — Grady. 3B — Warriner 2, Nyman. HR — Frederick. RBIs — Warriner 3, Allen 2, Grady 2, Holt, Frederick. Nyman 3, Lake.

Flathead pitcher June Stickney (1) delivers against Glacier at ABS Park on Thursday, April 9. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Casey Kreider

Glacier left fielder Sophia Frederick (13) makes a diving catch on a line drive against Flathead at ABS Park on Thursday, April 9. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Glacier's Ella Bailey (7) steals second base ahead of the tag by Flathead shortstop Olivia Nyman (16) at ABS Park on Thursday, April 9. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Glacier's Ava Grady (2) connects on an RBI double against Flathead at ABS Park on Thursday, April 9. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Flathead second baseman Danica Hennell (14) throws to first base from her knees against Glacier at ABS Park on Thursday, April 9. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Glacier third baseman Chloe Farrell (12) throws to first base after fielding a ground ball against Flathead at ABS Park on Thursday, April 9. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Flathead's Macey McIlhargey (3) connects against Glacier at ABS Park on Thursday, April 9. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Glacier's Taelor Holt (1) scores on a double by teammate Ava Grady in the third inning against Flathead at ABS Park on Thursday, April 9. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Flathead shortstop Olivia Nyman (16) throws to first after fielding a ground ball agianst Glacier at ABS Park on Thursday, April 9. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Glacier pitcher Olivia Warriner (10) delivers against Flathead at ABS Park on Thursday, April 9. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

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Glacier's Taelor Holt (1) connects on an RBI single against Flathead at ABS Park on Thursday, April 9. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Casey Kreider