In a thrilling back-and-forth showdown under the lights at Griffin Field, the Whitefish Bulldogs showcased their resilience and offensive firepower, rallying past Glacier for a 12-9 victory in nonconference high school baseball action Monday.
The Bulldogs (8-5) spread the wealth at the plate, racking up 10 hits and drawing seven walks. Reed Boyer and Finn Ryan delivered the biggest blows, each launching home runs that proved crucial in the seesaw affair. Tait Orme drove in three runs, while Drew Queen and Luke Dalen added two hits apiece to fuel the offense.
The game was a slugfest from the start, with Whitefish jumping ahead in the first inning before Glacier answered to knot things at 2-2. Boyer's solo shot in the second put the Bulldogs back on top, 4-2, but the Wolfpack refused to back down, tying it again in the third. Whitefish seized control in the fourth, plating three runs—highlighted by Orme's RBI double—to take a 7-4 lead. Ryan's two-run homer in the sixth provided the breathing room the Bulldogs needed to weather a late Glacier surge.
On the mound, Joaquin Gonzalez was the steadying force, allowing just one run over three innings of relief. Ryan started the game, and Aidan Mintz closed it out as Whitefish pieced together a solid team effort on the bump.
Glacier (8-5) was led by Kaeden Kahler's perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate, driving in two runs. Brady Buckmaster and Tate Kahler each chipped in with two RBIs as the Wolfpack totaled nine hits and stayed within striking distance throughout the contest.
Both teams now turn their attention to key matchups: Glacier faces crosstown rival Flathead on Thursday at 5 p.m., while Whitefish hosts Libby on Tuesday at 4 p.m.
In other action, Columbia Falls (10-3) pounded out 12 hits en route to a decisive win over Eureka. Jaxson Cadwell drove in three runs, while Jory Hill, Jett Pitts, and Nico Young each collected two hits. Wyatt Dodson added a two-run homer as the Wildcats broke the game open with a four-run second inning. Nico Young was dominant on the mound, allowing just one run over 5 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts, and Pitts closed with two scoreless frames. Eureka (6-5) managed only two hits in the loss.