Fourth and goal

POLSON – In what has become a rhythmic rite of spring, the three-time defending champion Polson Lady Pirates softball team is heading to the state tournament firing on all cylinders. As if this weekend’s 10-1 win over Libby followed by a 32-1 dismantling of Whitefish weren’t enough to strike fear into the hearts of Class A foes, head coach Larry Smith has more unwelcome news.

“This is the best we’ve played in this four-year period,” says Smith.

But Smith and his players are not content to rest on their laurels after an impressive 21-1 regular season that encompasses an unblemished 8-0 in-conference mark.

“It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” Smith has been reminding his team, which has earned a first-round bye at state.

If this weekend’s conclusion to the regular season was any indication, the Lady Pirates are locked in and are showing no signs of easing up on the accelerator. Smith says maintaining that killer instinct will be crucial this weekend.

“(With a first-round bye) we’re going to play a team that is coming off a win and has gotten rid of any first-round jitters,” said Smith. “We’ve got to be sound mentally. I think that’s going to happen with all of our veteran players.”

Fortunately, Smith believes that when the pressure is on, his battle-tested crew is at its best.

“Our girls have been so successful, they almost thrive on this — knowing that they’re the biggest target and everyone is out to get them.”

While some might expect motivation to be in short supply for such an accomplished team, Smith says that his players will be gunning hard to send off their remarkable senior class with an unprecedented fourth consecutive crown.

“It would mean everything. Those seniors deserve it,” Smith said, reflecting on the well-decorated careers of Duford, Heidi Rausch, Martina Marquardt, and Jordyn Evertz.

“Theyre great leaders – great team leaders.”

Polson 10, Libby 1

The Lady Pirates’ dominant weekend began with Friday’s 10-1 win over visiting Libby. Strong performances abounded, but one in particular stood out to Smith.

“It starts right there in the middle with Shay Duford,” Smith said, giving a nod to the Pirates’ star pitcher who held the Loggers to just four hits and has anchored the team for the duration of the program’s incredible four-year run.

But Duford received plenty of help from the team’s potent offense, including Heidi Rausch and Jaylin Kenney. Rausch homered and finished a double shy of the cycle, racking up three RBI in the process. Kenney also enjoyed a multi-hit campaign and was responsible for plating two of her teammates.

Polson 32, Whitefish 1

Both Duford and the Pirates’ bats were at it again on Saturday, this time pounding Whitefish in an abbreviated 32-1 blowout on Senior Night.

Given the lopsided final score, it’s easy to forget that there was a point at which the Lady Pirates were actually trailing in the contest. Whitefish got the scoring started in the top of the first by using a walk and one of their two hits on the day to help manufacture a run.

Any thoughts the Lady Bulldogs may have had about pulling off an upset were dashed as soon as Polson came to the plate. Aided by plenty of Whitefish errors, the Pirates would score 13 runs in each of the first two innings to put the game well out of reach. Rausch once again led the way, belting two home runs and driving in a team-best five runs. Kenney, Duford, Jessica Bagnell, and Martina Marquardt each finished with four RBIs of their own. Marquardt’s run production came in one fell swoop, when the third baseman connected on a grand slam in the third inning.