Hmmm: I was planning on a brief summary but got carried away. Oh well, read it if you have time & interest.
So… the Montana Griz softball team beat Colorado State 7-1 and Nevada 4-3 on the second day of the North Texas Tracy Beard Invite today. They have a chance of finishing the tourney at 3-2 tomorrow with a second game vs. CSU.
Don’t want to bore you w/play-by-play details, so I’ll stick to general observations. First: This mix of vets and youth is playing as well as the Griz were at the end of the season last year. Cami Sellers deciding to play a final covid-legal extra year was a huge boost for this team, and today she was amazing on offense and defense. Brooklyn Weisgram appears fully healed from last season’s hampering injury and provides the Griz with a solid defensive anchor in right field and a third power hitter in the lineup with Sellers and Maygen McGrath. The trio blasted homers vs. the Rams in the Griz 7-1 drubbing of CSU.
But for the first time since Montana’s title-winning season, there’s promise of balance on defense, offense, and (crossed fingers) pitching. It’s still a bit early, but the combo of a significantly matured soph Allie Brock and frosh newcomer Dana Butterfield has me pretty jacked. So briefly, three areas:
Offense: Montana’s already showing balanced offense through the entire lineup. Today the power of Cami Sellers (two homers), Brooklyn Weisgram (one homer) and Maygen McGrath (1 homer) makes the Griz a threat through batters 1-5. That was enough to overpower CSU. But the mid-to bottom part of the lineup is showing very promising signs… and was actually responsible for Montana’s 4-3 win over Nevada. Frosh DP Presley Jantzi has outstanding bat control and got the hit that gave the Griz the lead vs. Nevada. Jaxie Klucewich is turning into a classic drag-slap hitter in the 9 slot (she always puts the ball in play). But I was most impressed with soph CF Julie Phelps in the 8 slot with 4 hits, 2 walks, 1 RBI and 1 run scored today. Plus, she’s fast on the bases.
Defense: One error today. Solid defense at every position on the field. In fact, outstanding D from the three outfielders in particular. Phelps is the fastest and covers the most territory and today made the final out of Montana’s 4-3 win vs. Nevada. But she had a running grab of a shallow pop vs CSU that was amazing. Weisgram in RF isn’t as fast but she had two incredible plays today. First, a running snag of a low 1-hop liner and a throw to Sellers at 1b to nail the runner who was assuming she had an easy single. Nope. Secondly, a diving catch of a slicing liner in foul territory that bounced out of her glove when she hit the ground. Looked like an out, but the umps called it a no-play. But the defensive play of the game was a combined catch and throw by right fielder Klucewich to catcher Riley Stockton for an out at home in the top of the 6th that could have given Nevada a 1-run lead. But it didn't. Jaxie’s throw was a perfect 1-hop laser. Riley’s catch was incredible because she was immediately leveled by the base-runner. Somehow, Riley held on to the ball, but left the game in obvious pain (she walked off).
Pitching: I’m going to be brief, because Montana’s two young pitchers may not yet have faced a true power hitting team (North Texas is close). Nonetheless, both are pitching with poise, location accuracy and full pitch command that’s as good as I’ve seen from any Montana 2-starter combo. It often takes Allie Brock a full first inning to settle in. Today, she gave up 2 runs in the first. From there, she was in control and – though she allowed 6 hits – scattered most of them. Three walks, 6 Ks. She’s at her best when the home plate ump gives her the back edge of the plate, which today was not being called. No prob; Allie adjusted. Freshman Dana Butterfield has impressed me most with her unshakable poise. Today the ump was giving NO corners & it took Dana an inning. From there, she was in command. She can intentionally throw three balls slightly off the corners and then quickly adjust & groove strikes to even up the count. She ain't afraid of getting down 0-3. Her control is precise. Amazing for a frosh. Dana is not a power pitcher; she needs umps calling the corners she paints. But I suspect she’ll just get better when she adjusts to the college game. Today vs CSU: 1 run on 4 hits allowed, 1 walk and 3 Ks on 72 total pitches (compared to 118 by CSU pitchers). Very promising. Go GrizSB.
https://gogriz.com/news/2022/2/19/softball-griz-down-pair-of-mountain-west-opponents.aspx
https://twitter.com/MontanaGrizSB/status/1495189942372167681
. Go Griz!
