WEB EXTRA Western A Polson Lady Pirates softball season preview
Many anticipated that last season would be a rebuilding year given the graduation of the “magnificent seven” seniors from the 2007 class A state champion squad. The Western A conference soon learned that the cupboard was hardly bare as the 2008 Lady Pirates (9-1 conf., 16-4 overall) once again captured another conference title, nipping rival Libby 6-4 on the final game of the regular season for the crown by the margin of a single run. After a first round bye at State and a 6-4 second round victory over Butte Central on the shoulders of an Amanda James grand slam, the Pirates found themselves engaged in a semifinal battle with Corvallis and their pitcher Kasie “with a K” (over 300 strikeouts for the season) Conder . With the game tied at two apiece in the sixth inning with only one out, Sarah Newton had managed to work her way into scoring position over at third. A laser was hit by James that would potentially plate Newton and score the leading run. Unfortunate for the Pirates, Corvallis third baseman Megan Auch was able to intercept the hit in mid-flight with her glove and tagged out Newton for a double play. The epic pitchers duel would stretch into extra innings, with Corvallis plating the winning run in the ninth on a RBI blooper to right field and dropping the Lady Pirates into the consolation bracket, where they would close out the tournament against Frenchtown with a loss 8-5. Had Polson been able to get by Corvallis, they would have faced conference rival and eventual champion Libby in the undefeated game, a team they match up with quite well. That is how close Polson came to defending their 2007 state championship.
Graduating from last year’s squad were all-conference honorable-mention catcher Caitlyn Vassar (28 Hits, 1 HR, 18 RBI, .378 Avg) and all-conference 1st-team outfielder Maggie Gordon (38 Hits, 11 2B, 16 RBI, .422 Avg). The Pirates also have to fare without the numerous contributions of Wenatchee-bound senior twice all-state, thrice all-conference 1st-team (2006 of, 2007 of, 2008 ss) Amanda “A.J.” James, leaving a gaping hole in the infield defense as well as the associated reduction in offensive firepower (36 Hits, 3 HR, 26 RBI, .424 Avg in 2008) her presence brought to the roster. James is an experienced veteran (108 H, 11 HR, 83 RBI, .424 Avg overall for prep (fr.-jr.) career) and the repercussions stemming from her absence from the lineup will need to be patched if the Lady Pirates are going to mount a sustainable assault upon the regular as well as post-season .
Contending for a slot on the mound is UGF-bound all-conference 2nd-team senior pitcher Dakotah “D-Rae” Peterson (17-6, 109 SO, 3.22 ERA), who tends to launch her arsenal of round missiles with pinpoint precision and just enough velocity to take out their intended target. Peterson has been working during the off season on expanding the repertoire of pitches at her disposal. It is anticipated that her efforts will yield increasingly favorable results, one of them being the deeper appreciation batters will likely acquire for the “K” that is part of her first name.
Anticipated to assume a share of the duties behind the plate is sophomore Kayla Duford, backup catcher last season who saw periodic action (6 Hits, 5 RBI, .545 Avg) and shows lots of promise. The skills she displayed in both volleyball and basketball will crossover nicely as she digs errant throws out of the dirt as well as delivers the ball to where its needed.
Seeking to reprise her role at first base is all-state / all-conference 1st-team senior Rochelle “Rock’n Ro” Woods, a solid player who was one of the most consistent contributors to the Pirates last season (38 Hits, 24 RBI, .458 Avg) and whose level of play often sets the tone of any given contest. The athletic versatility of Woods was further made evident when she filled in as backup pitcher, compiling a record of 2-0 (6 SO, 1 Save) over the course of 3 games.
Vying for an infield position after excelling at second base last season is twice all-conference (1st-team 07 ut, 2nd-team 08 2b) junior Staci “Killer Bee” Benson, a big reason behind much of the buzz that can be heard reverberating from the Lady Pirate dugout. Her defense as well as bat (26 Hits, 6 2B, 8 RBI, .388 Avg in 08) have stung the opposition many a time over the last pair of seasons (29 Hits, 2 HR, 26 RBI in 07). The lone “Rookie” on the 2007 state championship squad, Benson is now a veteran who is likened by her coach to be pound-for-pound as close to a “pure softball player” as one is liable to find around the Mission Valley.
