Polson SB: Show of force

POLSON – After a pair of conference losses over the past couple weeks, the Polson Lady Pirates put in extra time at practice and were determined to snap out of their skid. Not only did they do that, but they did it in very emphatic fashion, outscoring their three opponents 52-2 last week.

POLSON – After a pair of conference losses over the past couple weeks, the Polson Lady Pirates put in extra time at practice and were determined to snap out of their skid. Not only did they do that, but they did it in very emphatic fashion, outscoring their three opponents 52-2 last week.

“We’re back on track,” head coach Larry Smith said. “The girls accomplished what they wanted to, took a lot of batting practice after Columbia Falls and have been hitting the ball very well.”

Polson began its week with its closest contest of the slate, a 10-1 drubbing of the Libby Loggers on Tuesday, April 17. The Lady Pirates took a few innings to get warmed up, but once they did, couldn’t be stopped. After leading 2-1 entering the bottom of the fifth, Polson scored three runs before backing it up with five in the sixth in cruising to victory.

“We had more confidence and patience later in the game,” Smith said. “They were waiting for pitches they could drive. Before, everyone was too anxious, but they got more selective as the game went on.”

Jessica Bagnell started her torrid week by going 3-4 with a triple and four RBIs, Shalaina Duford backed up her dominant effort on the mound with two doubles and an RBI as part of a 3-3 day and Tina Marquardt added three hits for Polson.

The offense continued to roll two days later against Hamilton when Marquardt added three more hits and three RBIs, Duford went 2-3 with a pair of doubles and four RBIs and the Lady Pirates dominated the Lady Broncs 17-1.

Down 1-0 entering the home half of the first, Polson exploded for five runs.

Ashley Johnson worked a seven-pitch walk, Riley Kenney reached on an error and the runners both advanced on a double steal. After a wild pitch scored Johnson, Duford’s sac fly knocked Kenney in for a 2-1 lead. Marquardt followed with a single and Heidi Rausch was hit by a pitch before Makaliah Wilson upped the lead to 4-1 with a two run triple. Bagnell notched an RBI groundout to cap the first-inning outburst.

The Lady Pirates added to the lead with a run in the second and three in the third before they put the game to rest with an eight-run fourth, securing the win.

“Everything was impressive about their performance,” Smith said. “We made a couple nice defensive plays, Shay was back on track, giving up a couple hits, then shutting Hamilton down and they’re a good ball team.”

Wilson and Riley Kenney reached base four times and Jaylin Kenney added a pair of RBI singles in the victory. Polson wrapped up its week with a near flawless 25-0 win against Whitefish on the road on Saturday, April 21.

Duford threw a no-hitter in five sharp innings, the bats came alive with 24 runs over the last four innings and everyone in the lineup recorded at least one hit. Wilson was a perfect 3-3, Johnson and Bagnell were also flawless in two at-bats and the Lady Pirates got a total of five extra-base hits, including a homer from Duford.

Polson’s ace rebounded from a couple tough starts, something that Smith was very happy to see.

“She’s getting locked in again,” Smith said. “She’s settled down and was able to get into her comfort zone.”

The Lady Pirates head to the Frenchtown Invitational this weekend with games Friday against Anaconda and Butte Central followed by a doubleheader against Belgrade and Florence on Saturday.

Smith made it a point to not overlook any of the teams, but especially Florence, a Class B squad.

“We’d like to sweep it,” Smith said. “But Florence is very solid with a great pitcher.”

POLSON 10 , LIBBY 1

L - 001 - 000 - 0 - 1

P - 101 - 035 - x - 10

Lady Pirates batting - Ashley Johnson 1-2, Riley Kenney 0-4, Shalaina Duford 3-3, Tina Marquardt 3-4, Heidi Rausch 1-4, Sydnee Brackey 0-1, Makaliah Wilson 0-3, Jaylin Kenney 0-3, Colleen Jacobson 1-1, Jessica Bagnell 3-4, Jordyn Evertz 1-4.

Doubles - Duford. Triples - Bagnell. RBIs - Duford, Marquardt, Rausch 2, Bagnell 4.

LP Pitching - Duford gets the win.

POLSON 25, W.F. 0

P - 144 - 6(10) - 25

M - 000 - 00 - 0

Lady Pirates batting - Ashley Johnson 2-2, Riley Kenney 2-4, Shalaina Duford 1-3, Martina Marquardt 1-3, Heidi Rausch 1-3, Makaliah Wilson 3-3, Jessica Bagnell 2-2, Jaylin Kenney 2-3, Jordyn Evertz 2-4, Sydnee Brackey 1-3.

Doubles - Johnson, Rausch. Triples - Riley Kenney, Evertz. HR - Duford.

LP Pitching - Duford gets the win.

POLSON 17, HAM. 1

H - 100 - 00 - 1

P - 513 - 8x - 17

Hamilton - 3 hits, 3 errors. Polson - 13 hits, 0 errors

Lady Pirates batting - Ashley Johnson 2-2, Riley Kenney 1-1, Shalaina Duford 2-3, Tina Marquardt 3-4, Heidi Rausch 1-2, Makaliah Wilson 1-1, Jessica Bagnell 1-2, Colleen Jacobson 0-3, Jaylin Kenney 2-3.

Doubles - Duford 2, Rausch. Triples - Wilson. RBIs - Duford 4, Marquardt 3, Wilson 2, Jaylin Kenney 2, Johnson.

LP Pitching - Duford gets the win.