By Bruce Sayler
Yogi Berra has been attributed to as saying, “There’s nothing like playing at home for your home opener.”
Winning it is even better.
Butte High did it, 6-3 over Flathead High of Kalispell, Monday at Stodden Park on a softball diamond brightened by sunshine and the glow of a new baseball-themed scoreboard.
The Western AA Conference softball game was also the season-opener for the Bulldogs and a makeup game first scheduled for last Friday, but postponed to Monday because of poor playing weather.
Kendallyn Schad belted a two-run double over third base in the bottom of the fifth inning to break a 2-all tie, Lilly Sandoval shot a smashed a two-run single in sixth in her first varsity at-bat, and Allie Becker lined a solo home run over the left-center field fence in the fourth for Butte High’s big hits. Ally Godbout also hit a run-scoring single up the middle in the first inning and Brityn Klima clubbed a double to left-center in the second.
The hits backed an eight-strikeout three-hitter by freshman pitcher Brea Henderson, who walked three batters and tossed a complete game without allowing an earned run.
“We hit the ball well, but we didn’t string our hits together,” Ryan Stosich, head coach of the Bulldogs said after his team’s 11-hit performance. “We had one bad inning (Flathead’s two-run second) when we gave up a couple walks. The defense played well. It was a good start.”
Butte High grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when Gracie Jonart reached on an infield hit, took second when Schad was safe on an error and scored on Godbout’s bouncer to center.
The Bravettes went head in the second as Macey McIlargey and Reese Rosenberg drew walks to start the inning. Danica Hennell’s sacrifice bunt moved the runners up a bag. After a strikeout, Makenna Korf put down a bunt and made it to first o an error, scoring both McIlhargey and Rosenberg. June Stickney lined out to second baseman Reese Johnson to end the Flathead half of the inning.
The Bulldogs tied the score 2-all on Becker’s blast over left-center.
Butte High took the lead for good with a two-run rally in the fifth. Mattie Stepan started it with a base hit to left field. Avery Barsness ran for her and go to second when Jonart beat out an infield hit. Schad then thumped her double to left to knock in both runners.
Insurance in the bottom of the sixth saw Becker lead off with a single against reliever Stickney, who spelled McIlhargey in the fifth. Klima got to first on an infield hit and a bad throw let Becker race to third base. Klima advanced to second on a wild pitch and then Sandoval delivered both runners home with her shot to right.
The Bravettes came back with one run in the seventh and threatened comeback. Korf tapped a bunt hit and Stickey sped to an infield hit on which a bad throw was committed, letting Korf score. Henderson then bore down and struck out Lily Anderson and Olivia Nyman to end the game.
Anderson was on for Sophia Torgerson, who hobbled off the field in the fifth inning after being hit by a pitch. It appeared she was struck in the arm.
The Bulldogs will be home again on Tuesday for a 1 p.m. game against Glacier High of Kalisipell. It was to be played last Thursday, but had also been rescheduled because of weather.
Flathead 020 000 1 – 3 3 2
Butte High 100 122 x – 6 11 2
Macey McIlhargey, June Stickney (5) and Gwyn Hennell. Brea Henderson and Mattie Stepan.
KALISPELL FLATHEAD (0-3, 0-2) – June Stickney (RF-P) 1-4, Sophia Torgison (3B) 1-2, Lily Anderson (3B) 0-1, Olivia Nyman (SS) 0-3, Gwyn Hennell (C) 0-0, Tegan Strauss (DP) 0-3, Macey McIlhargey (P-RF) 0-2, Paulina Holland (CR) 0-0, Reece Rosenberg (CF) 0-2, Danica Hennell (2B) 0-2, Kinsey Lake (1B) 0-3, Makenna Korf (LF) 1-2.
BUTTE HIGH (1-0, 1-0) Reese Johnson (2B) 1-3, Mattie Stepan ( C) 1-4, Gracie Jonart (RF) 2-4, Kendallyn Schad (1B) 1-3, Savannah Stosich (PR) 0-0, Ally Godbout (LF) 1-3, Allie Becker (SS) 2-3, Avery Barsness (CF) 0-0, Brityn Klima (DP) 2-3, Brea Henderson (P) 0-2, Lilly Sandoval (PH)1-1, Cliry Conway (3B) 0-2, Ellison Graham (PH) 0-1.
Extra-base hits – 2B – Klima, Schad. HR — Becker (1).
Runs batted in – Flathead 0, Butte High 6 (Schad 2, Sandoval 1, Godbout 1, Becker 1)
