Baseball: Pack bats catch fire in opener
JON ALLEN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 days, 4 hours AGO
Glacier's Kaeden Kahler (22) drives in two runs with an RBI double in the fifth inning against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier shortstop Kyler Croft (11) makes a throw to first after charging a ground ball against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Seattle Seahawks linebacker and Glacier High alumnus Patrick O'Connell throws out the first pitch before the start of the Glacier Wolfpack's inaugural high school baseball game against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier shortstop Tate Kahler (4) tags Belgrade's Chance Stephens (9) as Stephens hand comes off the bag while trying to steal second base at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Ryne Gillette (13) beats a throw to home plate in the fifth inning against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Teagan Dixon (5) and Brady Buckmaster (18) celebrate after scoring on Kaeden Kahler's two-run double in the fifth inning against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Teagan Dixon (5) celebrates on first base after driving in two runs in the fifth inning against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier's Teagan Dixon (5) drives in two runs with an RBI single in the fifth inning against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier head coach Erik Brink talks to the Wolfpack between innings against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier second baseman Brady Lewellen (27) catches a line drive in the first inning against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Glacier catcher Brady Buckmaster (18) looks to make a throw after tagging a Belgrade runner caught in a rundown at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
SPORTS REPORTER Jon Allen is a sports reporter for the Daily Inter Lake. He covers youth and high school athletics across the Flathead Valley and Northwest Montana. Allen reports on major games, athletes and teams throughout the region’s prep sports landscape. In addition to game coverage, he contributes features and analysis across print and digital platforms. Jon can be seen on our Big Sky Now podcast, weighing in on the college landscape. His work highlights the athletes and communities that define Northwest Montana sports. IMPACT: Jon’s work tells the stories of local athletes and the communities that support them. | March 29, 2026 12:00 AM
It was a pitcher’s duel early but when Glacier’s bats warmed up, they caught fire.
Kaeden Kahler and Teagan Dixon drove in three runs each as the Wolfpack took a 7-2 victory over Belgrade in the school’s inaugural baseball game Saturday at Griffin Field.
“Their pitcher was doing well, then we got our first hit and I think everyone got a spark and we started hitting and rolling,” Kahler said.
After three scoreless innings, Belgrade jumped ahead thanks to a Max Zimmer bases-loaded single to left field. A passed ball allowed Mason Zimmer to come home and make it 2-0 Panthers.
“A few ups and downs, but I am glad we got rid of the nerves today,” Glacier coach Erik Brink said. “I’m so proud of them, they battled back. We have only had a few days of outdoor practice and our defense made some really good plays.”
Brady Buckmaster picked up Glacier’s first hit in the bottom of the fourth, but Beau Schulz popped out on a bunt and Buckmaster was caught out at second for a double play to end the inning.
In the fifth Glacier caught a break, then caught fire. With two outs, Bridger Sunde grounded to short but the throw pulled Mason Zimmer off the bag. The Wolfpack capitalized on the mistake.
Ryne Gillette singled, then advanced on an errant throw to third. That brought Dixon to the plate; he singled up the middle which brought Sunde and Gillette home to tie the game.
After a Buckmaster single, Kahler stepped up and laced a fastball to the fence in left center, scoring two and giving Glacier its first lead of the day at 4-2.
“Off the bat it felt amazing,” Kahler said. “The pitch was right where I wanted it, right down the middle. I missed the barrel a little bit and I think if I could have gotten it a little better then I would have had my first home run.”
Kyler Croft made it 5-2 with a blooper that fell just past the pitcher’s mound and scored Kahler.
In the sixth, Glacier added to the lead with a sacrifice fly from Dixon scoring Sunde, then Kahler scored Gillette with a single up the middle.
Max Weber closed the game down for the Wolfpack with two perfect innings, striking out one.
Kyler Croft started and threw two no-hit innings, fanning three. Schulz, Brady Lewellen and Wyatt Sharp each threw an inning in relief.
Brayton VanDyken started for the Panthers — who took an 11-9 decision over Polson Friday — throwing three no-hit innings. Max Zimmer and Bradley Welch combined for three innings in relief.
Glacier heads to Missoula Thursday for a matchup with Big Sky at 1 p.m.
Belgrade 000 200 0 - 2 5 1
Glacier 000 052 x - 7 9 0
Brayton VanDyken, Maz Zimmer (4), Bradley Welch (6) and Andrew Hazen. Kyler Croft, Beau Schulz (3), Brady Lewellen (4), Wyatt Sharp (5), Max Weber (6) and Brady Buckmaster.
BELGRADE — Andrew Hazen 0-3, Brayton VanDyken 1-2, Fay Wells-Minthorn 1-3, Mason Zimmer 1-3, Hudson Trullinger 0-2, Max Zimmer 1-2, Bradley Welch 0-1, Memphis Wagner 1-3, Law Preasmyer 0-3, Chance Stephens 0-2.
GLACIER — Teagan Dixon 1-4, Brady Buckmaster 2-4, Kaeden Kahler 2-3, Max Weber 0-2, Kyler Croft 1-2, Beau Schulz 0-1, Brady Lewellen 0-1, Wyatt Sharp 0-1, Emmet Kim 0-0, Tate Kahler 0-3, Ethan Kim 0-0, Bridger Sunde 1-2, Ryne Gillette 2-3.
2B — K Kahler, Gillette. RBIs — Max Zimmer. Dixon 3, K Kahler 3, Croft.
Reporter Jon Allen can be reached at 406-758-4426 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.
Glacier shortstop Kyler Croft (11) makes a throw to first after charging a ground ball against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Seattle Seahawks linebacker and Glacier High alumnus Patrick O'Connell throws out the first pitch before the start of the Glacier Wolfpack's inaugural high school baseball game against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier shortstop Tate Kahler (4) tags Belgrade's Chance Stephens (9) as Stephens hand comes off the bag while trying to steal second base at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Ryne Gillette (13) beats a throw to home plate in the fifth inning against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Teagan Dixon (5) and Brady Buckmaster (18) celebrate after scoring on Kaeden Kahler's two-run double in the fifth inning against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Teagan Dixon (5) celebrates on first base after driving in two runs in the fifth inning against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier's Teagan Dixon (5) drives in two runs with an RBI single in the fifth inning against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier head coach Erik Brink talks to the Wolfpack between innings against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier second baseman Brady Lewellen (27) catches a line drive in the first inning against Belgrade at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Glacier catcher Brady Buckmaster (18) looks to make a throw after tagging a Belgrade runner caught in a rundown at Griffin Field on Saturday, March 28. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
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