Lady Pirates go batty in four lopsided wins

POLSON - Five games in six days might leave any other team exhausted, but not the Polson softball team.

After beating Ronan 9-1 last Tuesday, Polson went on to play four games in just 72 hours.

Against the Maidens, the Pirates started the game on shaky ground, committing two errors that led to a Ronan run. Polson responded with four in the bottom of the inning.

Head coach Larry Smith said it was crucial for the Pirates to respond with runs after the top half of the opening mark.

"Psychologically, as young as they are, it's important for them," he said.

The Pirates went on to score three more in the next two innings while shutting down the Maidens.

After Ronan knocked Polson out of the state tournament last year in a 1-0 extra-inning game, Smith said it wasn't hard to motivate his squad for this game.

"It's quite easy for them to get up to play Ronan," he said.

Sophomore Riley Kenney had a big night at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Senior Staci Benson helped with a triple and junior Kodi Woods and sophomore Ashley Johnson each went 2-for-3.

Two days later, Whitefish was Polson's punching bag as junior Sallie Sams had a breakout night.

In the 11-1 win, Sams went 4-for-4 with five RBIs and two triples.

Smith said Sams needed the solid night at the plate.

"It was good for her to break free," he said.

The win completed the Pirate sweep over the Bulldogs, who were pegged to be one of the top teams in the conference.

"It gives us a good feeling," Smith said. "It puts us in a good spot."

Sophomore Makaliah Wilson went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs in the game.

Freshman Shay Duford improved to 9-0 on the mound, striking out nine.

Smith said Duford did a good job on the mound against a strong hitting team.

"She held them to one run," he said.

The next day, the Pirates faced Anaconda in a tournament in Frenchtown. Polson won 11-0 due to the 10-run rule. The key was hot bats, Smith said. Polson scored six runs in the first, three in the second and two in the third. For the fourth and fifth innings, Smith entered in a few players from his bench, including freshman Heidi Rausch, who took Duford's place on the mound.

Smith said Rausch did very well pitching.

"She walked two but that's going to happen in your first varsity game," he said.

The next morning, Polson lost 7-5 to Butte Central after the Maroons scored five in the first inning.

"It wasn't that we weren't awake," Smith said. "We got two in the first inning."

A controversial double-play call went against Polson and Butte Central was able to bat 10 batters that inning.

"We dug a hole and did come back," Smith said.

Benson went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Kenney went 3-for-4 and Sams added two RBIs.

"Riley had tremendous amounts of hits most of the time," Smith said.

Time was against the Pirates as the game was called due to the time limit.

"What was strange about this game was that, we're very fast, but every hit they had, we couldn't get to," Smith said. "It was almost like they had radar on their balls."

In the final game of Polson's marathon, the Pirates beat Loyola Sacred Heart 7-3.

"They were one of the better teams in the tournament, I thought," Smith said.

A four-run second inning propelled the Pirates to the win.

Duford, who pitched most of the tournament, still had strength in the last innings of this last game.

"Her stamina was still there," Smith said. "She's a tough gal."

Benson went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Up next, the Pirates will face Libby tomorrow night.

Smith said he couldn't remember the last time a team other than Polson or Libby won the conference title.

"It'll be a good, tough game," he said.