Maidens faced tough teams, tougher schedule

Their schedule is tough, and it's not getting any easier.

Facing teams like Polson and Libby will wipe smiles off the faces of softball coaches in Western Montana, and the Maidens had to face three teams in six days, just one part of a grueling schedule that includes four more games in the next six days.

Individually, there were some great plays over the past week, but the team hasn't had a chance to practice before it seems like they have another tough team to face.

Things looked good early on against Polson last Thursday when Lauryn Lynch and Jordan Strozzi got base hits in the first, but they couldn't get across the plate. In the bottom of the inning, Kelsey Clairmont, who had been moved to second base, made a diving catch to her right to get the team out of the inning.

In the top of the second Kallia Orr hit a two-out double but again the team couldn't get her across the plate.

Pitcher Kaylee Larson had two strikeouts in the bottom of the second and added another one in the third.

Lynch led off the third with a walk and then stole second, and scored on a base hit by Carli Starkel. Larson bunted Starkel over to third but they couldn't score again.

In the bottom of the inning, Clairmont again showed her great range, snagging a line shot for the second out. Later, she dove to her right to take away a Polson hit, and with the throw over to first, get her team out of the inning.

"Kelsey came out and earned that spot. She made some great plays. We couldn't ask for anything more," said head coach Doug Fisher.

Lynch and third baseman Brittany Bilile got a Polson baserunner out with some good defense late in the game but the team fell 12-1. Starkel, Lynch, Orr, Strozzi and Larson all had hits for the Maidens.

"We are maturing pretty fast but we keep showing our youth. With a team like Polson they just keep pressure on you," Fisher said. "Good teams are going to do that to you."

Against Libby Saturday, the team got no-hit and lost 10-0 in the first game and 21-2 in the second game. Fisher said giving teams extra out off errors is really hurting them.

"Kaylee threw the ball well, but we left her hanging out to dry a few times when we didn't make plays and extended the inning," Fisher said. "We made three errors in the first inning against Libby. Every time they scored a run we made a mistake and helped them out."

Starkel came in and pitched the last inning of the second game against Libby, getting some ground-ball outs and a strikeout, Fisher said.

Strozzi took the mound for the second game and kept her chin up even though the team took a pounding, Fisher noted.

"That was Jordan's first varsity start. The score didn't reflect it but she did well. Hats off to her for hanging in there," Fisher said.

If there's a bright spot, the top of the order - Lynch, Starkel and Strozzi - is really hitting well for the team. Starkel had two RBIs for the team in the second game against Libby.

"The top of the order is doing exactly what we are asking them to do," Fisher said.

The team hosts Whitefish Thursday and then Havre Friday before traveling to Frenchtown on Saturday for the Invitational. The Maidens then host Polson next Tuesday.