Lady Pirates' winning streak continues

The Lady Pirates softball team continued their reign over teams throughout Western Montana, picking up wins over Hamilton, Corvallis and Browning this past week in dominant fashion behind a perfect game from Dylen Zetterberg and timely hitting, including a home run from Keely Torgison.

Things looked good early on against Hamilton Saturday morning, as the team jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the first. Zetterberg got two outs on three pitches in the top of the second before a two-out, stand-up triple by Strohm Fouty in the bottom scored two to give the team a 4-1 lead.

Kyla McDonald had an over-the-shoulder catch to end the fourth inning, while Aubrey Prescott's stand-up double drove in one run and a line drive up the middle by Jenni Nesladek scored two.

A triple by Torgison made the score 9-2.

Question: Is it possible to get a home run without hitting the ball?

It sure is. Janell Lundeen proved that when she got an inside-the-park home run off a bunt and the resulting overthrow to first, which scooted all the way down the right field line.

"I just thought I'd make it to second (on the overthrow), but then I saw the coach waving me around to home. I hesitated a little because I didn't know where the ball was exactly," Lundeen said after the game.

Lundeen is one of a half dozen switch hitters throughout the Polson line-up. She said she's naturally right handed but batting left handed makes her more patient at the plate.

"I've never seen that before," Lundeen said of her bunt-turned-home run.

Because she reached on error, she doesn't get credit for a hit. It was probably the most productive 0-for-3 plate performance of the season, proving that it's possible to get a home run without getting a hit.

An RBI single by Tami Bonkowski in the bottom of the fifth gave the team the 10 runs they needed to win.

The 4-1 win over Corvallis Saturday afternoon was noteworthy if only because it was the first stiff competition the team has faced and the only team they haven't 10-runned in five innings this season.

Corvallis pitcher Amber Wilson, just off a 12-strikeout performance that morning against Ronan, was good, but not good enough. Zetterberg gave up five hits and one walk but struck out four — enough to give her team a fighting chance.

And fight they had to. McDonald led the team, going 2-for-2 at the plate with a couple of RBIs, but Wilson kept the rest of the team on their toes, with many of them going hitless on the day. However, Polson managed to scratch out four runs on only five hits, with aggressive baserunning making up the difference.

"That win was very gratifying. We had a harder time putting the bat on the ball, and so we had to play better defense," head coach Larry Smith said. "The girls did a great job. The thrive on the pressure, and Amanda Wilson is a great pitcher."

Monday's doubleheader against Browning saw plenty of hits and but good pitching, too, as Zetterberg got her first perfect game of her career. She struck out six, and her infield did the rest — nobody reached first base.

"I just got in a good groove. Jenni (Nesladek, the catcher) is really good about getting me warmed up, and helping me get settled into a groove," Zetterberg said after the game. "And I have a great team behind me."

The Lady Pirates got 11 runs in the first inning, as Bonkowski, Torgison and Jaelin Vandeberg all went 2-for-2 at the plate, with Bonkowski picking up three RBIs.

In the second inning, Torgison jacked one over the center field fence for the team's first homer of the season. The Lady Pirates steady hitting allowed the team to get plenty of looks at Browning pitches, and Torgison was sitting on the fastball on a 3-1 count, she said.

"I was running down to first base, and then I looked up and saw it (leave the park). I didn't think it was a home run until I saw it go over the fence," Torgison said.

She said number 22 on her standard uniform is her lucky number, but on Monday, the team was playing in their short jerseys, and Torgison had a different number.

"I used to think that uniform was jinxed, but I guess not," she said.

Zetterberg struck out the side to open the second game, and then turned the ball over to frosh Lela Perez, who did a great job on the mound. Because the team scored eight runs in the first inning, Zetterberg got credit for the win, but Perez turned in several solid innings, giving up only one hit.

"She did extremely well. That was her first varsity game, and she did a great job," Smith said, noting that he's pleased to have more pitchers in his arsenal to give Zetterberg some much-needed rest.

The Lady Pirates took the first game 12-2 and the second one 10-0. Lindsey Rafter, Fouty and Kendra Woldstad all went 2-for-2 at the plate, and Woldstad and Bonkowski had a triple each.

Pitcher Nicole Brasher will take the mound on Friday against Havre, which was just added to the conference this year. The wins over Browning were conference victories, but the ones against Hamilton and Corvallis weren't.

The team will play a doubleheader on Friday, with game times at 3 and 5 p.m., and then will travel to the Frenchtown Invitational on Saturday. The team will host Whitefish next Tuesday afternoon with the JV at 4 p.m. and the varsity at 6 p.m.

First game

Polson 12, Browning 0

Browning 0 00 00 - 0 0 6

Polson (11)10 00 - 11 11 0

Noel Higgins and Michelle Higgins. Dylen Zetterberg and Jenni Nesladek. W - Zetterberg (5-0). L - N. Higgins.

POLSON - Strohm Fouty 1-3, Nesladek 1-1, Tami Bonkowski 2-2, Andrea Mazurek 0-1, Keely Torgison 2-2, Brittany Jones 0-1, Aubrey Prescott 0-2, Lindsey Rafter 0-1, Zetterberg 1-3, Janeelle Lundeen 1-2, Natesha Arlint 0-1, Jaelin Vandeberg 2-2, Kendra Woldstad 0-1, Kyla McDonald 1-1, Jore Noble 0-1.

HR - Torgison. RBIs - Nesladek, Bonkowski 3, Torgison 2, Vandeberg, McDonald.

Second game

Polson 10, Browning 0

Browning 000 00 - 0 1 1

Polson 820 00 - 10 11 1

N. Higgins and M. Higgins. Zetterberg, Lela Perez (3) and Nesladek, Jones (3). W - Zetterberg (6-0). L - N. Higgins.

POLSON - Fouty 2-2, Nesladek 1-2, Vandeberg 0-1, Bonkowski 1-3, Arlint 0-0, Torgison 1-2, Rafter 2-2, Prescott 0-1, Jones 1-1, Zetterberg 1-2, Perez 0-1, Woldstad 2-2, Noble 0-0, Mazurek 0-1, Lundeen 0-0.

2B - Fouty. 3B - Bonkowski, Woldstad. RBIs - Fouty 2, Nesladek, Bonkowski, Jones, Zetterberg, Woldstad.