By Bruce Sayler
Livingston got a look at the tall and small of the future of Butte Central’s softball pitching Thursday at Stodden Park.
The Rangers didn’t find it appealing. Lanky Maroon freshman Alli Forelli blanked Livingston for two-and-a-third innings before yielding to diminutive eighth-grader Mya McGree and the two combined on a seven-strikeout one-hitter in a 15-0 victory called after four innings by the 15-run difference rule.
“It was a good game for us,” BC head coach Chunky Thatcher said. “Everybody got playing time and our two youngest pitchers threw. We’re getting there.”
Butte Central has gotten to 4-4 for the season with Thursday’s game at Stodden Park chalked up in the nonconference category. The Frenchtown Invitational, a tournament mapped with rugged roads of competition, beckons the Maroons next and Thatcher said he will send his experienced ace, sophomore Braelynn Schelin, to the circle versus Ronan in their first game Friday. Frenchtown is the opponent Friday night in a league counter and then non-league matchups with Browning and Lewistown follow on Saturday. Senior Arika Stajcar is also available to pitch and is competition-tested. She is the team’s only senior and saw duty in right field and at first base, knocking in four runs against Livingston with a pair of singles.
“My goal is to get these girls a playoff game (this year),” Thatcher said. “We’re getting better every game, every week. We’re getting there.”
The BC girls rapped out 10 hits in the recent win and were charged with only one error. They benefitted greatly from 10 walks and five Ranger errors.
Six of the walks came in the bottom of the first inning when Livingston starter Khloe Benzel, a promising eighth-grader, couldn’t quite rein her pitches into the strike zone. The free passes led to eight Butte Central runs.
Eighth-grade second baseman Blake Smith led off for the Maroons and drew the first walk. An out later, Luci Fantini, and eighth-grader playing center field also walked. Sophomore shortstop Kenzie McQueary added another and the bases were loaded. A passed ball let Smith dash home with the first run of the game before sophomore first baseman Kodee Badovinac also got a walk. Eighth-grader Ryan Olson, batting as the designated player, smacked a base hit to left field and two runs scored. A walk to sophomore left fielder Zayonna Otherbull refilled the bags. Another to junior third baseman Marly Mansanti forced in another fun and kept the sacks packed. Stajcar then sizzled a single down the left-field line and two more runners came home.
Back to the top of the order, Smith beat out an infield hit and Mansanti scored as a throw sailed over the first baseman Samantha Kjelsrud’s head. Sophomore catcher Natalie Osterman walked and the bases were loaded again. Another infield hit, this one by Fantini, pushed Stajcar home before Benzel posted two strikeouts to end the inning.
Forelli struck out the next three Livingston batters in order in the top of the second and Maroons were quickly back in the batter’s box.
Benzel limited BC to just one run in the bottom of the frame. Olson led off with a base on balls, took second on a wild pitch after a strikeout, went to third on another wild pitch as Mansanti walked and scored on an infield hit by Stajcar.
The Rangers filled the bags in the third inning, but couldn’t score. Dawson Wood started the threat with a base hit to right field, which would be the team’s only hit. Chloe Goosey walked and, one out later, Milla Ramirez walked to pack the sacks. Pinch-hitter Alaina Valen grounded out to Badovinac at first base and the threat was snuffed.
Butte Central stacked four runs in its half of the third to widen its advantage to 13-0. Singles by Jordyn Samson, McGree, and Mila Carriger around Campbell being safe on a miscue, launched the Maroon third and knocked in two of the runs. One out later, Campbell scored on a groundout by Otherbull and then Stajcar drove Carriger home after Mansanti walked.
Ellena Pino led off the Livingston fourth with a walk, but then McGree whiffed the next three Rangers and brought BC back to the bat.
Samson led off reaching on an error and McGree earned a walk. Campbell doubled to center field and Samson scored. Carriger’s flyball was missed in the outfield and the bases were loaded. Olson’s single to left tallied McGree with the game-ending run.
Both teams are young. Livingston listed just three juniors and no seniors on its 12-player roster that includes five eighth-graders. Butte Central has a senior and two juniors among its 20 players, seven of them in eighth grade.
Livingston 000 0xx x — 0 1 5
Butte Central 814 2xx x – 15 10 1
Khloe Benzel, Bronwyn Herman (3) and Milla Ramirez. Alli Forelli, Mya McGree (3) and Natalie Osterman, Mila Carriger (3).
LIVINGSTON (0-8) – Dawson Wood (LF) 1-2, Chloe Goosey (CF) 0-1, Melayah Gress (SS) 0-1, Milla Ramirez ( C) 0-1, Kendle Sample (2B) 0-2, Ellena Pino (3B) 0-1, Khloe Benzel (P-1B) 0-2, Samantha Kjelsrud (1B-RF) 0-2, Bronwyn Herman (RF-P) 0-2.
BUTTE CENTRAL (4-4) – Blake Smith (2B) 0-1, Evyn Smith (2B) 0-2, Natalie Osterman (C ) 0-1, Jordyn Samson (RF-CF) 1-2, Luci Fantini (CF) 1-1, Mya McGree (CF-P) 1-1, Kenzie McQueary (SS) 0-1, Cambri Campbell (SS) 1-2, Kodee Badovinac (1B) 0-1, Mila Carriger (C ) 2-2, Ryan Olson (DP) 2-3, Alli Forelli (Flex/P-RF) 0-0, Zayonna Otherbull (LF) 0-2, Marly Mansanti (3B) 0-0, Arika Stajcar (RF-1B) 2-3.
Extra-base hit – 2B – Campbell.
Runs batted in – Livingston 0, Butte Central 13 (Stajcar 4, Olson 3, Campbell 2, Fantini 1, Carriger 1, Othebull 1, Mansanti 1).
