Teams bring home hardware

By John Heglie

Special for the Leader

At the Electric City Heat Classic held in Great Falls this past weekend, dozens of area softball players competed in a tournament format on behalf of multiple teams, but it would be the youngest of them all who would shine the brightest at the end of the competition. As if to epitomize the adage about never despising small beginnings, the 10U age bracket Ronan Maidens and Polson Lil Lakers diced up the competition during seeding contests to emerge undefeated among the top finishers in separate pools, then continued to slice their way through the bracket portion of gold division play to face off against one another for the golden prize of the tournament championship. The magnitude of such an accomplishment merits being framed within its wider context in that both teams managed to triumph over a cumulative ten teams, many of which are comprised of all-stars drawn from vastly larger population bases and extensively deeper athletic talent pools.  Such a development bucks the odds as well as flies in the face of predictable outcomes. Nevertheless, it would be Mission Valley area players who would be the last ones standing to determine the allocation of who would get the gold and who would wear the silver, a rarity that bodes well for the future of area softball that is liable to continue to appreciate in seasons to come.

  On this occasion, Lil Lakers no longer appear quite as small nor Maidens quite as young when both come together to tangle in a chipper that conveys lessons that would benefit some of their older counterparts about the value of teamwork and collaborating individual efforts on behalf of accomplishing a task for the common good. This was the third tournament in which Ronan has placed among the top three for hardware.

2016 Electric City Heat Classic

June 17-19, 2016 at Great Falls

10U BRACKET (12tms)

Gold Division Championship

Lil Lakers 20, Mighty Maidens 8

Maidens   (0)62 0 –  8  4 E

Lil Lakers (13)07 x – 20 20 E

Nikki Kendall (4K,3A) and McKenna Hanson. Sarah Gardipe, Tyariah Morigeau and Sidney Bauer, Emma Gardipe.

RONAN MIGHTY MAIDENS – Morigeau 0-1, Ella Brown 1-3, Kelsey Gillen 0-1, S.Gardipe 2-2, Kaleigh Benson 1-2, Bella Dubeil 0-1, Kaydance Santos 0-1, Brogan Youngren 0-0, Bauer 0-1 [awaiting PA: Wenona YellowOwl, Kysis Santos, Jelayna Tenas, Emma Gardipe].

POLSON LIL LAKERS – Nikki Kendall 3-4, Izzy Fyant 2-4, McKenna Hanson 3-4, Caitlyn Ward 3-4, Alexis Johnson 4-4, Taylor Henricksen 0-2, Kailey Smith 2-3, Bella Paul 1-3, Tyneesha Brown 2-3 [awaiting PA: Ashtynn Wagner, Sierra Perez, Sam Rensvold].

2B – Ward 2, Johnson 2, Smith.  RBIs – Fyant 3, Hanson, Ward 2, Johnson 2, Smith, T.Brown.

BB – Morigeau 2, Gillen, Dubel, Santos, Youngren 2, Bauer; Henricksen 2.  SB – S.Gardipe 3, Benson 3, Dubel 3, Santos 3, Youngren 3, Bauer; Kendall 4, Ward, Johnson 7, Henricksen 3, Smith 5, Paul, T.Brown 2.

Runs – Morigeau, S.Gardipe 2, Benson, Dubel, Santos, Youngren, Bauer; Kendall 3, Fyant 3, Hanson 2, Ward 3, Johnson 3, Henricksen 2, Smith 2, T.Brown 2.

10U Gold Division semifinal

Lil Lakers 14, MT Avs-Hanninen 7

  The MT Avs-Hanninen have a pair of Mission Valley area players among their roster in Shanel Manuel and Payton Smith.  Manuel reached on a fielder’s choice, while Smith drew a walk as well as was hit by a pitch. Smith also pitched an inning and a third with three strikeouts along with a trio of walks.

  Alexis Johnson tripled for the Lil Lakers, then stole home to add insult to injury.

Ronan Maidens over Billings Blasters

Lil Lakers 12, EC Heat 2

  Bottom of the order batter Samantha Rensvold was awarded first base twice when she was hit by a pitch and drew a walk, stretching both gifts by stealing three bases and scoring a run.

10U Ronan Maidens over Big Sky Blitz-Falcon

10U Pool Play 

(Pool B)

  Lil Lakers Ashtynn Wagner and Sierra Perez both drew walks, stole bases and scored a run during the first pool game. In the second pool play game, Perez hit a single, drew two walks, scored two runs and stole a base, while Wagner was hit by a pitch, stole two bases as well as scored a run.

