MISSOULA — Chalk it up as a learning experience for the Butte High softball team. A very good learning experience.
The Bulldogs picked up a win at the Class AA State tournament Friday, beating Helena High 9-0 in a loser out game.
Butte High, though, bowed out of the tournament in the next round, falling 16-10 to defending State champion Billings West.
“That was a great win for us,” Butte High first-year head coach Ryan Stosich said of the victory against Helena High. “They 10-runned us earlier in the year.”
The Bulldogs, whose No. 1 starter is freshman Kaidy McClafferty, closed out the season at 14-13.
“Not bad,” Stosich said. “We didn’t know what to expect at the beginning of the year.”
Kalispell Glacier reached the championship game. West advance to take on Big Sky in the third-place game of the double-elimination tournament. Bracket
Butte High 9, Helena High 0
McClafferty struck out seven, walked one and surrendered just two hits as the Bulldogs sent the Bengals packing.
“You couldn’t ask for anything or out of her,” Stosich said.
Ashten McCloskey got the day started right for the Bulldogs. She doubled to lead off the top of the first inning. After taking second on a passed ball, the senior second baseman scored on a single by freshman Kennedi Ferriter.
Bethany McLean singled, and pinch runner Bri Ossello scored on an error to make it 2-0.
The Bulldogs broke the game open with a four-run sixth inning that was highlighted by a three-run home run by senior catcher Maria Michelotti.
Michelotti added a two-run triple and Katelyn Alley hit a solo home run as Butte high tacked on three more in the seventh.
Michelotti was 3 for 5 with the five RBIs. McCloskey added a single to her double, while senior Tristan Walks hit a single in the win.
Erin Emanuel and Anna Fischer singled for the Bengals.
BUTTE HIGH AB R H BI HELENA HIGH AB R H BI Ashten McCloskey 4 2 2 0 Ty Holland 3 0 0 0 Kenndi Ferriter 1 0 1 2 Hailey Crawford 3 0 0 0 Maria Michelotti 5 1 3 5 Emma Meredith 3 0 0 0 Amanda Spear 4 0 0 0 Erin Emanuel 3 0 1 0 Bethany McLean 4 0 1 0 Jordan Hinman 3 0 0 0 Justyce Connole 4 0 0 0 Anna Fischer 3 0 1 0 Katelyn Alley 3 1 1 1 Taryn Holland 3 0 0 0 Ellie Hoffenbacker 1 0 0 0 Ashley Nash 1 0 0 0 Isabelle Bonney 3 0 0 0 Abby Romaine 2 0 0 0 Tristan Walks 3 1 1 0 *Bri Ossello 0 1 0 0 *Jenna Walker 0 1 0 0 *Madison Joseph 0 1 0 0 *Abby Burke 0 1 0 0 TOTALS 32 9 9 8 TOTALS 24 0 2 0 BUTTE HIGH 100 104 3 -- 9 HELENA HIGH 000 000 0 -- 0 LOB--BUTTE HIGH 10, HELENA HIGH 4. ERR--Kenndi Ferriter, Kaidy McClafferty, Erin Emanuel (2), Anna Fischer. 2B--Ashten McCloskey. HR--Maria Michelotti, Katelyn Alley. SACF--Kenndi Ferriter. SACB--Kenndi Ferriter. BUTTE HIGH IP H R ER BB SO HR Kaidy McClafferty (W) 7.00 2 0 0 1 7 0 HELENA HIGH Terra Gilchrist (L) 7.00 9 9 2 6 10 2 PB--Jordan Hinman. WP--Terra Gilchrist. SO--Maria Michelotti (2), Bethany McLean (2), Amanda Spear, Katelyn Alley, Ellie Hoffenbacker, Isabelle Bonney, Justyce Connole (2), Jordan Hinman (2), Erin Emanuel, Emma Meredith, Ashley Nash, Anna Fischer, Taryn Holland. BB--Ashten McCloskey, Tristan Walks, Kenndi Ferriter (2), Amanda Spear, Isabelle Bonney, Ashley Nash.
