Wednesday's Regional Briefs: Softball teams in action Thursday
GFH, CMR open softball seasons today
Both Great Falls High and C.M. Russell High softball teams are in action today at the Great Falls Multi-Sports Complex.
After Saturday's Great Falls Softball Jamboree, the Bison and Rustlers officially begin their seasons as the Helena schools visit the Electric City for the season opener.
The Bison — who went 3-0-1 over the weekend — play the Bengals of Helena High at 1 in the afternoon, then face Helena Capital at 3. After a third-place finish in the Eastern Conference and a state tournament appearance a season ago, the Bison return seven seniors, including outfielder Bailey Ferda, an all-league selection. Great Falls High lost its only all-state honoree off of last year's team, Mercedes Bourgeau, who now plays at Montana.
Meanwhile, the Rustlers, 3-1 at the jamboree, face the Bruins at 1 and the Bengals at 3. Russell, which returns all-state players in Quinn Hartman, Savanna Voyles and Caitlin Soltesz, took third at state last season. The Rustlers will have to manage without Kaydee Parsons, an all-state third baseman, who now plays at Carroll College.
The Bears of Billings West are the defending state champions.
Track teams in action
After debuting its season amid 60 mph winds on Saturday, the Great Falls High track and field teams host another meet today at Memorial Stadium, where Glacier High will battle the Bison in a dual meet at noon.
In the season opener, the Bison finished third on the boys' and girls' sides in a triangular with Helena High and Billings Senior.
C.M. Russell, which faced Helena Capital in dual Tuesday, will travel to Kalispell to face the Flathead Braves, also at noon. On Tuesday, the Rustler boys edged the Bruins 75-69 and the girls fell 84-61.
Tennis teams welcome Cut Bank, Conrad
The Great Falls High and C.M. Russell High tennis teams are set to compete with Cut Bank and Conrad today.
The Bison and Rustlers are coming off a double-dual against Helena High and Helena Capital on Tuesday in which both girls' teams notched victories, the Bison boys earned a win and a tie and the Rustlers boys finished 0-1-1.
Great Falls High starts with the Cowboys of Conrad at 1 in the afternoon, to be played at Meadow Lark Country Club/Hurd Courts, then goes toe-to-toe with the Wolves of Cut Bank at 3:30 at CMR.
The Rustlers face Cut Bank at 1 at CMR and Conrad at 3:30 at the Meadow Lark/Hurd Courts.
Alissa Keeler honored at Dawson CC
GLENDIVE – Former C.M. Russell High star Alissa Keeler of Dawson Community College has been selected the Mon-Dak player of the week.
Keeler, a sophomore second baseman, was 8 for 11 (.727) at the plate in four games last weekend. She had two doubles, four RBIs, one steal and scored seven runs.
Ash feels good about Cats this spring
BOZEMAN – The Montana State football team passes the half-way mark of its spring practice session this week, and head coach Rob Ash is happy with what he sees.
"I feel pretty good about where we are right now," Ash said, "but at some point we'll cut the install so the players can actually go out and make plays. We want to get people in the right spot and see who can execute. We're about at that point in the spring."
Montana State practices for the eighth time this spring on Thursday at 3:45 p.m., then stages a half-scrimmage Friday at noon. Ash, in his ninth season at MSU, said the set of sessions marks a transition from focusing on installing and tweaking offensive and defensive schemes to simply playing.
Friday's practice will include about 40 scrimmage plays, and while a portion will include a free-flowing scrimmage setting much of it will be situational.
Bobcat offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey said that personnel remains a focus, even through the installation phase of the spring.
"We want to continue to evaluate the young guys," he said. "We want to put them in a position to be successful so we can have a look at who executes."
After Friday's practice the Bobcats get Easter weekend off, then return next Tuesday and Thursday at 3:45 p.m. in Bobcat Stadium. The team travels to Great Falls for the Triangle Classic on Friday, April 10, and scrimmages at Memorial Stadium at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11.