Purple Rain brings home Summer National championship

BEAVERTON, OR — Montana is now known as a softball state, not just for rodeos and scenic vistas, after the Polson Purple Rain 16U team took the championship title ASA Summer National tourney last weekend.

The Purple Rain went into the tourney with high hopes and didn't disappoint. They went 7-0 and won Sunday's championship game 11-1 in the sixth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule and claimed the title which makes them one of the top 16U teams in the nation.

Polson's first game was against Coos Bay, a team from Oregon, on Thursday night. Polson had no problem jumping out early and holding Coos Bay at bay. After a quick three innings Polson was on top, 19-0. Dylen Zetterberg only gave up one hit and struck out three. In the first inning Polson batted around and scored 12 points to set the pace for the game and the tourney.

After rolling over Coos Bay the Rain faced a strong team from Salem, Ore., the Triple Threat. Polson again was able to handle their opponent and picked up the 4-1 victory. Again Zetterberg picked up the win on the mound for the Rain.

"She pitched an excellent game. She throw a three-hitter with nice control," said Rain head coach Larry Smith.

Not only did Zetterberg get the job done on the mound but also at the plate. In the fourth she got on base after a slap hit, then teammate Lindsey Rafter got on base after a error. Next up was hard-hitting Tami Bonkowski who sent a shot to right center field and drove in Zetterberg and Rafter to give Polson the 4-1 advantage.

"The way our defense was playing we shut them out from there (from the fourth inning)," said Smith.

Next up for the Rain was a team from California, the Yreka Heat. The Rain was able to overcome the Heat after the game was forced into an international tie breaker and Polson scored five runs to end it. After the third inning Polson was up 4-1 then the Heat was able to inch their way back into the game by picking up a few runs.

"We jumped out on them but they made it back," Smith said.

By the end of the seventh it was tied at 4-4, forcing a tie breaker. Polson was up first and after doing their classic bunt and steals they scored five unanswered runs in the eighth to win.

"I was just hoping we could score two, but we got five," said Smith.

Following the game at the Heat, Polson faced the Titans from Portland. Again the Rain had no mercy and shut down the Titans 10-2 in five innings. Zetterberg finished the game with six strikeouts and gave up eight hits. Zetterberg was also 2-3 from the plate with a single to right field that scored two. Rafter was 3-4 with a double in the second to right center and she also drove in two that took the score to 5-0.

"She (Rafter) just got on this pitcher and this was her pitcher to hit. She got her," Smith said.

After winning all their games up to this point Polson faced a team from the Seattle metro area, the Seattle Slyders. Seattle scored first in the first inning after a error on the Rain. In the fourth Bonkowski got on base with a single. Then Lela Clairmont-Perez advanced Bonkowski to second after a sac bunt. Next up, Brittany Jones knocked a double to score Bonkowski from second to tie the game 1-1. In the fifth, Kendra Woldstad starting things off hot for the Rain when she hit a double. Kyla McDonald was able to slap a bunt to move over Woldstad and McDonald was able to beat out the throw at first.

Next up, Rafter was able to drive home Woldstad and McDonald with a shot to center. Rafter's RBIs gave Polson the 3-1 lead.

"Rafter was on her timing. It was just a matter if she could connect and she did," Smith said.

Zetterberg was on the mound handling the batters and keeping the hits on the ground. She sat down five by the game's end.

"We made our plays and were able to control them," said Smith.

Polson would next play the Lancers from Roseberg, Ore. in a battle of the two undefeated teams. Polson took control and again finished the game with the mercy rule in the sixth inning and a 13-4 final score. In the second inning Polson outscored Roseberg 5-3 and in the sixth inning the Rain racked up four more to give them the 9-4 lead. McDonald went 2-3 at the plate and Zetterberg finished 3-4.

With the victory over Roseberg Polson would have the chance they have been dreaming about, a title game for all the marbles.

The title game squared off Polson against the Lancers, who Polson defeated earlier in the tourney 13-4. Zetterberg put the icing on her tourney MVP cake by striking out five and throwing a no hitter. The only Lancer run came from an error. Like a good broken record Polson ended the game like they had done many times before, with the mercy rule in six after a score of 11-1.

"We were getting on their pitcher, everyone was," said Smith.

In the sixth inning Jones smacked a double to left center and scored Clairmont-Perez and Nicole Brasher to go up 11-1 and close out the game and claim first place.

"We shocked a lot of people for the style of play we do. We do the bunt-and-run to break it open and put the game away for us," said Smith. "I was at all how well the girls performed at the tournament. Everything just seemed to fall into place for us."

Polson started things off on the right foot. During the opening ceremonies the ladies from Polson were named No. 1 during the team cheer event — a competition where all the teams went to the mound and did their cheer and were voted on.

The Rain not only stole the show on the field but afterwards with post tourney awards. Polson's Zetterberg, who pitched all seven games for the Rain, threw a no hitter, only gave up 13 runs, and did damage at the plate was named tournament MVP, as voted on by coaches.

"I think we played really well. We all were clicking well and over all it was a really good weekend," said an elated but exhausted Zetterberg. "It was pretty neat to win the Nationals after seeing all these different teams."

Six of the Purple Rain were named to the tournament's all-world team: Jones, Woldstad, Bonkowski, McDonald, Brasher and Rafter. Only nine players total were named to the 16U all-world team and Polson secured six of the spots.

In the first game Brasher was 2-4 and both hits were doubles. In the second game on Sunday she went 3-4 with and drove in a couple.

"It's the biggest thing (ever), a once in a lifetime experience. I'm glad I got to do this with this group of girls cause they are a lot of fun and I wouldn't want to play with anyone else," Brasher said.

Woldstad echoed everyone's excitement about the title.

"I just had so much fun. It was a blast. My bat finally came around. We just played so awesome together," said Woldstad.

Jones said it's great that the team can pull off all the wins after placing third at regionals.

"We were just happy to be there. After our first game we figured we could beat any team that was here," said Jones.

The 16U Polson Purple Rain finished their season with a 31-11 record. Coach Smith said the title will have a ripple effect through the overall Polson program.

"This will put a bulls eye on us. It's going to make other teams want us," said Smith. "This will help keep all of our programs strong (ASA, high school, and city league). Anyone who wants to play softball will not want to play with this type of national recognition."