WEB EXTRA Polson softball still undefeated
HAMILTON - The group of girls on the Polson softball team might not be great at everything - who knows? They could be in big trouble if they were asked to participate in a rodeo or a roller derby. But when it comes to smacking round projectiles into oblivion, they're top notch.
How else would they go on the road and chock up 16 runs to force the mercy rule and a 5-inning finish on traditional softball power Hamilton on Tuesday, April 7?
After a final score of 16-6, the Lady Pirates record is now a clean 3-0.
The Polson bats started swinging in the second inning, after Hamilton had jumped to an early 2-run lead in the first.
And they did it in unlikely fashion.
After the first two batters popped up fly-balls for outs, it was Polson pitcher, senior Dakota Peterson who kept things alive for the Pirates, in addition to throwing seven strikeouts. In high school softball, Polson head coach Larry Smith said an arm that can throw can usually hit, too.
Dakota proved no different, blasting off a double to get things rolling. Next up, it was Kodi Woods.
Her single paved the way for senior Stacie Benson, who cranked a double, sending two runners home.
Things were tied.
Pirate seniors SuSan Perez-Tenas and Sarah Newton added singles to give their team the 5-2 advantage in the top of the inning.
Hamilton struck back in the third and tightened things up at 5-3.
In the fourth inning, back-to-back solo homeruns by Benson and Newton helped increase the lead to 8-3.
“That really got our bats going,” Smith said.
By the fifth inning, those bats were on fire.
12 Pirate batters took swings in that inning and it was enough to double the lead.
Despite some Hamilton success in the bottom half, the 10-point cutoff was in Pirate hands and a team that was strong against Browning looked that much stronger after their third game.
Smith calls Benson “Mighty mite,” and it's no wonder why. The shortstop might not be the tallest player on the field but she lets her numbers fill in.
Benson finished 2-4 with three RBIs, the same as Perez-Tenas.
Another big hitter was No. 2 pitcher, Pirate senior Charlee Jenson, who went 2-4 with two RBIs and nearly knocked one out of the park in the fifth but had to settle for a double when her drive fell just short of the fence.
The team's top hitting performance came from Newton, who went 4-4, picking up her game from the week before.
“She's one of those where the better the competition, the better she's going to be,” Smith said of Newton. “She likes performing against the best.”
The Pirates will take on Ronan Tuesday. Even though the Maidens haven't played a game yet this year, Smith predicts from experience the team will bring its top game.
“I expect it to be a typical Polson-Ronan rivalry,” Smith said. “It's just the way it is. Both groups, no matter which sport, they all want to win. I expect the best from Ronan.”
Smith said his team is ready for the challenge.
Ronan hosts Polson at 3 p.m. on Tuesday.
Polson 050 38 - 16 16 0
Hamilton 201 03 - 6 7 2
Dakota Peterson and Kayla Duford. Jessica Bourne, Cierra Smith (5) and Presley Chadwick. W - Peterson (2-0). L - Bourne (0-1).
POLSON - Staci Benson 2-4, SuSan Perez-Tenas 2-4, Sarah Newton 4-4, Rochelle Woods 0-4, Charlee Jenson 2-4, Duford 2-4, Sallie Sams 1-4, Peterson 2-2, Kodi Woods 1-4, Liz Simshaw 0-0
HAMILTON - Samantha Wood 1-3, Melissa Hood 0-3, Smith 2-2, Annie Schultz 1-1, Nicole Hood 3-3, Chadwick 0-3, Brittany Keimig 0-2, Kaylie Strandberg 0-2, Shaina Rupp 0-2.
2B - Jenson, Peterson, Smith. 3B - Hood 2. HR - Benson, Newton. RBIs - Benson 3, Perez-Tenas 3, Newton 2, Jenson 2, Duford 2, Schultz, Hood 5.