Apr. 5—Early inning offense from Helena and Capital was enough for both teams to down Flathead Friday afternoon as the Bravettes broke in their field at Kidsport for 2025.
Kamryn Klump hit a three-run homer in the first for the Bengals, and that's all the offense Helena needed — and got — to get win No. 3 on the season with a 3-0 final.
Flathead was missing multiple starters including Mackenzie Brandt — who is at State FFA — and Macey McIlhargey, who is among a few injured Bravettes in the early season.
The Bravettes lost the second game to Capital 19-9.
"I am super proud of our crew today, because we have been dealing with injuries and people being gone for school sanctioned activities," Bravettes coach Brittany Williams said. "A lot of our kids have had to step up in a big way and I think it showed today."
The story for the Bengals was Faith Howard in the circle. Howard went the distance, allowing just a pair of Bravette hits and striking out 14. She walked one.
Howard started in all three Helena victories this season and has fanned 14 or more in all three.
The best chance for the Bravettes came in the sixth as Resse Conley tripled off Alexa Lundstrom's glove in right field, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the frame. Conley finished with both Flathead hits.
"Faith Howard is a great pitcher and her rise ball is phenomenal," Conley said. "I knew going into that she was going to be better than last year, so you just have to think ball above."
Conley made a pair of highlight plays from behind the plate defensively, making two spectacular diving catches — one in the fourth inning and another in the sixth that almost turned into a double play at first — to deny Helena any more chances.
"It was all reaction," Conley said of the diving grabs. "You really don't have time to think, especially with how low in the air those were."
Lacey Franklin went the distance in the circle for Flathead (0-5), allowing six hits and fanning six.
While defense was the story of game one, offense was the factor in game two as Capital used two big innings to cruise to its 19-9 victory.
"Two bad innings led to the score being what it was, but I think if you take those out it's a whole different ball game," Williams said.
Jaci Lyman started the damage in the first inning with a 2-run dinger to center field. Two 2-run singles from Dannika Vulk and Madi Emmert pushed the lead to 7-0 before the Bravettes took to the plate.
Flathead answered with a pair of runs, including an RBI single from Danica Hennell.
The Capital hitting barrage continued into the second inning as the Bruins added nine tallies in the frame. Seven RBI singles and a passed ball were the culprits as Capital's lead ballooned to 16-2.
Flathead fought back in the bottom half as Conley singled with the bases loaded to bring in one. A pair of passed balls and a dropped strike three brought in Conley, Autumn Hall and Josie Andersen as Flathead trailed 16-7 after two.
Ali Miller singled in the third to grow the lead back to 19-7. Flathead got a pair back in the fourth — including a Conley solo home run — but could not get any closer as the game ended after five innings due to the run rule.
Helena 3, Flathead 0
Helena 300 000 0 — 3 6 0
Flathead 000 000 0 — 0 2 3
Faith Howard and Kamryn Klemp. Lacie Franklin and Reese Conley.
HELENA — Keira Campbell 1-4, Dakota Lieberg 1-4, Kamryn Klemp 1-3, Rylee Murgel 0-3, Faith Howard 0-3, Leea Turner 1-3, Charlie Smith 0-3, Alexa Lundstrom 0-2, Heidi Ricketts 2-3.
FLATHEAD — Reese Conley 2-3, Kinsie Lake 0-3, Olivia Nyman 0-3, Danica Hennell 0-2, Makenna Korf 0-3, Lacie Franklin 0-3, Pauline ...
