Flathead blasts Big Sky 15-5, falls to Sentinel

Flathead ended the day on a winning note by whipping Missoula Big Sky 15-5 in Western AA softball play at Kidsports Complex on Thursday evening.

Flathead (4-8 overall, 2-6 league) used a nine-run fourth inning to put the game, which was stopped after five innings on the 10-run rule, away.

Hailey Junk belted a two-run homer in the first inning as the Bravettes jumped in front 3-0. It was the first career homer for Junk, a senior outfielder, who also doubled in the contest.

“That gave them the confidence they needed and they all teed off of that,” Flathead coach Jack Foster said of the fast start. “We’re getting better.”

Flathead came back with three more runs in the third.

Riley Chouinard, 2 for 3, drove in three runs for Flathead. Jayden Russell, 2 for 2, and Junk had two RBIs each. Chouinard, Russell and Karissa Comer all smacked doubles.

Maitlynn went the distance in the circle for Flathead to pick up the win. Flathead outhit Big Sky 10-7.

In the opener, Missoula Sentinel used a nine-run second inning to take charge en route to a 15-0 win over Flathead. That game was also halted after five innings. The Spartans outhit Flathead 18-4.

Russell went 2 for 2 and doubled once against Sentinel while Kaileigh Denna and Kayla Kallis had the other two hits for Flathead.

Flathead continues with Western AA play on Saturday at Helena High and Helena Capital.

Missoula Sentinel 090 51 — 15 18 0

Flathead 000 00 — 0 4 4

Taylor Brinkman, Shelby Dunwell (4) and Jalen Cooper; Maitlynn Betts, Karissa Comer (4) and Jayden Russell. W — Brinkman. L — Betts.

MISSOULA SENTINEL — Taylor Holmes 4-5, Dunwell 1-5, Brooklyn Weisgram 2-4, Grace Hardy 2-4, Amber Hickethier 2-4, Mariel Warren 1-1, Chrissy Hartman 1-1, Brinkman 1-3, Cooper 4-4, Mackenzie Wright 0-2.

FLATHEAD — Russell 2-2, Riley Chouinard 0-3, Kaileigh Denna 1-3, Hailey Junk 0-1, Kayla Kallis 1-2, Betts 0-1, Kate Smith 0-1, Comer 0-2, Allyssa Cadwalader 0-1, Kyann Devera 0-2.

2B—Brinkman, Cooper (2); Russell; HR—Weisgram; RBIs—Holmes, Dunwell, Weisgram (3), Hickethier (2), Cooper (4), Wright.

Missoula Big Sky 003 02 — 5 7 0

Flathead 303 9x — 15 10 1

Brylee Meisinger and Shaina Allen; Betts and Russell. W — Betts. L — Meisinger.

MISSOULA BIG SKY — Meisinger 2-3, Logan Rauk 0-3, Shaina Allen 1-3, Alyssa Gentri 2-3, Makennah Heweitt 0-3, Kayla Johnson 0-3, Lizzie Clawson 0-2, Chyanna Foote 2-2, Grasey Szwedkowidz 0-2.

FLATHEAD — Russell 2-2, Chouinard 2-3, Denna 0-3, Junk 2-3, Kallis 2-4, Betts 0-1, Haylee Learn 0-2, Comer 1-1, Devera 1-3.

2B—Meisinger, Foote; Russell, Chouinard, Junk, Comer; HR—Junk; RBIs—Meisinger, Gentri (3); Russell (2), Chouinard (3), Junk (2), Kallis, Comer (2), Devera.