Polson prevails in pitchers' duel

POLSON – Another Northwestern-A rivalry game, another heart-stopping, come-from-behind Lady Pirates victory.  

The pitching stole the show Tuesday night in Polson, as Shalaina Duford and Columbia Falls’ pitcher Ashley Trueblood found themselves in a white-knuckle pitching duel. It was Duford who would blink first, allowing an RBI single in the top of the fourth that gave the Wildkats a 1-0 lead. But again, the Lady Pirates’ resolve was never in question and Polson battled back in the sixth, coming away with a dramatic 2-1 victory.  

“This bunch has been really good about not quitting,” said head coach Larry Smith. “We believe we’re going to win the game, no matter how much we’re down.  We know teams are going to play their best against us.”

Polson certainly received Columbia Falls’ full capacity Tuesday night.  The Wildkats and Trueblood looked in control for most of the game. Trueblood’s location and off-speed pitches had the Lady Pirates’ hitters off balance. But Polson had their own ace in the circle that night and Duford – aside from the one run yielded in the fourth – was holding the Wildkat offense at bay.  

It was Duford who would also get things going for Polson at the plate. Trailing 1-0 and down to just five outs, Duford lined a single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Another error by Columbia Falls and a Lady Pirates sacrifice put runners on second and third with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Tina Marquardt stepped to the plate with every intention of playing heroine. Marquardt laced a line drive down the left field line, scoring both Polson runners. The Lady Pirates took a 2-1 lead, but the most exciting and perhaps unusual happening in the game was still to come.  

The Wildkats’ Breanna Friar reached second base with one out in the top of the seventh, following a throwing error by Polson’s third baseman. Tiffany Hummer would then immediately smack a shot up the middle, just left of the pitcher and second base. What was initially thought to be a run producing single that would tie the game 2-2 was instantly called an out by the home base umpire because Hummer’s hard-hit grounder grazed the foot of Friar, the Wildkat on second base. The rules state if the base runner comes in contact with a live ball, the runner is out.

The unfortunate incident was Columbia Falls’ second out. Their next batter would fly out to the infield and the Pirates walked away winning 2-1.

“We will take it,” said Coach Smith. “I don’t care how good you are, you have to have some bounces go your way.”

The Lady Pirates would then travel to Libby Thursday to take on the Loggers. Their third district game proved to be less dramatic than the other two. Duford pitched five innings of two-hit baseball and allowed zero earned runs to help Polson to the 11-1 win.

Heidi Rausch continued her hot hitting, going 3-for-4 with three RBI.       

The win improved both Duford and the Lady Pirates’ record to 6-1, sitting alone at first place in the NWA division.  

Thursday, Polson travels to Hamilton where they will face the Broncs’ ace pitcher Brie Clifford. Clifford was roughed up against Ronan last week and Polson feels confident about their chances.

“She is our kind of pitcher. We like to face fast ball pitchers,” said Coach Smith. “We have trouble with the slow stuff, that’s why we struggled against Columbia Falls. [Youngblood] was throwing a lot of slow stuff and we have a lot of anxious hitters.”