Glacier softball falls in Western AA title game

HELENA — Missoula Sentinel used a strong start and a big finish to subdue top-seeded Glacier Wednesday morning, winning the Western AA Divisional softball championship 13-3 over the Wolfpack at Batch Field.

Addy Gaub had three hits and five runs batted in for the Spartans (20-3), who scored their second win over the Wolfpack (21-3) in five matchups.

Both teams are headed to the State AA tournament that begins Thursday at KidSport in Kalispell.

The Wolfpack had hoped to go in as No. 1 out of the West, but Sentinel pounded out 13 hits, including a fifth-inning, solo home run from Haley Wolsky off Glacier starter Ella Farrell.

“They’re a great team,” Glacier coach Abby Connolly said of the Spartans. “They definitely earned their win today, and we’re going to make adjustments and look forward to playing them again next week.”

Farrell started the game and threw two scoreless innings before surrendering four RBI singles in the third. In the fourth the hurler got Glacier on the board with a solo homer; Sentinel countered with a 4-run outburst to go up 8-1.

In the fifth Kynzie Mohl delivered a 2-run shot — her 16th home run of the season and fourth of the tournament — but Sentinel answered with another four runs in the top of the sixth.

Sentinel scored 12 runs, all earned, off Farrell. Mohl came on partway through the sixth and finished up on the mound.

Glacier managed seven hits off the Sentinel tandem of Charlee Hoover (five strikeouts in five innings) and Grace Hardy. Hardy, like Mohl a Montana Grizzlies’ softball signee, had two hits, an RBI and scored once.

The Spartans draw Great Falls High Thursday; Glacier will get Billings Senior, the No. 3 team out of the Western AA after beating Great Falls 17-6 in the consolation.

“We were either going to go against Great Falls High or Billings Senior, both really good teams,” said Connolly, whose team swept a doubleheader from Great Falls to open the season. “We draw Senior, which has the top strikeout pitcher in the state (junior Kennedy Venner has 201 Ks; Farrell, a freshman, is next with 132), so we’ll have to disciplined at the plate.

“But to be the best you have to beat the best. It will be good to get in there and play the East. It’ll be good.”

Halle Shroeder had two hits for Glacier. Kenna Vanorny scored once to bring her AA-leading run total to 56; she also stole a base, giving her 20 for the season.

In the Western AA consolation game Helena Capital beat Helena 6-2. In the Eastern AA championship Billings West beat Belgrade 13-12.

Sentinel 004 044 1 - 13 13 1

Glacier 000 120 0 - 3 7 1

Charlee Hoover, Grace Hardy (5) and Emma Reis. Ella Farrell, Kynzie Mohl (6) and Mohl, Halle Schroeder (6).

SENTINEL — Hardy 2-5, Haley Wolsky 1-4, Keena Kay 1-3, Kodi Fraser 3-5, Addy Gaub 3-4, Amy Taylor 2-3, Ries 0-4, Morgan Holmes 0-4, Mac Wright 1-2.

GLACIER — Kenna Vanorny 1-3, Mohl 3-4, Sammie Labrum 0-4, Kenadie Goudette 0-3, Farrell 1-3, Schroeder 2-3, Emma Cooke 0-3, Teagan Powell 0-3, Alli Kernan 0-3.

2B — Schroeder, Mohl. HR — Wolsky, Farrell, Mohl. RBI — Gaub 5, hardy, Wolsky, Kay, Ries, Wright, Mohl 3, Farrell.