12U Purple Wave takes fourth at nationals

The 12U Polson Purple Wave returned home last weekend, ready for a few weeks off before school starts, after taking fourth at the NFPSA summer national tourney near Portland.

The team was made up of Marlee Berry, Kayla Duford, Sarah Goodman, Breanne Kelley, Riley Kenney, Marissa McCrea, Heidi Rausch, Sallie Sams, Makaliah Wilson, Kodi Woods and Kendra Bouley. Ashley Johnson also played for the Wave, but was unable to make the trip to Portland.

The team was coached by Paul Noble and Tom Kenney.

The team started off with a win last Thursday, 8-1, over a Yreka, Calif., team. Kenney was 3-for-3 at the plate, with a single and two doubles, and scored three times. Goodman, the starting pitcher, got the win.

In game two that day, the Wave picked up an 11-3 win over the Beaverton Blaze, behind a 3-for-3 performance at the plate from Bouley, and a 2-for-3 performance from McCrea. Bouley had a double and scored two runs, and picked up the win on the mound with five strikeouts.

On Friday, the Wave had to face the top-seeded Sandy Stealers, and won 8-6. Goodman started the game on the mound, and Bouley finished it off for the win.

Down 6-4, Polson scored four runs in the top of the 7th behind a double from Berry, a hit by Bouley, a walk by Goodman, and then a two-RBI single by Sams to tie the game.

Goodman and Sams then scored on a double steal, and Bouley shut down the next three batters in the bottom of the inning for the win.

In the fourth game on Saturday, the Wave won 6-1 over the Newberg Tiger Pride. Goodman, Sams, Kenney and Bouley all went 2-for-3 at the plate, and Bouley pitched a three-hitter with five strikeouts.

Later that day, the girls suffered their first loss, falling 9-7 against the Air Attack from Auburn, Wash. Sams was 2-for-3 at the plate, Bouley was 2-for-2, and Duford scored two runs for the team.

On Sunday, the girls bounced back with a 9-2 win over the Seattle Acers. Berry went 3-for-3 at the plate, scoring two runs, while Kenney was 2-for-3 and also scored two runs. Kelley had a double and run scored, and Woods had two RBIs to help the team.

McCrea stole home to end the game at the 7-run mercy rule in later innings.

The girls finished the tourney just a few games from the championship, losing to the Seattle Spice 5-3, after the Spice scored four runs in the 5th inning.

Berry and Kelley were 2-for-3, and Kelley, Duford and Bouley all had triples on the day.

For the tourney, Kenney finished with a .500 batting average, Bouley hit .412, Sams and Goodman both hit .381, Kelley was .375 over the weekend, and Berry hit .368.

Kenney and Bouley were named to the all-tourney teams with five doubles by Kenney and a 4-1 record on the mound for Bouley.

The girls finished the tourney 5-2, and a very respectable 35-9 overall. The took first place in the Polson, Kalispell and Helena tournaments, second at state, and fourth at regionals and the summer nationals.