Scottie Softball Starts Season with Two Losses

The Glasgow Scottie Softball team traveled to Colstrip last Thursday to kick off the 2021 season. After a year off due to the complete shutdown of schools and spring sports in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the team shook off the cobwebs but still suffered two losses.

Coach Ryan Hartwell said, “Taking a year off definitely had something to do with it. We’re discovering what we have to readdress.“

Glasgow faced defending state champions Huntley Project first in the Colstrip Invitational. The Red Devils came out strong in the first inning, racking up four runs to start the game while holding the Scotties scoreless. Huntley Project continued that pattern throughout the seven innings, adding two runs in the second and two more in the fourth, going on to win 8-0.

Ashlee Meland started the game on the mound for Glasgow. She allowed ten hits and eight runs over four innings, hitting a strike percentage of 50.5. Brielle Partridge relieved her to finish out the game. She allowed only one hit and denied Huntley Project any runs, throwing a 56.5 strike percentage. Meland led the Scotties with two hits, while Alexys Mann, Daley Aune, Tatum Nyquist and Alexis Murdock added one each. Mann and Meland had two total bases in the game. Nyquist led the team in stolen bases with two.

Hartwell said he was proud of his team, “They played well. They went the whole game.” He noted that errors cost the Scotties early, especially against a tough team with strong pitching. Hartwell said the Scotties have not seen pitching with real speed yet this season, but are hitting the pitching machines this week to improve their batting skills.

The team was back on the diamond again Thursday afternoon to face Columbus. The Scotties managed to round the bases several times in the game but fell at the end of seven, 19 to 5. Columbus took an early 2-0 lead after the first two innings and added two more before Glasgow sent two runners all the way. Mann stole home to put the Scotties on the scoreboard. Davyn Myrick crossed the plate when Nyquist singled a ground ball to the Columbus shortstop.

Columbus built on their lead in the fourth, adding two more runs before Glasgow added their third run in the bottom. Mann again crossed home after Aune hit a fly ball for a double. Columbus added three more runs, one in the fifth and two in the sixth, before Glasgow added to their score. Mann continued her thievery, stealing home for Glasgow’s fourth run of the game. Meland made her trip around the bases complete on a Carly Nelson ground hit to shortstop.

Heading into the final inning, Columbus held a not insurmountable 9 to 5 lead. The Scotties’ rival exploded for 10 runs though and then held Glasgow scoreless, to seal the victory.

Aune started the game on the mound for the Scotties, pitching a 55.6 strike percentage over the first three innings, allowing five hits and three runs. Meland pitched for one inning, allowing two hits and two runs with a 64.7 strike percentage. Partridge threw for three innings, allowing 16 hits and 13 while pitching a 68.4 strike percentage.

Mann scored three times and had three hits at bat. Nyquist had three hits and one runner batted in. Nelson and Meland added two hits each, both with an RBI. Mann led the team with four total bases and four stolen bases. Nyquist had three total bases, and Aune and Nelson had two each. Meland added two stolen bases.

Hartwell told the Courier the team ran into some problems with pitching. With four girls out of the lineup, the Scotties scrambled to cover all positions to the best of their abilities. Two of those Scotties will be back this upcoming weekend and Hartwell hopes to be up to full strength the week after. “They played well,” he said, “I’m looking forward to see how they grow the rest of the season.”

The Scotties aren’t overly worried about their start. Hartwell said he had the lower and upper classmen come out and play hard. He is excited to see how the players mesh as the season plays out. The coach said, “There’s nothing we can’t fix as a team and get back on track.”

The Scotties will be in Lewistown this Friday and Saturday, April 9 and 10 for three Eastern B/C conference games and one Class A matchup. Glasgow plays Shepherd on Friday at 1:30 p.m., and will face Laurel at 5:30 p.m. That same day. Glasgow starts at 9 a.m. On Saturday against Colstrip and will be back on the field at 3 p.m. Against Park. All Glasgow games will be played on field 2 at the Lewistown Invitational.