Making a Splash

POLSON - While the Polson Purple Rain might have lots of new faces, since many of the upperclassmen from the 2012 state championship team have graduated, the summer ASA squad still looked strong in a rain-shortened Polson Splash tournament last weekend.

The Rain finished in second place after going 2-1 in pool play. Rain on Sunday prevented bracket play from occurring.

In the first game, Polson made quick work of the Kalispell Emeralds. The Rain were able to put the pressure on the bases and got production from the bats for the 9-2 victory.

“I was very surprised with how well the young players on our team hit the ball,” head coach Larry Smith said.

Taylor Brackey hit the ball well for the Purple Rain, collecting three RBIs, while Kyrie Bitterman and Jaiden Toth both made solid contact on the ball.

Polson dropped their second game to the Hellgate Summer Knights 4-3 as six errors nipped them in the game.

“They put the pressure on us like I like to do to other teams,” Smith said. “We had an opportunity at the end with runners on but the time ran out on us.”

Smith shuffled the lineup in the game and had players in different positions while rotating in a different pitcher to build up depth for the season.

“Against the Knights, we still had good pitching and defensive plays,” Smith said. “We really just couldn’t get any offense going.”

In the third game of the Splash Tournament, Polson was able to pick up a victory against former Northwestern A Conference opponent Ronan, 5-2. Brackey did her best Will Middlebrooks impression with a towering two-run homer, the Purple Rain’s only of the weekend, and solid play by Kayla Wall at first base helped Polson pull out the tight victory.

Smith also said that Toth made a great defensive effort in the outfield and ran straight into the fence during one play. Bailey Roberts went 2-for-2 with a double in the game as well.

“I told her that was the kind of stuff you see in ESPN highlights,” Smith said.

Smith said that his young team looked like they gained confidence as the weekend went on.

“By the time the third game rolled around I saw they had more confidence in themselves and they weren’t as nervous,” Smith said. “They played more relaxed and more comfortable.”

The Purple Rain will head to Anaconda this weekend for the Smack the Stack tournament.

“I knew going into the tournament we were going to be a little bit of a work in progress because we have a lot of young kids,” Smith said. “We have to bide our time a little but this team will definitely come around. You’re going to see improvement every week.”

RAPTORS FINISH THIRD

Bigger schools didn’t make the Ronan 16U Raptors blink at all.

Coming off their trip to the state tournament, the Ronan softball team with an infusion of Deer Lodge players combined to finish third at the Splash Tournament in Polson last weekend. They finished with a 2-1 record after it was shortened because of rain.

The signature win for the Raptors came against the Class AA Hellgate Summer Knights. Ronan was able to get to the Summer Knights’ pitching while Sam Colman held down the fort in the pitcher’s circle.

“That was good because it was our first game of the summer and that was Hellgate’s varsity pitcher,” head coach Tom Peterson said.

Ronan then battled the Class A Kootenai Krushers, picking up the 5-4 victory in their second game, before falling to Polson 5-2 in their final game of the tournament.

“The girls played really hard,” Peterson said. “We were beating Polson 2-1 in the game before they came back. The girls came out and they played loose in that game which is promising.”

Peterson also liked how his team hit the ball against a high level of competition.

“Each game we had girls hit the ball well,” Peterson said. “It was all a team effort. We’re facing some good competition so I think that the hitting is going to stay where it’s at for the summer.”

Peterson also added that he was happy with the contributions of the Deer Lodge girls who suited up for the Raptors in the first tournament of the season.

Ronan will now head out to Anaconda this weekend for the Smack the Stack Tournament.

POLSON 10U FINISHES THIRD

The Polson 10U Lil’ Lakers mixed experienced and new players in their first tournament of the season and had a strong showing, placing third in the Splash last weekend.

Polson went 2-1 in pool play and rain stopped any bracket play from happening.

“I just can’t say enough how excited I am for this young team” coach Mark Vergeront said.

The Lil’ Lakers defeated Ronan 9-5 in their first game thanks to some solid pitching.

“It was their first game of the season and these girls played together,” Vergeront said.

Polson followed that up with a double-digit victory over the Kalispell Emeralds.

“We were playing very, very well and we just kept getting better as the game went on,” Vergeront said. “Pitching was solid and we have three solid pitchers that keep us in good positions during the games.”

The Lil’ Lakers' lone setback of the tournament was a 7-1 loss to the Bitterroot Sparks, a team that Vergeront feels is a quality opponent.

“They’re one of the top teams in Western Montana,” he said.

Overall Vergeront was happy with the way his girls approached the game with a team spirit and is looking forward to next weekend when they’ll travel to the Smack the Stack Tournament in Anaconda.“The whole team stood out,” he said. “The girls are really coming together as a team.”

Vergeront added that it will be nice to see some teams from east of the mountains at the tournament and see where everybody matches up.

POLSON SPLASH TOURNAMENT RESULTS

16U:

1st Place – Fury Fastpitch

2nd Place – Polson Purple Rain

3rd Place – Ronan Outlaws

4th Place – Hellgate Summer Knights

14U:

1st Place – Emeralds Fastpitch

2nd Place – Great Falls Selects

3rd Place – Polson Lakers

4th Place – Butte Blaze

12U:

1st Place – Great Falls Selects (Yellow)

2nd Place – Missoula Lady Osprey

3rd Place – Emeralds Fastpitch (Green)

4th Place – Anaconda Cyclones

10U:

1st Place – Missoula Lady Osprey

2nd Place – Bitterroot Sparks

3rd Place – Polson Lil Lakers

4th Place – Fury Fastpitch