Maidens topped by Libby, Corvallis

By Trent Makela / Leader Staff

Like a Montanan with caviar-stuffed squid, the Ronan High School softball team didn't like their taste of the elite last week.

The Maidens (2-11) were shut out in a home affair with Corvallis (12-1) on Thursday before dropping a non-conference match-up at Libby (9-3, 8-0) on Saturday.

Ronan managed just a pair of hits in each game, but held two of the state's most explosive offenses to a combined 15 hits and 13 runs.

Offensive production has been a struggle for the Maidens this season, but they joined a long list of batters flustered by Corvallis' Kasie Conder and Libby's Brooke Hageness.

"Conder won state twice in [Amateur Softball Association competition], won regionals and a national championship in summer ball," Ronan coach Lucky Larson said. "She's just a really good pitcher."

Hageness' record of 10-2 this season has been a major reason that Libby is once again vying for top honors in Western A.

The Maidens will not resume their schedule until they travel to Stevensville for a doubleheader on Thursday, May 15 and host Anaconda on Saturday, May 17.

"We should be going to the Butte Central Invitational [over the weekend], but the school is having Cabaret," Lucky Larson said. "It's a musical that some of the girls are in and we wouldn't be able to fill a team. At [the Frenchtown tournament] we only had 11 girls and we'd have even less this week."

Libby 7, Ronan 2

Libby jumped on top early and smothered the Maiden offense in non-conference action.

Starter Abby Luke was replaced by usual pitcher Kaylee Larson mid-way through the first inning after surrendering the game's first four runs. Kaylee Larson was able to hold the damage to just three runs through the rest of the game.

"Without a doubt that's the toughest team Abby has pitched against this year," Lucky Larson said. "She stood up just fine, though - she's just a sophomore. We thought we could try working some things out with her pitching in a non-conference game. They were on to us right away."

April Soukup did her best to jump-start Ronan's offense, finishing with both of Ronan's hits at the plate.

A Libby batter was ejected from the game and sidelined for another after lowering a shoulder into Maiden catcher Jordan Strozzi in the sixth inning. Strozzi managed to hang onto the ball through the contact for the inning's final out.

A potential home run from Kaylee Larson was pulled back by Libby's center fielder to snuff out a rally in the top of the sixth.

Ronan 000 200 0 — 2 2

Libby 401 011 x — 7 8

W - Hageness. L - Luke.

RONAN — Kaylee Larson 0-3, Strozzi 0-3, Kallin Orr 0-2, Soukup 2-3, Kelsey Clairmont 0-3, Carli Starkel 0-3, Brittani Clairmont 0-3, Allison Greenshaw 0-3, Dani Crocket 0-2.

LIBBY — Hageness 0-2, Shelby Barton 1-2, Nickole Lapka 1-3, Laice Dedrick 1-4, Alysha Martin 2-4, Megan Wedel 0-2, Emily Monroe 2-3, Jordan Refsland 1-3, Holly Cirian 0-3.

Corvallis 6, Ronan 0

Kasie Conder warmed up with a one-hitter against the Maidens before throwing a perfect game against Butte Central on Saturday.

"She wasn't tired. She got stronger - that's for sure. She didn't throw a no-no on us, but …," Lucky Larson said. "We played them closer the first time around."

Kaylee Larson's fourth-inning single was the only hit of the game for the Maidens. She also finished with two stolen bases.

The Ronan defense provided stellar support, committing just two errors.

Cvallis 100 302 0 — 6 7

Ronan 000 000 0 — 0 1

W - Conder. L - Larson.

CVALLIS — BriAnna Brawley 2-3, Amber Bradshaw 0-2, Kasie Conder 1-2, Markie Gurley 2-4, Megan Auch 1-4, Danielle Murray 0-3, Korie Conder 0-3, Ruby Ostrander 0-2, Angie Henderson 1-3.

RONAN — Kaylee Larson 1-3, Stozzi 0-2, Carli Starkel 0-3, Kallia Orr 0-3, Kelsey Clarimont 0-3, Kirsten Cordier 0-2, Katie Sorrell 0-2, Allison Crenshaw 0-2, Danni Crockett 0-1, Soukup 0-1.