By Bruce Sayler
A young Butte High team with bits of quality experience greets head coach Ryan Stosich this spring as he enters his 12th year at the helm of the Bulldog girls’ softball program.
Only four seniors splash the roster, but they are good ones in Ally Godbout, Gracie Jonart, Mattie Stepan and Lauren Warren. Godbout, Jonart and Stepan have two years starting experience behind them and were Western AA All-Conference honorable mentions last year across the outfield. Junior Kendallyn Schad, was an All-Conference second-teamer as a designated player her sophomore year and also returns to the lineup.
The team is to open its season on Tuesday, March 31 at Bozeman Gallatin in a non-conference clash. The Bulldogs’ first home game is slated for Thursday, April 2 versus Glacier High of Kalsipell. However Mother Nature feels these spring mornings, however, will decided the state of the schedules. At least the recent warmer winter and spring weather has lent favorable outdoor practice conditions, rare in these parts this time of the year.
“I like where we’re at, right now,” Stosich said Wednesday. “We’re learning and improving each day. Our seniors have been great leaders so far.
“I feel we have a very good group of underclassmen vying for some possible varsity time.”
Junior Allie Becker is back at shortstop after a good sophomore season and second baseman Reese Johnson is also back for her junior year. Juniors Avery Barsness and Brittyn Klima, and freshmen Ellison Graham and Brea Henderson also logged some varsity time last year. Henderson and sophomore Rigby Bauer bring promising ability and some experience to the pitching circle.
Steve Stosich, Ryan Stosich’s dad and predecessor to the post, is back again as an assistant coach and will be inducted into the Montana Coaches Association Hall of Fame this summer. Eric Mankins returns as pitching coach while Anthony Warren and James Martz complete the coaching staff.
The Butte High roster:
Seniors – Ally Godbout, Gracie Jonart, Mattie Stepan and Lauren Warren.
Juniors – Allie Becker, Avery Barsness, Reese Johnson, Brittyn Klima and Kendallyn Schad.
Sophomores – Rigby Bauer, Cliry Conway and Cambree O’Neill.
Freshmen – Ellison Graham, Brea Henderson, Karlee Jeffery, Taylor Regan, Lilly Sandoval, Isabella Schrapps, Aspen Shaffer and Reagan Warren.
Eighth-graders – Ryenne Hardy, Keelie Schad, Savannah Stosich and Kessler Svejkovsky.
