Splash tourney stays dry for local teams

By Trent Makela / Leader Staff

The Polson Softball Complex swarmed with the good-natured chatter, cheeseburgers and championship drama that has is become known locally as simply "the Splash" last weekend.

The Splash Classic ASA girls' fast-pitch softball tournament drew 32 total teams from around the region for one of Montana's largest summer-league events. A steady stream of games ran from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. over Saturday and Sunday, including a handful to kick off the event on Friday.

"The tournament was a huge success," organizer Tom Kenney said. "The teams thought the town was great, the facilities were top notch and the tournament ran smoothly and on time."

Polson High School senior-to-be Amanda James was the lone champion from Lake County, helping the Missoula-based Big Sky Blast squad to the 18 and under team title.

A pair of local teams did manage to find their ways to their respective championship games. The Polson Lakers 14 and under team fought their way to the championship game against the Kalispell Glacier Emeralds, but fell just short ?-?.

The Polson Purple Wave 12 and under team also made their title game against the Missoula Lady Osprey before falling 5-3 in a tight match-up.

Polson's 10 and under team, the Lil' Lakers, fell to the eventual champions from Kalispell in the semifinals before topping the Northwest Wildfire 15-9 for third place in their division.

Polson's only other team was the Purple Rain in the 18 and under division. Many of the squad's older players, including James, have been recruited to competing teams from larger towns. Short-handed, the squad was still able to grab the fourth seed heading into Sunday's bracket play before falling to Butte's Mining City Magic in the day's opening game.