In a Field of Contenders, Wolfpack Rising to the Top

There are few accomplishments in sports as challenging and exceptional as a no-hitter.

Some pitchers go their entire careers without notching one.

In 16 games this spring, Ali Williams already has four.

The hard-throwing right-hander is at the center of a talented Glacier team that is storming through the softball season and in control of the Western AA conference. At 16-3 overall and 9-2 in conference, the Wolfpack are atop the standings with under a month remaining until the Class AA state tournament in Missoula, May 21-23.

“It’s been a great season so far. We’re really clicking,” Kayleena Ikeda, a four-year starter and standout second baseman, said. “We’re all working really hard and our goal is to get to state and get a shot at that state championship. That’s been our goal since day one.”

Head coach Andy Fors has a tight-knit group of multi-sport athletes who have mostly played together since elementary school. Several key players are back from last year’s squad, which finished 12-10 after being eliminated in two games at the state tournament. Fors has also been able to rely on the leadership of the team’s five seniors, including co-captains Ikeda and Kayla Russell, a standout shortstop.

“I think the experience in this group has really shown up in lots of different situations,” Fors said. “We’ve had a lot of tight games and in those situations, the maturity really stands out.”

While the offense continues to build up its strength, the Pack’s defense has shined all season. The team has committed only 15 errors in the field.

Of course, it helps when opponents can barely muster a few hits per game.

Williams, a 5-foot-11 junior, has been a standout in the circle since she was a freshman but this is proving to be her breakout year.

In 101 innings, she has struck out 178 batters. The next closest pitcher in the conference — Missoula Big Sky’s Macey Newberry — has tallied 117 strikeouts.

Williams has allowed only 38 hits and 16 earned runs and boasts a 1.14 ERA. She’s pitched six shutouts and 14 of her 16 starts have been complete games.

Last weekend 17 of the 18 outs were strikeouts in Glacier’s 11-1 win over Missoula Hellgate.

Of course, atop the list of noteworthy accomplishments are four no-hitters.

Williams blanked Helena, one of the best teams in the conference, on April 11, striking out 13 batters and allowing two walks in seven innings of work. Glacier won 3-0.

In the Pack’s next game, against crosstown rival Flathead on April 16, Williams blanked the Bravettes in five innings after Glacier won 12-0. She allowed only one walk and fanned 12 batters.

And then there was April 25.

Glacier played Helena and Helena Capital in a doubleheader on the road.

In the first game, Williams once again stumped Helena, pitching a complete game no-hitter with 18 strikeouts. She allowed four walks and Glacier won 6-0.

Right afterward, Williams squared off against Capital and achieved yet another no-hitter after seven innings. She walked three batters and the Wolfpack won 1-0.

Not a bad day of work — 14 innings, 31 strikeouts and zero hits allowed.

“I try not to really think about it until it’s the fifth inning. But once it gets to the fifth, that’s when I try to get the no-hitter,” she says. “I know that even if I accidentally float one down the middle the defense will definitely be there to back me up.”

Williams spent the offseason developing a new pitch — a rise ball — that has stumped batters all spring. She can also fire a fastball that exceeds 65 miles per hour.

“Having a pitcher like Ali takes the pressure off both our defense and our offense. Our defense knows that when they put the ball in play we have to be solid but it won’t be every single at bat. That helps our confidence,” Fors said. “On the other side, knowing that we can hold teams to one or two runs, it takes a little pressure off the offense and we can be a little more relaxed in those situations.”

Williams has also helped herself out from the batter’s box. She has 21 hits, including three homeruns, and 14 RBI.

Russell leads the team in offense with a .370 batting average. She has 23 hits, including five doubles.

Erin McHugh has 15 hits for Glacier and Christine Connolly has 14.

“Our main goal is to get to state. I think we could win some games at state and even win state. That’s definitely attainable with this team,” Russell said.

Glacier will try to advance to the state tournament for the third consecutive year. The program’s best finish was third place in 2013, when Glacier won the Western AA conference.

A team from the West hasn’t won a state title since 2009, when Helena Capital defeated Missoula Hellgate. Billings West beat Missoula Big Sky last season.