Softball: Polson's bats come through

HAMILTON - Polson (4-1) got the key hits that they wanted

against hardthrowing pitcher Rebecka Hood in a 12-1 non-conference

win over Hamilton on Thursday.

HAMILTON - Polson (4-1) got the key hits that they wanted against hardthrowing pitcher Rebecka Hood in a 12-1 non-conference win over Hamilton on Thursday.

"We had been a little shy on that early on in the season," Lady Pirates head coach Larry Smith said about the timely hitting.

Polson had nine hits, led by Kylie Knutson and Ashley Johnson, who both went 2-for-3. The Lady Pirates jumped out to a 6-0 lead through three innings before exploding for six runs in the top of the fourth.

Hamilton would answer with a run at the bottom of the frame, but it still wasn't enough to cause the 10-run mercy rule from ending the game early.

Knutson had her second double of the season and an RBI, and Johnson had two RBIs. Senior Sallie Sams and junior Martina Marquardt also drove in two runs.

"Kylie has been the most consistent hitter and she really has improved from last year and the year before," Smith said. "She hits a lot of ground balls and they're hot."

Smith added that last year he had Knutson batting left-handed because of her speed but that she's been going right-handed this year.

"That's what she prefers and I'll keep letting her do it as long as she's hitting," Smith said.

Sophomore pitcher Shalaina Duford held Hamilton to just four hits and picked up her fourth win of the season. Despite the good start by Polson, Smith said he still thinks that the team can get even better.

"There are still a lot of things that we can improve offensively and defensively," Smith said. "It's early and it's okay. You want to know that you can get better throughout the season."

Pirates get the best of Mission Valley rivalry

RONAN - Despite coming to the game without a win, Ronan never backed down against the defending state champions.

Trailing 7-5 in the bottom of the seventh, the Maidens had two runners onboard but couldn't quite capitalize and fell to the Lady Pirates on Tuesday, April 11.

"That's the rivalry," Smith said. "No matter the record of both teams, they're going to play their best."

Ronan was able to build a 3-1 lead through four innings, before Polson tied things up in the top of the fifth thanks to an RBI single by senior Kayla Duford and an RBI triple by fellow senior Sallie Sams.

Then the Lady Pirates took the 6-3 lead by scoring four runs in the top of the sixth.

Untimely errors by the Maidens and RBIs by senior leadoff hitter Kodi Woods and Johnson did the damage.

"We need those close games," Smith said. "We need those competitive games."

Polson was able to extend their lead to 7-3 in the top of the seventh as Ronan committed an error that allowed Sallie Sams to come home from third base.

The Maidens weren't done though as they scored two in the bottom of the seventh but Sams retired Ronan by flipping an infield grounder to first base to end the game.

Ashley Johnson was the monster at the plate for the Lady Pirates, going 3-for-4 with an RBI.

POLSON 7, RONAN 5

P - 000 - 123 - 1 - 7

R - 010 - 202 - 0 - 5

Polson - 10 hits and one error. Ronan - 11 hits and

three errors.

Polson - Kodi Woods 2-4, K. Duford 1-4, Sallie Sams 1-2, Heidi Rausch 0-3, S. Duford 2-3, Kylie Knutson 0-2, Ashley Johnson 3-4, Makaliah Wilson 0-3, Martina Marquardt 0-3, Jessica Bagnell 0-1. 3B - Sams, S. Duford.

2B - Woods. RBIs - K. Duford, Sams, Woods, Johnson. SacH - Wilson.

Ronan - Marissa McCrea 2-4, Colman 0-2, Andrews, 0-3, Payge DeLaurenti 1-4, Lindsay Clairmont 1-4, Ashleigh Lynch 1-3, Turquoise Haggard 2-2, Alex Dulmes 2-4, Alaina Madsen 2-3. 2B - Madsen. RBIs - Madsen 2, Haggard, Colman, McCrea. SB - Christine Robinson.SacB - Lynch. SacH - Colman.

P pitching - S. Duford gets win, 5K, 3 BB

R pitching - Colman gets loss, 6K, 3BB

POLSON 12, HAM. 1

P - 303 - 60 - 12

H - 000 - 10 - 1

Polson - 9 hits, 1 errors. Hamilton - 4 hits, 2 errors Lady Pirates batting - Kodi Woods 0-1, Kayla Duford 0-3, Sallie Sams 1-3, Shalaina Duford 1-3, Heidi Rausch 1-2, Kylie Knutson 2-3, Ashley Johnson 2-3, Martina Marquardt 1-3, Makaliah Wilson 1-2. Doubles - Knutson, RBIs - Sams 2, Johnson 2, Marquardt 2, S. Duford, Rausch, Knutson

LB Pitching - S. Duford gets win