DILLON — Butte Central busted out in a big way on cold Tuesday afternoon.
The Maroon softball team smacked five extra-base hits, and BC rolled to a 17-0 Southwestern A win over the Dillon.
The win lifts the Maroons to 1-3 on the season. More importantly, it makes them 1-0 in conference play.
“That’s all I care about,” BC coach Bill “Chunky” Thatcher said. “Our goal is to make sure we get to the state tournament and make a run at it there.”
Tuesday was a nice first step toward that goal. Thatcher said it was also a huge leap toward gaining confidence for his young Maroons.
“For them it’s good confidence,” he said. “The more live pitching they get, the more they’re going to believe in themselves. We did some good things. We’re coming.”
The game was called after three innings by the 15-run mercy rule. Central led 1-0 after one before rallying for seven runs in the second and nine in the third.
Senior Maddi Kump pitched all three innings, striking out five and giving just one hit. The Beavers loaded the bases with one out in the third, but Kump ended the game with a strikeout and a groundout.
Sophomore Brooke Badovinac set the table from the BC offense. She went 3 for 3 with a triple, double, four RBIs and four runs scored from the leadoff spot. Sofee Thatcher, Mia Keeley and birthday girl Maggie Stimatiz also doubled for the Maroons.
Keeley and Renee Creekmore, who went 2 for 2, each drove in three runs, while Thatcher and Kump drove in two, and Stimatz knocked in one with her double.
All nine batters reached at least once for the Maroons. Maci Reopelle and Brenna Foley each walked twice, and Jaeden Berger reached on a passed ball and an error. Kathryn Lalicker played center field, while Angelina O’Rourke and Jodi Reiter each saw time in the outfield.
Coach Thatcher also pointed out that the team ate cookies in the dugout to celebrate Stimatz’s birthday.
Next up for Central is a makeup game at Stevensville next Monday. The Maroons will then host Corvallis and Hamilton April 22 and 24 at Stodden Park.
Butte Central 179 — 17 9 1
Dillon 000 — 0 1 3
Maddi Kump and Mia Keeley; Dubois and Breng. W — Kump 1-1. L — Dubois.
BUTTE CENTRAL (1-0, 1-3) — Brooke Badovinac 3-3, Sofee Thatcher 1-1, Maci Reopelle 0-1, Kump 1-2, Keeley 1-2, Maggie Stimatz 1-2, Brenna Foley 0-1, Angelina O’Rourke 0-0, Renee Creekmore 2-2, Jodi Reiter 0-0, Jaeden Berger 0-3, Kathryn Lalicker 0-0.
DILLON — Hernandez 0-2, L. Johnston 0-1, Dubois 1-2, Anderson 0-2, A. Johnston 0-1, Browning 0-1, Breng 0-1, Allhands 0-1, Mosher 0-0.
3B — Badovinac. 2B — Badovinac, Thatcher, Keeley, Stimatz; Dubois. RBIs — Badovinac 4, Keeley 3, Creekmore 3, Thatcher 2, Kump 2, Stimatz.
