Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Serving Proudly As The Voice Of Valley County Since 1913
Farther than their fourth-place finish last season, the Scottie softball players proudly hold their 2015 B-C Eastern Divisionals Second Place plaque before heading home from Conrad. From left to right: Jordan Johnson, Ashtyn Myrick, Rachel Boese, Tyra Johnson, Abbi Kolstad, Teagan Fossum, Lexi Nixdorf, Kiauna Barstad, Autumn Hopkins, Ziggy Chamberlain, Sadie Sukut, Tiana Johnson and Khloe Krumwiede.
"It'd be nice to be in the championship," said Sadie Sukut, one of the two senior leaders on the Glasgow softball team.
"Yeah. A trophy would be sweet," said Autumn Hopkins, the other senior. The 2015 team started out as a young and inexperienced team. But over the course of the season, they have battled, rallied, set goals and repeatedly reached them. They hold an impressive 17-2 record going into state this weekend.
Head Coach Mark Falcon wants his squad to "finish strong". After beating Cut Bank-another narrow 11-10 win-and Shepherd 20-8 at the B-C Divisionals last weekend in rainy Conrad, the Scotties will enter the state B-C tournament as the second-place team from the East.
Also representing the Eastern Division are No. 1 seed Conrad/Choteau, No. 3 seed Great Falls Central, and No. 4 seed Shepherd.
The Divisional tournament was cut short on Saturday when the rain set in. Some games were moved to Shelby, and the tournament was canceled after five out of the nine teams became eliminated.
Glasgow will open their bracket with Florence-Carlton on Thursday, May 21 at 4 p.m. in Belgrade.
The Scottie girls will have to rely on more than their powerful offense to go far in state. Their defensive capabilities will get tested as the western teams "definitely like to play small ball," recalled Sukut. Both Hopkins and Sukut echoed that, as a team, they need to relax mentally. "Sometimes we get too excited and get ahead of ourselves. We play better when we relax and just try to have fun," said Sukut. Fielding errors have been the Scotties' Achilles heel all season.
It helps that the team has played, in 2014, the same four Western teams returning to the 2015 state tournament: St. Ignatius/Charlo/Arlee (1W), Ronan (2W), Florence-Carlton (3W), and Plains/Hot Springs (4W). It's good to know your opponents. Coach Falcon planned a practice on hitting and fielding bunts because, in his experience, the Western teams utilize bunts a lot.
As for a possible rematch with the Eastern No. 1 team Conrad/Choteau, undefeated in the conference and shutting down the offensive-minded Glasgow 2-0 back in April, well, the Glasgow girls have seen their ace, too. "We've seen her a couple of outings and so we'd be better prepared next time. We have to use her mistakes towards our advantage," said Falcon, referring to Choteau's all-state pitcher, sophomore Tristin Achenbach.
Glasgow took fourth place at state last year. They beat No. 1 ranked Ronan and St. Ignatius/Charlo/Arlee, and lost to Plains and the eventual 2014 champion, Florence-Carlton.
Florence-Carlton has won state the past three years, including a 10-3 win over Conrad/Choteau in last year's championship game.
Hopkins said she'll miss being with all the girls together; Sukut, the fun bus rides. Neither has softball in their collegiate future, but will definitely keep co-ed leagues in mind. For now, Hopkins and Sukut are excited for their last high school tournament. They are ready to go out and play hard. "Relax and stay positive," both seniors agreed. "That's how we were able to find the success in our comeback rallies."
GAME NOTES FROM B-C DIVISIONALS:
GLASGOW 11, CUT BANK 10
The Scotties and the Lady Wolves went back and forth until the bottom of the 6th inning, when home team Glasgow scored the tying and go-ahead runs. After Tiana Johnson got on base by an error, Abbi Kolstad hit a triple to tie the game. Next, Sadie Sukut walked then attempted a steal. A wild throw down to second scored Kolstad home for the go-ahead run. Tyra Johnson shut down the Wolves at the top of the 7th for the final victory. Muddy conditions made fielding quite tricky, according to coach Falcon. Glasgow logged 3 errors, and Sadie Sukut hit a one-run homer.
Khloe Krumwiede went 0-3, Tiana Johnson 1-4, Abbi Kolstad 3-4, Tyra Johnson 1-2, Sadie Sukut 2-3 , Kiauna Barstad 1-3, Autumn Hopkins 1-4, Lexi Nixdorf 1-3, Teagan Fossum 0-3.
Pitcher Tyra Johnson picked up the win. She completed 7 innings, giving up 9 hits and 1 home run, walking 8 and striking out 10.
GLASGOW 20, SHEPHERD 8
Senior Autumn Hopkins also hit a home run.
Khloe Krumwiede 2-5, Tiana Johnson 4-6, Abbi Kolstad 2-4, Tyra Johnson 2-2, Sadie Sukut 0-2, Autumn Hopkins 3-5, Kiauna Barstad 2-4, Lexi Nixdorf 2-4, Teagan Fossum 0-2, Ziggy Chamberlain 0-0, Jordan Johnson 0-0, Ashtyn Myrick 0-0.
Tyra Johnson pitched 6 innings. She gave up 5 hits and 1 home run, walked 7 and struck out 7.
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