Lady Pirates just keep on winning
<p>Polson's big-bopper Heidi Rausch lets loose on a pitch in a game earlier this season. Last Thursday against Hamilton, Rausch went 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI. For the season, Rausch has four home runs and 21 RBI, which leads her team</p>
HAMILTON – The purple and yellow keep racking up wins. This week, the Lady Pirates’ softball squad handled fellow class A opponent Hamilton 11-0, then easily took care of Whitefish, 32-0. Both games were stopped by the fifth inning.
There may not be a better pitcher going in the state of Montana than the Lady Pirates’ Shalaina Duford. Polson’s all-state senior hurler hasn’t given up an earned run in three straight games and has led the Lady Pirates to an 8-1 record.
“She has very good control,” said Polson’s manager Larry Smith. “She won’t blow [a fastball] by you, but she will keep you off balance. She is a very confident young lady.”
Last Thursday, Duford would face another ace pitcher, Hamilton’s Brie Clifford. Clifford is a fast-throwing strikeout pitcher. This style of pitching requires a certain approach - an approach Coach Smith is eager to work on, considering Polson’s stiffest competition replicates this very style.
“I was glad we got to face a faster pitcher like Clifford,” said Smith. “Our nemesis [Frenchtown’s] Morgan Ray pitches [fast] like that, so facing Clifford really helped us. [Against those high velocity pitchers] we just try to be patient and pick good pitches to hit.”
Although bad defense would define much of Clifford’s outing, Polson’s Duford and the defense behind her continued their stingy ways.
Duford struck out seven, gave up two hits and walked three. With Polson’s stellar play in the field, along with Duford’s precision pitching, the Lady Pirates allowed just six Broncs to reach base.
Two-run home runs by Jessica Bagnell and Heidi Rausch provided more than enough offense for the Lady Pirates. Hamilton committed four errors and seven of Polson’s 11 runs were unearned.
On Saturday, Polson’s offense did all the talking, compiling 32 runs scored. In the meantime, all Duford did was quietly throw a no-hitter against Whitefish through five innings, giving her back-to-back shutout starts. Duford also helped out her own cause at the plate, going 2-for-6 with a grand slam. But don’t ask Coach Smith what his star player prefers more - circling the bases or mowing down hitters.
“She loves hitting and she loves pitching. I don’t think she can really ever separate the two,” said Smith.
There wasn’t much the Lady Pirates offense didn’t accomplish Saturday against Whitefish. Then again, Whitfish’s eight errors basically escorted Polson runners to home plate.
Polson’s catcher Jaylin Kenney was not only instrumental in calling games from behind the plate last week – including the no-hitter against Whitefish – but she also did damage with the bat. Kenney went 6-for-9 over the two-game span, driving in three runs.
A healthy chemistry between a pitcher and catcher is essential to success on the field. Duford’s spectacular pitching can sometimes overshadow the importance Kenny brings behind the plate.
“She’s a very smart girl, very quite, but very alert,” said Smith. “Kenney is a great student of the game, she is my assistant coach on the field. Kenny and Duford are very close on and off the field.”
As for Duford, the senior sensation has been scorching her last three outings. Duford dominated in her wins last week against Columbia Falls and Libby. This week was no different. In her last three starts, Duford has surrendered one unearned run on just three hits.
Polson will travel to Frenchtown Friday to face Butte Central. Polson will look to extend their winning streak to seven games and improve to 9-1 on the year.Game time is slated for six p.m.