The Butler Grizzlies clinched a spot in the Region VI championship game with a 10-2 victory over Hutchinson in the second game of the day on Saturday at Legends Park in Dodge City. The win will ensure that the Grizzlies are one win away from earning a trip to the Plains District Championship and Butler will have two chances to secure their spot as Region VI Champions. This win followed a 7-2 victory over Colby to begin the second day of the tournament.
Saturday Game One vs Colby
The Butler Grizzlies dominated the Colby Trojans with a final score of 7-2 in their second game of the Region VI Tournament. Butler's offense started off strong with two runs in the bottom of the second inning and added three more runs in the third inning. Colby managed to score a run in the fifth and sixth innings, but it wasn't enough to catch up to the Grizzlies.
Butler's offense was led by Briona Woods who had a phenomenal game going 3-for-3 with two stolen bases, while Ryanna Valdivia and Reece Briggs both hit home runs. Kendyl Anderson also contributed two RBIs with a sacrifice fly.
On the pitching side, Allyson Montgomery had an impressive performance, striking out 11 batters in four innings and allowing only one hit. Emma Koeneke and Lena Walter also pitched for Butler, with Koeneke giving up two runs in two innings and Walter allowing only one hit and two walks in one inning. In this game Allyson Montgomery reached 377 career strikeouts, surpassing the Butler Softball program's career strikeout leader Lauren Supak who set the record at 374 in 2007 and 2008.
Saturday Game Two vs Hutchinson
Butler Softball took down their conference rival and this year's number one seed in the tournament, the Hutchinson Blue Dragons scoring a total of ten runs on sixteen hits. Reece Briggs had an impressive performance, hitting her second home run of the day along with a double for 2 RBIs in the game. Kaylah Newman also contributed 2 RBIs, while Aly Hageman and Kendyl Anderson each had 1 RBI.
In the circle, Allyson Montgomery and Emma Koeneke pitched for a combined 7 innings, allowing only 2 runs on 5 hits, while walking no Blue Dragon batters. Montgomery earned the win improving her record to 24-3.
Butler Softball's overall record improves to 42-10 as they prepare for the final stretch of the Region VI Tournament at Legends Park in Dodge City. The Grizzlies will play at noon Sunday against the winner of the 10 a.m. game between the Colby Trojans and the Hutchinson Blue Dragons.
