Glacier slides by Polson

The protege beat the mentor on Tuesday afternoon at Glacier High School as Glacier toppled Polson 8-5 in a nonconference softball matchup behind a perfect day at the plate by Sophie Smith and a pair of early home runs.

Abby Connolly, Glacier’s head coach, was once an assistant on Polson head coach Larry Smith’s staff at Polson.

“It’s kind of cool to go against my mentor head-to-head,” Connolly said. “I have the utmost respect for him.

“I’m super competitive, so I want to win every game. But I always have great respect for his teams.”

The Wolfpack (8-6 overall, 5-5 Western AA) continued their recent run of fast starts, pushing across all of their runs in the first four innings.

Sophie Smith got things started with a two-run single in the bottom of the first, one of three hits on the day in as many at-bats. Glacier would never relinquish the lead.

“When we score early and often, it’s usually good for us,” Connolly said.

“Almost everybody got a hit. Really good production all the way through (the lineup).”

Sage Vanterpool, Glacier’s starting pitcher, helped herself with a solo blast in the second inning, and Allee Meyer stretched Glacier’s lead once more with a two-run homer in the third.

“Our sophomores really showed and did a great job,” Connolly said, noting the performances of Smith, Vanterpool and Meyer.

Vanterpool went the distance and allowed just five hits in the circle.

“Another great performance,” Connolly said. “She kept a really good hitting lineup off balance for the majority of the evening.”

Polson (8-4, 5-0 Northwest A) broke through for three runs in the top of the third to cut Glacier’s lead to a run, but the Pirates were unable to close the gap again after Meyer’s home run.

Quinn Motichka led Polson with two hits (both doubles) and two RBIs. Olivia Perez also drove in a pair of runs.

Polson hosts Flathead at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Glacier is also back in action Thursday, when it will host Missoula Hellgate at 5 p.m. on senior day. Seniors Alivia Atlee (infielder), Meg Hornby (outfielder) and Emma Trunkle (manager) will be honored in a pregame ceremony.

Polson 003 000 2 — 5 5 0

Glacier 222 200 x — 8 12 2

WP — Sage Vanterpool. LP — Vanessa Kent.

POLSON — Kaelyn Smith 1-4, Marina Mayorga 0-4, Quinn Motichka 2-3, Josie Caye 0-4, Kaylanna Desjarlais 1-4, Laurel Bitterman 0-3, Paige Noyes 1-2, Grace Quinones 0-2, Lisa Costilla 0-2, Olivia Perez 1-1.

GLACIER — Kynzie Mohl 1-3, Addie Labrum 0-2, Sophie Smith 3-3, Alivia Atlee 2-3, Allee Meyer 1-4, Maddie Johnson 2-3, Hallie Nikunen 1-3, Sage Vanterpool 1-3, Meg Hornby 1-3.

2B — Motichka 2. HR — Meyer, Vanterpool. RBI — Smith 3, Atlee, Meyer 2, Johnson, Vanterpool. Motichka 2, Desjarlais, Perez 2.