The Flathead Bravettes don’t like to take the easy way out.

Missing nearly half of their starting lineup to spring break vacations, the Bravettes kicked off the 2015 softball season by hosting the two-time defending Class A state champion Frenchtown Broncs.

Not only did the Bravettes (0-1) battle blustery winds on a cold, grey day at Conrad Complex, but the Flathead lineup, consisting of a mixture of JV and varsity players, got a good look at Frenchtown’s Morgan Ray — a senior pitcher verbally committed to The Ohio State University.

Ray struck out 15 batters, allowing just one hit in an 11-0 six-inning shutout for a nonconference road victory on Thursday night.

After surrendering four runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by Frenchtown catcher Brooke Yarnall’s RBI triple, Becca Knutson, a sophomore pitcher for Flathead, led off the bottom half of the opening inning with a blooper into shallow center field for Flathead’s only hit of the game.

A wild pitch and a passed ball allowed Knutson to advance to third base, but Ray settled down and struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam.

Ray walked a batter in the second and sixth innings while mowing through the Flathead linueup, limiting the Bravettes to just three baserunners.

“I was impressed with our JV kids that stepped up and played varsity. In that light, it went better than I expected, but it wasn’t great,” first year Flathead coach Tasia Gates said.

“I think we can get more confident at the plate, but they went up there swinging. (Morgan Ray) is a heck of a pitcher. Since I’ve been coaching, I don’t know if I’ve seen a gal pitch as quick as her. I thought we stepped up today. I don’t think they’re used to seeing someone that quick, but they were swinging.”

Knutson, who got the start in the circle for Flathead, bounced back from the four-run first inning with two consecutive shut-out innings.

The Broncs (2-0) threatened in the top of the second with runners on second and third with one out, but Bravettes third baseman Kylee Meredith caught Emma Pyron’s line drive before diving to tag out Alli Moe who had crept too far off third base.

Knutson sent down the Broncs in order in the third.

“I thought (Knutson) did great. She was feeling pretty good, feeling pretty confident, and I thought it showed,” Gates said.

“(Kylee Meredith) stepped up on that (double play). She definitely made some great plays over there at third.”

The Broncs found their stroke in the top of the sixth, pushing another four runs across the plate, including Krista Hebnes’ two-run homerun to dead center field. Frenchtown’s second four spot of the game put the contest out of reach as Ray struck out two more batters to preserve the win.

“That was our first real game of the season. The at-bats are helpful, and it’s good to see us in a game situation,” Gates said.

“We’re young, so we’re pretty new as far as playing together goes. We’re meshing, and it just takes some time. It takes games.”

Flathead hits the road today for two games in the Electric City. They’ll take on Great Falls C.M. Russell at noon before tangling with Great Falls High at 2 p.m.

Frenchtown 400 124 — 11 9 0

Flathead 000 000 — 0 1 5

Morgan Ray and Allie Hochhalter. Becca Knutson, Kylee Beccari (6) and Kaylee Smith. W — Ray. L — Knuston.

FRENCHTOWN — Morgan Ray 1-3, Emma Pyron 1-4, Brooke Yarnall 2-4, Krista Hebnes 3-4, Haley Cyr 1-4, Shelby Shourds 0-4, Laci Willet 1-2, Kira Oliver 0-2, Megan Delaney 0-1, Alli Moe 0-1, Taylor Rockwood 0-1.

FLATHEAD — Becca Knutson 1-3, Grace Cady 0-3, Kaylee Smith 0-3, Kylee Meredith 0-2, Kylee Beccari 0-2, Bailey Nunn 0-1, Kamryn Farmer 0-2, Hailey Gauthier 0-2, Greta Cole 0-1.

2B — Hebnes, Pyron. 3B — Yarnall. HR — Hebnes. RBI — Morgan, Pyron, Yarnall, Hebnes 4, Cyr.