Lady Pirates look strong in season opener

The Lady Pirates came screaming out of the chutes into the 2005 softball season with a 23-0 win over Ronan last Saturday behind timely hitting and a good pitching performance from sophomore Dylen Zetterberg.

Seniors Jenni Nesladek, Strohm Fouty and Tami Bonkowski picked up where they left off last year, going a combined 11-for-12 from the plate, with Nesladek getting six RBIs on the day.

Fouty led off the game with a single and then promptly stole second and moved to third on a passed ball, which proved to be a problem for the Maidens all day. Nesladek hit her home, and then Keeley Torgison picked up another RBI to give Polson a 2-0 lead after one.

Zetterberg found herself with Maidens on second and third in the bottom of the first, but a line drive was snagged by a lunging Jaelin Vandeberg at third base to end the inning.

Polson proved it could play the short game as Aubrey Prescott and Nesladek laid down good bunts in the second to help bring the score to 5-0.

"Our short game is one of the best in the state. We've got speed up and down the line-up," head coach Larry Smith said.

In the bottom of the second, Nesladek, an All-State catcher, threw out her first of two base runners at second base.

Singles by Bonkowski, Fouty, Nesladek and Torgison brought the score to 10-0 at the top of the third.

"Bonkowski did a great job batting. She didn't get a chance to show off her defense in center field, but she did a great job at the plate," Smith said. "Torgison also picked up where she left off last year, getting four RBIs (she set the school RBI record last year)."

In the bottom of the third, Nesladek gunned down her second base runner, and Kyla McDonald started a 4-6-3 double play with Fouty and Prescott to end the inning.

Torgison went 3-for-5, Zetterberg was 3-for-4, and Vandeberg and McDonald were 2-for-3 at the plate.

Passed balls continued to plague Ronan pitcher Kayla Couture, who, to her credit, only gave up a few earned runs but was the victim of team throwing errors. With bases loaded, Nesladek hit a stand-up, two-out double to clear the bases, bringing the score to 13-0.

"We hit very well against Kayla, but she's an outstanding pitcher," Smith said.

Later, with two Maidens on base, Zetterberg pitched herself out of a jam again with two strikeouts and a comebacker to the mound to end the inning.

"I felt pretty relaxed out there. I like the team behind me," Zetterberg said of the team's defense after the game." I was a little nervous to begin with, but the team was good today. We played well together."

It was Zetterberg's first varsity victory, and she gave up four hits, four walks, and got four strikeouts.

"Dylen pitched for us a lot last summer in the ASA 16-U tourney, including the championship game," Smith said. "She's a tough competitor."

Smith said Janell Lundeen also deserved kudos for her job in the outfield.

"She had all the defense in the outfield. I was really pleased with her performance," he said.

In the top of the fifth, Fouty and Nesladek stole two bases each, and Fouty and Vandeberg raced home on passed balls to open the floodgates to a nine-run fifth inning — all on five hits.

Zetterberg finished the game up with two more strikeouts in the fifth and another comebacker to the mound. The game was called after five due to the 10-run rule.

All in all, it was a satisfying win — good bunting, smart base-running, no errors, and a solid pitching performance.

"I'm very pleased overall with how we did," Smith said.

The Lady Pirates' doubleheader against Browning Tuesday afternoon was postponed due to potential bad weather, and was not rescheduled as of press time. The team will travel to Columbia Falls on Saturday and then Libby next Tuesday.

Polson 235 49 23 22 0

Ronan 000 00 0 4 6

Polson — Fouty 3-3, Nesladek 4-4, Bonkowski 4-5, Torgison 3-5, Janell Lundeen 0-3, Brittany Jones 1-2, Zetterberg 3-4, Vandeberg 2-3, Andrea Mazurek 0-0, Prescott 0-3, Lindsey Rafter 0-1, McDonald 2-3, Jore Noble 0-0.