Billings West 16, Butte High 10
This game started out so nicely for the Bulldogs
McCloskey walked and Ferriter blasted a two-run dinger to center field.
Michelotti followed with a walk. She scored on a double by senior center fielder Justyce Connole.
West ace Ashley Davis, though, struck out two to strand a pair of Bulldogs on base.
Then the Golden Bears scored eight runs in the bottom of the first inning.
One batter after Kendyl Boltz, a Butte native, drew a bases-loaded walk, designated hitter Kylee Koch hit a grand slam to put West on top for good.
“We were facing their No. 1 pitcher,” Stosich said. “We were banging her around pretty good. They just out banged us.”
West led 12-6 after two innings, 14-8 after three and 16-8 after five.
The Bulldogs left the bases loaded in the second, fourth and fifth innings.
“We had some opportunities to hang with them,” Stosich said. “We just didn’t get the timely hits.”
Lexie Mahood went 4 for 4 with four runs scored and three runs batted in to lead the Bears. Ashley Costello went 3 for 3.
McLean went 3 for 3 for the Bulldogs. McCloskey and Ferriter each added two hits. Connole joined Ferriter with a double, while senior Amanda Spear, Michelotti, Alley and Walks singled.
BUTTE HIGH AB R H BI BILLINGS WEST AB R H BI Ashten McCloskey 4 2 2 0 Lexie Mahood 4 4 4 3 Kenndi Ferriter 4 3 2 2 Cody Rogers 5 1 2 0 Maria Michelotti 4 0 1 1 Mackenzie Mayhood 5 1 1 0 Amanda Spear 3 1 1 1 Kendyl Boltz 3 1 0 1 Bethany McLean 3 1 3 1 Kylee Koch 5 1 1 4 Jenna Maroney 0 0 0 0 Ashley Davis 4 0 1 0 Justyce Connole 3 0 1 1 Erin Watterud 2 2 0 0 Katelyn Alley 4 0 1 0 Meghan Dahlquist 1 1 0 0 Ellie Hoffenbacker 1 0 0 0 Brittney Hutchinson 1 0 1 0 Isabelle Bonney 4 0 0 1 Ashley Costello 3 3 3 0 Tristan Walks 5 0 1 0 Bailey Scott 5 2 1 2 *Jenna Walker 0 3 0 0 TOTALS 35 10 12 7 TOTALS 38 16 14 10 BUTTE HIGH 332 000 2 -- 10 BILLINGS WEST 842 020 x -- 16 LOB--BUTTE HIGH 14, BILLINGS WEST 11. ERR--Bethany McClean (2), Ashten McCloskey, Kenndi Ferriter (2), Isabelle Bonney, Justyce Connole, Kendyl Boltz, Cody Rogers. 2B--Kenndi Ferriter, Justyce Connole, Brittney Hutchinson, Bailey Scott, Lexie Mahood. HR--Kenndi Ferriter, Kylee Koch, Lexie Mahood. HBP--Kenndi Ferriter, Ashley Davis. BUTTE HIGH IP H R ER BB SO HR Kaidy McClafferty (L) 4.00 8 12 6 4 7 2 Katlyn O'Brien 2.00 6 4 3 2 0 0 BILLINGS WEST Ashley Davis (W) 2.67 9 7 6 2 4 1 Bailey Scott 4.33 3 3 0 7 1 0 PB--Maria Michelotti, Ashley Costello (2). WP--Kaidy McClafferty, Bailey Scott. SO--Ashten McCloskey, Amanda Spear, Katelyn Alley, Isabelle Bonney, Justyce Connole, Meghan Dahlquist, Kendyl Boltz (2), Cody Rogers, Bailey Scott (2), Mackenzie Mayhood. BB--Maria Michelotti, Bethany McLean (2), Ashten McCloskey, Amanda Spear (2), Isabelle Bonney, Justyce Connole (2), Ashley Costello (2), Meghan Dahlquist, Kendyl Boltz (2), Lexie Mahood.
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