10U Lil Lakers 4, Emeralds Fastpitch 1

10U Lil Lakers 26, GF Selects-Moore 2

10U Polson Lil Lakers 8, Livingston 5

MT Avs-Hanninen 3-0

(Pool A)

10U Ronan Maidens 6, EC Heat 4

10U Ronan Maidens 18, GF Selects-Beisecker 8

10U Ronan Maidens 16, Big Sky Blitz-Swingley 6

16U BRACKET (14tms)

Gold Division championship

Kalispell 406 2, GF Selects 1

  In a game that bore aspects of the State AA chipper between runnerup Glacier and champion CMR with Ali Williams on the mound and a swath of resourceful Rustlers swinging their bats at the plate, this 16U/18U title tilt was a gem that went down to the wire. Throwing from the circle for the Selects was thrice GF Tribune super-state softball selectee Tristin Achenbach, who has verbally committed to play for the Montana Lady Griz when she graduates next spring.  Williams will join the roster for Carroll College this coming fall. 

Silver Division 1st round

Electric City Heat 7, Purple Rain 5

EC Heat    000 151 – 7 8 0

Purple Rain 302 000 – 5 9 6

Shea LaRocque, Emma Pyette and McKenzie Staats. Haley Fyant (4K,2H,4W), Camas Renault (5) and Kaylanna DesJarlais. W –  L – Renault.

EC HEAT – L. Neumann 0-4, Katie Nicholson 3-4, Staats 1-3, M. LaRocque 1-4, S. LaRocque 0-3, Pyette 0-3, Hannah Schaefer 0-2, Marihelen Held 1-3, Twila Reovan 2-2.

PURPLE RAIN – Laurel Bitterman 1-4, Quinn Motichka 3-3, Hannah Fryberger 0-2, Fyant 2-3, Renault 0-3, Paige Noyes 2-3, Mikayla 0-3(FC), DesJarlais 1-3, Addie McColl 0-3.

HR – Reovan. 3B – Reovan. 2B – M.Larocque, Nicholson. RBIs – Staats, M.Larocque, Reovan 3; Fyant, DesJarlais. BB – Staats, Schaffer, Reovan.

16U Pool Play (Pool B)

Billings Blasters 9, 16U Purple Rain 2

Blgs Blasters 111 051 – 9 12 1

Purple Rain  010 010 – 3  6 4

KyLee Hergenrider, Jacey Pointer and Kaylee Kannegiesser. Camas Renault (4K,3W,1HB) and Kaylanna DesJarlais. W – Hergerider. L – Renault.

BLASTERS – Maddy Harris 2-3, Alexis Ford 1-4, Sylvia Ambuehl 0-4, Hergenrider 2-4, Haylee Curry 2-4, Kannegiese 0-3, Kira Drake 4-4, Madi Kreiger 1-4, Pointer 0-2.

PURPLE RAIN – Bitterman 1-3, Quinn Motichka 1-3, Hannah Fryberger 0-3, Haley Fyant 0-3, Renault 1-23, Jaylynn LeaderCharge 1-3, Addie McColl 0-2, DesJarlais 1-2, Mikayla Croft 0-1, Paige Noyes 1-2.

HR – Krieger. 2B – Drake; DesJarlais. RBIs – Ford, Drake, Kreiger 4; Mitichka, DesJarlais. SacF – Ford. BB – Harris; Croft.

Billings Force-Black 6, 16U Purple Rain 5

Purple Rain  210 2x – 5 9 2

Blgs Force  033 0x – 6 9 2

Meghan Dahlquist and Lauren Gordon. Haley Fyant (2K,3W,1HB) and Kaylanna DesJarlais. W – Dahlquist. L – Fyant ().

PURPLE RAIN – Laurel Bitterman 2-3, Quinn Motichka 0-3, Hannah Fryberger 2-3, Fyant 0-2, Camas Renault 2-3, DesJarlais 0-3, Mikayla Croft 1-1, Paige Noyes 1-2, Addie McColl 0-2, Jaylynn LeaderCharge 1-2. 

BLGS FORCE (BLK) – Raegan Harper 0-3, Lanie Morgan 1-3, Payton Meyer 2-3, Gordon 2-3, Dahlquist 2-3, Winter Chavis 0-2, Parker Wemple 1-2, Kayli Wiers 0-1, Skyler Chartier 1-2, Kristen McCarthy 0-1.

