Slugging it out

Home runs highlight Polson-Ronan match-up

Both teams feature solid starting pitchers, but it was the bats that highlighted last Saturday's crosstown rivalry between Polson and Ronan, as the teams chalked up four dingers total in the season opener for both.

Polson had three homeruns to Ronan's one, and won 13-3, as both teams battled some first-game jitters, but both the Lady Pirates and Maidens showed their potential for the coming season.

The Lady Pirates were led by a triple and homer from Maggie Gordon, and homers by Sarah Newton and Amanda James, while Maiden Kaylee Larson jacked one over to keep her team alive late in the game.

“We have some power hitters this year. I wasn't surprised at the home runs,” Polson head coach Larry Smith said.

But Polson opened up the game playing small ball, as they usually do, but couldn't score early on. Kyla McDonald was able to get all the way to third on slap bunts and steals before Maiden outfielder Kallia Orr saved a run with a nice catch in the outfield to end the inning.

In the bottom of the first, Maiden Kelsey Clairmont made it to second, and Ronan had a runner in scoring position with no outs, but Polson first baseman Lindsey Rafter caught a line-drive hit and doubled Clairmont off at second with a throw to McDonald, who was covering second.

NaTesha Arlint threatened to score after making it to third in the top of the second, but Maiden first baseman Carli Starkel fielded a hard-hit ball and did a great job of checking Arlint back to third.

Polson pitcher Dakota Peterson got two strike outs to end the inning in the bottom of the second before Dylan Zetterberg took over in the third.

And that's when the Polson bats came alive. Gordon led off the inning with a solo shot over the fence, and James followed with a two-run blast to make it 3-0.

“I didn't feel like it hit it well. I thought it was a pop-up until I saw the outfielder running backwards,” Gordon said after the game. “I couldn't believe I got a home run. It felt great.”

Polson opened the flood gates, scoring six runs on some good hits and a couple of fielding miscues by the Maidens. Still, Ronan had some bright spots, including Orr, who managed to hold a few runners on with good plays in the outfield.

Larson was the victim of some errors in the field behind her, and Starkel took over on the mound in the fifth inning. Bilile helped her team with a head's up play to tag a Polson baserunner out at third after she overran the base, and the Maidens were able to get out of the inning after giving up only one run on a passed ball.

Down 10-0, they needed a run to stay alive, and they got it from Chelsey Bourdon, who had good aggressive baserunning off a hit by Clairmont. Bourdon scored on the next pitch to keep Ronan alive, and then Larson stepped up.

With two outs a a full count, Larson jacked one over the left field fence to make it 10-3, using her new bat, “Baby Blue.”

It was the first home runs for both Gordon and Larson.

Larson credited her monster shot with an improved swing she's been working on with her father, Lucky.

“My dad and I have been working on it every Sunday and after practice. Just little tweaks, but it really helps,” Larson said. “It felt pretty good to get that hit.”

Ronan head coach Doug Fisher said he thought it was the first home run by a Maiden at home since their new ballpark was completed three years ago.

Newton, who gave up the shot to Larson, stepped to the plate the next inning and returned the favor with a two-run homer herself. But Maiden catcher Jordan Strozzi was able to get her team out of the inning by throwing out a runner trying to steal second, one of a couple she gunned down Saturday.

“Five girls tried to run on her and four probably should have been out” if it weren't for bobbled balls in the field, Fisher noted. “Jordan's got the ability, we just have to make the plays for her.”

Polson travels to Frenchtown Friday night, in what should be a heated match-up, while Ronan will go to Anaconda Thursday, and then to the Hamilton Invite over the weekend.

While it's always tough losing to Polson, Fisher said the team showed a lot of improvement from last year, when they got no-hit.

“We got six hits, and only struck out five times, which is a big improvement over last year. We were going up to the plate, swinging the bat and making contact,” Fisher said. “We made some mental mistakes in the middle of our defense, but we had some infielders who had never played those positions before. Overall, I was pleased since it was the first game of the season.”

Zetterberg got her first win of the year for Polson, while Peterson and Newton also did well on the mound. Besides Gordon, the team was led offensively by Arlint and James with two RBIs each, and Jaelin Vandeberg, McDonald, Zetterberg and Kendra Woldstad, who all had two hits. Vandeberg, Brittany Jones and Zetterberg all had doubles, too.

The Maidens were led by Larson with two hits, and timely hitting by Strozzi, Clairmont, Kirsten Cordier and Katie Sorrell.

Ronan: Kelsey Clairmont 1-2, Kaylee Larson 2-3, Carli Starkel 0-3, Jordan Strozzi 1-3, Kallia Orr 0-2, Brittany Bilile 0-2, Allison Crenshaw 0-2, April Soukup 0-2, Kirsten Cordier 1-1, Katie Sorrell 1-1.

Polson: Kayla McDonald 2-2, Lindsey Rafter 1-2, Jaelin Bandeberg 2-2, Amanda James 2-4, Kendra Woldstad 2-4, Brittany Jones 1-4, NaTesha Arlint 1-2, Sarah Newton 1-2, Dakota Peterson 1-2, Dylan Zetterberg 2-3, Maggie Gordon 2-2, Lela Clairmont-Perez 1-1.