Competing for third base will be all-state / thrice all-conference (2nd-team 06/07 p, 1st-team 08 3b) senior Sarah “Neutralizer” Newton, whose glove has muted many a would-be rally when her bat (43 Hits, 6 HR, 29 RBI, .512 Avg) isn’t pounding opponents into submission. A member of the Homecoming royal court this past Fall, she stands supreme wearing the crown as Polson’s reigning all-time home run leader with 19 (2 in 06, 11 in 07, 6 in 08) career blasts out of the park. A capable pitcher, Newton has been bothered by shoulder soreness that has limited her availability to contribute at the mound (1IP, 1 Save in 08; 8-0 in 07).
Returning outfielders from last year competing for their place on the varsity roster include senior Charlee Jenson, a solid fielder as well as seasoned hitter (25 Hits, 2 HR, 15 RBI, .403 Avg) who brings loads of experience bolstered by an extensive summer ASA portfolio. Senior outfielder Liz Simshaw, who often platooned with others in right field, can also hit with power at the plate (15 Hits, 1 HR, 11 RBI, .395 Avg). Fans may recall the spectacular diving catch Simshaw made during the Libby home game last season that snuffed out a potential Logger rally. All-conference 1st-team utility senior Susan Perez-Tenas has been an indispensable asset to the Pirate program with her versatility at being able to fill in at multiple positions as occasions arise as well as with her bat (22 Hits, 14 RBI, .324 Avg).
Other players from last season’s roster who filled in at various times in a supplementary capacity include sophomore Sallie Sams, who pummeled opponent pitching (8 Hits, 2 2B, 3 3B, 1 RBI, .471 Avg), showed some wheels on the base path (14 Runs), and in the second game of one doubleheader swung a wicked bat (5-6) as well as pitched an inning in relief. Another is natural right-handed junior MacKenzie Fortin, who has been converted into a proficient slap bunter and has excellent speed. In one game she went 4-7 and last season batted a .500 Avg with a fraction of the playing time of some of her teammates. Also making a bid is sophomore Kodi “Quicksilver” Woods, who was often inserted into the game as a pinch runner to utilize her speed, a strategy which paid rich dividends since she scored 19 Runs as a return on the investment.
A veritable farm system of skilled players from last year’s junior varsity, who could contend for starting roles on many other squads throughout the conference, will apply pressure on last year’s regulars as they vie for a slot on the Pirate varsity roster. Among them include Melissa Dellwo, who was added to the expanded roster for the state tournament last season, and Cecilly Grant, whose pitching capability elevates her stock as a viable contributor. A talented incoming freshman class seasoned with substantial ASA experience could add to the mix even further. Among them include Riley Kenney, who has already made an impact at the varsity level in two other sports; and Makaliah “Mak” Wilson, who showed athleticism as well as poise under pressure on the frosh basketball court this past winter.
A cursory assessment of the Lady Pirates suggests two areas where they could be vulnerable. The first would be at pitching depth. Few pitchers possess the kind of stamina displayed by Japan’s Yukiko Ueno during the 2008 Beijing Olympics when she pitched 21 innings the day earlier - the equivalent of three full games - before handing Team USA its first loss in the gold medal match. Relying on a sole starter to go the distance runs the risk of a pitcher running out of gas, particularly during double headers, extra inning matches and tournaments. Unless one can make up the cumulative years of a Sushi diet that may account for Ueno’s stamina, the Lady Pirates are in need of bringing on another arm that can keep batters off balance as well as throw strikes. That call is being answered in part by Charlee Jenson, who has been working during the off season at refining a repertoire of pitches to supplement the pitching needs of her teammates. Others may yet emerge who may chip in as well.
The other area of vulnerability could be senioritis, an affliction which tends to sap the drive of graduating seniors the Spring before their graduation. The senior-laden Lady Pirates will likely find themselves susceptible to this ailment, which can be overcome by staying focused, setting attainable goals and maintaining a hunger for what lies within their grasp. Veteran 22nd-year head coach Larry Smith, assisted by Jan Rafter, instill into their players mastery of basic fundamentals which help counteract any waning attention spans as well as have a wealth of unafflicted talent at their disposal itching for an opportunity to shine.
This season area softball fans are in for a dual treat. One is that alternating year road trips are being played on the Lady Pirate’s home turf at the Fourplex this Spring, which means extra games in comparison to last year. The other, which is the Class A State Tournament at the end of May, will be hosted once again by Polson in their own back yard. The prospect for the Lady Pirates to append their names to some form of hardware in the postseason appear good given the advantages of home cooking and having their own beds to sleep in. This combination should set the table, if not whet the appetite, for those who have been awaiting the return of softball competition as part of the events calendar around the lake.