HR – Dahlquist, Meyer, Gordon. 2B – Renault; Morgan, Gordon. RBIs – Fryberger, Renault, Croft , Leadercharge 2; Harper, Meyer 2, Dahlquist 2, Gordon. BB – Fyant, Croft 2, Noyes; Chavis, McCarthy. HB – Wiers. 

16U Purple Rain 9, Billings Force-Brown 5

Purple Rain 403 20 – 9 15 0

Blgs Force 401 00 – 5  5 1

Jessie Schmitz and Shelby McMillen. Haley Fyant (8K,3W,1HB) and Kaylanna DesJarlais. W – Fyant (). L – Schmitz.

PURPLE RAIN – Laurel Bitterman 3-4(FC), Quinn Motichka 2-4, Hannah Fryberger 4-4, Fyant 2-4, Camas Renault 2-3, DesJarlais 0-3, Mikayla Croft 1-3, Paige Noyes 0-3, Addie McColl 0-3, Jaylynn LeaderCharge 1-3.

BLGS FORCE (BRN) – Bryanna Nafts 1-2, Hailee Gregerson 1-2, Marcie Garay 0-1, McMillen 1-2, Courtnee Brown 0-2, Monroe Spoja 1-2, Teylor O’Donnell 0-2, Allyssa Treglown 1-1, Schmitz 0-1, Mikaela Holman 0-1.

HR – Fryberger 2. 2B – Fryberger, Renault; Gregerson, Nafts. RBIs – Fryberger 5, Fyant, Renault, DesJarlais 2, Noyes; McMillen 2, Gregerson, C.Brown. 

14U BRACKET (13tms)

Polson Lakers and MT Avalanche-Tipps tie for third

  The Lakers played well over the weekend with great teamwork at both the offensive as well as defensive ends of their games. There were a trio of Laker home runs hit during the course of the tournament.

Lakers EC Heat-Palmer 4, Lakers 2 (semi)

  Laker pitcher Lauren Vergeront helped keep her team in the hunt when she tagged a solo tater against the Heat.

Lakers 7, MT Lady Regulators 4 (1st round)

Calgary Adrenaline 8, MT Avs-Tipps 7 (semi)

  The Missoula-based 14U MT Avs-Tipps team feature a quartet of players affiliated with the Mission Valley area. Josie Caye of Polson, Destiny Manuel of Ronan and a pair of second generation affiliations. Grace Hardy is the daughter of Charlo grad Clint Hardy, while Morgan Holmes is the daughter of Ronan grad Shannon Holmes. They are now 17-7-1 on season.

MT Avs-Tipps 21, Helena Silverstorm 6 (1st round)

Pool Play (Pool B)

Lakers 6, Calgary Kaizen (01) 1

Lakers 20, Electric City Heat-Stavely 5

14U Polson Lakers 11, Glasgow Girls Fastpitch 1

  Sarah Wood hit a pair of solo dingers in the first Laker pool play contest.

MT Avs-Tipps 3-0

12U BRACKET EC Heat Classic

Gold Division championship

GF Selects-Mitchell 7, MT Avs-Ries 5

   The Missoula-based 12UMT Avs-Ries features a quartet of Mission Valley area players among their roster that include Ashlynn Depoe of Polson, Hayleigh Smith of Charlo and siblings Jerny along with Rheid Crawford of Arlee. MT Avs-Ries may have finished second, but they were in the thick of contention until the final out. MT Avs-Reis had the winning run at the plate with two runners on base in scoring position with two out against the GF Selects-Mitchell the final inning, but the opposing pitcher was able to induce a ground out to end the game. Along the way they dispatched the Kalispell Emeralds 13-1 in the quarterfinal, then the Big Sky Blitz 12-5 in the semis.

  Outfielders Depoe and Smith both singled safely during the course of the game with Depoe generating an RBI. Jerny Crawford likewise singled, drew a walk, scored a run, generated an RBI, stole two bases while at the defensive end turned four assists. Her sister Rheid batted 2-3 with a double as well as stole a base. At the defensive end, Rheid had her glove in on eight assists that included a double play in which she snared a ball before it could hit the turf, then flipped the ball to first base for the second out. Depoe pitched in two earlier contests, where she racked up seven strikeouts.