Last year getting there was an achievement.

This year, that’s not going to be good enough.

Glacier has higher expectations for its second trip to the Class AA state softball tournament this weekend in Helena.

The Wolfpack (18-3) enters the three-day event with the second best record in the field and riding a nine-game winning streak. It opens up against Butte (15-7) today at 2 p.m. on Field 4 at Batch Fields in Helena.

“I think for these girls, it’s to get that first win at state,” Glacier coach Joel Bemis said of his team’s focus and drive this time.

“If we can do that, who knows what will happen. They know they can play with anybody.”

Glacier and Butte share the same bracket with tournament favorite Great Falls Russell (19-2) and defending state champion Helena Capital (8-12). Those two teams also play at 2 p.m.

“Butte and CMR were in the same bracket (with us) last year,” Bemis said.

“Wasn’t even close,” he said of his team losing to Butte first, then CMR.

“We got whipped at state.”

Butte beat the Wolfpack in the 2009 state opener 11-0. The next day Glacier lost 10-2 to the Rustlers.

Glacier had five errors against Butte, which totaled 17 hits.

“We wanna go and be competitive,” Bemis said this time.

“We’ve talked a lot about that (in practice this week).

“Last year we kind of had a feeling of ‘Oh gee, we’re happy to be at state.’ This year, there is a little more pressure on the girls. They want to go and get some wins. They’ve been a little tight at times, but they sense what they want to do. It’s important for them to go and be competitive.”

Glacier and Butte both advanced to state with play-in victories last week. The Wolfpack took care of rival Flathead 8-0 and 4-0 at Kidsports Complex. Butte also took its best-of-three series in two games, whipping Great Falls High 11-3 and 11-2 in Butte.

Butte ripped Bison pitching for 25 hits and clubbed five home runs, including a grand slam by Kelcie Boltz.

The Bulldogs are led by pitcher Jaimee Paffhausen (12-4), who struck out 11, walked two and issued 13 hits in two games with the Bison.

Butte committed one error in both games.

Glacier and Butte did play the first weekend of the season at the Great Falls Jamboree. Butte won that meeting “like 5-2,” Bemis said.

“I don’t know what the final score was. We were competitive with them. It was spring break and we had a few kids missing. That (meeting) doesn’t give us a whole lot (to go on). They are a good team. One of their strengths is their offense.”

Glacier pitcher Kendra Bouley, a junior, has enjoyed a stellar season thus far. She is 11-1, has one save and boasts an  ERA of 1.65.

She has thrown six shutouts and has 113 strikeouts.

“She’s pretty confident and the defense behind her is pretty confident,” Bemis said.

“They work together nicely. When the pitching and defense work together, you can be pretty solid.”

Offensively, Glacier has just two hitters sporting batting averages of .300 or better. Brittany Franklin, who hits third in the batting order, leads with her .474. The catcher’s slugging percentage is .968. She has more doubles than singles and leads the team in home runs with four.

Clean-up hitter Lyndsey Hoffenbacker is next at .407. The second baseman leads the team in RBIs.

NOTES: C.M. Russell pitcher Ashley Keeler, a senior, is 13-0 this spring in the circle. She has 111 strikeouts in 91 innings and has walked 15. The Rustlers have a potent offense will all nine starters hitting above .300. The leader is Alex Lowry, a junior, who is hitting .506. The Rustlers are averaging nine runs per game. Billings West pitcher Jessyka MacDonald (14-2) has an ERA of 0.99. The junior has fanned 205 batters in 113 innings. That breaks down to 13 strikeouts for a seven-inning game. She has three no-hitters this season and has allowed just 54 hits. She also swings a mean bat, hitting .420 with three home runs. Billings West has won eight straight. These statistics were found online in Great Falls Tribune and Billings Gazette stories.

Class AA State

Batch Fields

Helena

Today

2 p.m. — Great Falls C.M. Russell (19-2) vs. Helena Capital (8-12) on Field 1

2 p.m. — Glacier (18-3) vs. Butte (15-7) on Field 4

4 p.m. — Missoula Big Sky (13-7) vs. Billings Senior (15-9) on Field 1

4 p.m. — Billings West (18-5) vs. Missoula Sentinel (11-11) on Field 4

Class A State

Billings

Today-Saturday

Eight of last year’s state tournament teams are back: Belgrade, Billings Central, Corvallis, Frenchtown, Havre, Laurel, Libby (12-10) and Polson (15-6).

Not returning: Butte Central, Columbia Falls, Livingston and Ronan. Replacing those four are: Anaconda, Lewistown, Sidney and Whitefish (4-4 league play).

Polson advances to state for the 23rd straight year, all under legendary coach Larry Smith.

The Pirates have won four state titles (2001, 2002, 2004 and 2007), and have finished second once and third once.

Frenchtown dropped Butte Central 6-2 in last year’s finale. Belgrade finished third.

Polson was eliminated from the tournament on the second day, along with Libby.

Libby won state in 2008.

Last year there were nine returning teams for state.

Stewart Park Softball Complex

Today

10 a.m. — Havre vs. Anaconda (Field 1)

10 a.m. — Laurel vs. Lewistown (Field 2)

Noon — Libby vs. Sidney (Field 1)

Noon — Corvallis vs. Whitefish (Field 2)

2 p.m. — Billings Central vs. Havre/Anaconda winner (Field 2)

Polson vs. Laurel/Lewistown winner (Field 1)

4 p.m. — Frenchtown vs. Libby/Sidney winner (Field 2)

4 p.m. — Belgrade vs. Corvallis/Whitefish winner (Field 1)

Class B-C State

Billings

Today-Saturday

Stillwater (Columbus/Absarokee/Park City) will be going after its fourth-straight state championship.

Stillwater is the No. 2 seed from the East. The top seed belongs to Shepherd.

Stewart Park Softball Complex

Billings

Today

2 p.m. — Thompson Falls vs. Conrad

2 p.m. — Stillwater (Columbus/Absarokee/Park City) vs. Florence/Carlton

4 p.m. — Shepherd vs. Deer Lodge

4 p.m. — Loyola Sacred Heart vs. Huntley Project