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Glacier Caps Softball Season with Second-Place Trophy

Great Falls C.M. Russell holds off Glacier 3-1 in Class AA state championship in Kalispell

By Dillon Tabish
Glacier senior Ali Williams hugs her teammates after the game. Great Falls C.M. Russell defeated Glacier 3-1 in the Class AA state championship on May 28, 2016 at Kalispell's Kidsports Complex. Greg Lindstrom | Flathead Beacon

Their hearts ached as much as their ace’s arm.

After six games and 42 innings in 48 hours, the Glacier girls tirelessly concluded the softball season on their home field, where it all started.

In the end, Great Falls C.M. Russell managed just enough hits, just enough defense to unseat the defending champions 3-1 on Saturday in the Class AA state finale at Kidsports Complex.

As the Lady Rustlers celebrated retaking the title for the first time since 2012, the Wolfpack carried the runner-up trophy to right field, where head coach Andy Fors delivered a heartening reminder.

“I told them how proud I was of them and how proud this town is of them,” Fors said. “It’s tough to lose that championship game but we’re not disappointed. They need to understand what they’ve accomplished and what they’ve done over the last couple of years, how they built the program up and where they leave it, how much work that takes.”

In the last four years, the Wolfpack developed into a perennial state contender with a 71-27 overall record. Last year the girls won the program’s first championship and three years ago placed third. Now add a second-place trophy to the case.

The Wolfpack can certainly hold their heads up. But first they should kick up their feet and rest — these girls earned that trophy the hard way.

All-state senior Ali Williams pitched every inning for the Pack from Thursday through Saturday, capping her remarkable career with 58 strikeouts in 42 innings, including 11 in the championship game. She finished her stellar senior season with 329 strikeouts in 182 innings.

“We worked hard to battle back, so I’m proud,” Williams said, admitting she could feel the toll on her right arm afterward.

The morning after pitching three challenging games on Friday, Williams took the mound against Great Falls despite lingering fatigue and stiffness.

“We talked to her,” Fors said. “The message she said to us was good luck trying to drag her off the mound. Her senior year and with everything she’s put in, she wasn’t going to be denied that opportunity.”

In trademark style, Williams powered through seven innings, striking out 10 batters and allowing only four hits against Great Falls. Junior Emma Shew knocked a homer and senior Christine Connolly added an RBI, while sophomore Anna Schrade had two doubles as Glacier won 4-2 and advanced to the championship against CMR.

It was an uphill road toward the championship, needing to beat CMR twice, but Glacier made a run at it. The Pack jumped ahead early after senior Sarah Frandsen knocked in a run, but Great Falls’ Savanna Voyles belted a two-run homer in the fifth and added an insurance run in the top of the seventh to give CMR a 3-1 lead. Similar to Friday’s matchup between the two teams, the Lady Rustlers stifled the Pack offense, holding Glacier to only six hits total and finishing the season with a 23-2 record.

“When you know you’re right there, one play here and there, that makes it tough, when it’s so close you can taste it,” Fors said. “But credit to CMR in both games. Their pitcher did a phenomenal job. They came up with hits when the needed to. They’re an excellent program. We enjoyed competing with them.”

Connolly had a double and Erin McHugh, Christina DuFour and Meg Hornby each added singles for Glacier (21-7).

This year’s seniors — Williams, Frandsen and Connolly — can certainly exit with their heads high and quite a few good memories.

“I know we’re down about this game but a lot of people don’t get these chances. It’s been pretty amazing,” Connolly, who will continue playing at Carroll College next year with Williams, said.

“This year we really showed our grit.”


Class AA State Softball 
Championship

C.M. Russell 3, Glacier 1

CMR 000 020 1 — 3 8 0
Glacier 010 000 0 — 1 6 0

Courtney Schroeder and Katie Huisman. Ali Williams and Christine Connolly. W—Schroeder. L—Williams.

CMR—Savanna Voyles 4-4, Brenna Bushard 0-3, Myla Robbins 0-3, Huisman 1-3, Schroeder 1-3, Kayci Edwards 0-1, Kathryn Heryla 0-1, Julianna Gonzales 0-3, Laura Poitra 0-2, Julia Shearer 0-1, Kierstin Evenson 2-3.

GLACIER—Anna Schrade 0-3, Erin McHugh 1-3, Williams 1-2, Alivia Atlee 0-3, Connolly 1-3, Christina DuFour 1-3, Emma Shew 0-3, Sarah Frandsen 1-2, Sarah Stern 0-1, Meg Hornby 1-3.
2B—Voyles. Connolly. HR—Voyles. RBIs—Voyles 3. Frandsen.

Third Place

Glacier 4, Great Falls 2

Glacier 201 100 0 — 4 5 0
Great Falls 000 101 0 — 2 4 0

Williams and Connolly. Molly Schmitz and McKenzie Staats. W—Williams. L—Schmitz.

GLACIER—Schrade 2-4, McHugh 0-3, Williams 1-2, Atlee 0-2, Connolly 0-2, DuFour 0-3, Shew 1-3, Kali Gulick 0-1, Frandsen 0-1, Hornby 1-3.

GREAT FALLS—Marihelen Held 0-3, Schmitz 1-3, Tanaya Krenik 2-3, Cayley Bushong 0-3, Staats 1-2, Madylynn Ray 0-2, Jasmine Hill 0-1, Erin Hocker 0-2, Twila Reovan 0-1, Sarah Conway 0-2, Veda Root 0-2.
2B—Shrade 2, Williams. Schmitz. HR—Shew. Krenik 2. RBIs—Connolly, Shew. Krenik 2.