Polson sweeps games at Butte tourney, MAC falls to Conrad

Last week the Class B/C softball teams finished up their regular season. The Ronan Maidens finished it off with four straight wins, while MAC went 1-2, including a 0-7 loss against defending Class B/C state champs, Conrad. 

MAC

On Thursday, MAC held their senior night against Plains. The seniors on the team ended their career at home in style, with three different kids hitting home runs. In the first inning, senior Mikaylan Roylance hit a grand slam shortly after Kenzie Couture brought in two runs. Senior Morgan Malatare also had a home run in that inning. Plains answered right away in the second inning with a home run, but would not make things interesting until the fourth, when they put up five runs. With the score 9-6 in the sixth, senior Jaycee Andersen hit another grand slam, then MAC kept Plains scoreless in the seventh to take the win.

Morgan Malatare went 3-4 including a home run and five RBIs. Roylance brought in four runs and batted 3-5. Anderson added three RBIs, and Couture had one. MAC finished with 10 hits and two errors compated to Plains’ four hits and three errors.

On Saturday, MAC traveled to Butte for a tournament. In a rematch from the state tournament last year, they took on Conrad. The outcome was similar, as MAC took a 0-7 loss. They were unable to get a hit off of Tristen Achenbach, who threw her third no-hitter of the tournament. While they did not get the win, if MAC makes it to the state tournament, they will likely get another chance at Conrad. MAC also played Columbus at the Butte tournament. In that contest, they lost 1-3. No other information was made available.

MAC will take on the winner of the Libby versus Thompson Falls play-in game at the divisional tournament. MAC’s first game will be at noon in Anaconda.

MAC 13, Plains 6

Plains- 010 500 0 – 6 4 3

MAC- 900 004 X – 13 10 2

Kassidy Kinzie and Natalee Deschamps. Ran’Dee Charlo, Jaycee Andersen (4), Tomi Brazill (4) and Kenzie Couture. W – Charlo. L – Kinzie. S – Brazill

MISSION-ARLEE-CHARLO – Mikaylan Roylance 3-5, Jordyn Eichert 0-3, Kinzie Couture 1-3, Morgan Malatare 3-4, Jaycee Andersen 1-2, Ran’Dee Charlo 1-3, Haley Carroll 1-4, Madison Savage 0-2, Ashley Tanner 0-1, Tomi Brazilll 0-2.

2B – Malatare 2. HR – J. Thompson; Roylance, Malatare, Andersen. RBIs – Woodward, J. Thompson, Angle, Deschamps; Roylance 4, Couture, Malatare 5, Andersen 3.

Conrad 7, MAC 0

MAC- 000 000 – 0 0 1

Conrad- 051 10x – 7 11 1

WP—Tristen Achenbach (third no-hitter of tournament, 15 Ks). LP—Ran’Dee Charlo.

Mission-Arlee-Charlo – Roylance 0-2, Eichert 0-2, Couture 0-2, Malatare 0-2, Anderson 0-2, Charlo 0-2, Kent 0-2, Crawford 0-2, Brazil 0-2.

2B—Achenbach. HR—Durocher. RBI—Durocher 3, Johnson, Russell, Gouchenour.

MAC 1, Columbus 3

Polson

By JOHN HEGLIE

At Polson on Senior Night last Tuesday, the Lady Pirates hosted the visiting Western AA Kalispell Flathead Bravettes in their second meeting of the season. Although Polson won their first encounter 4-0 in Kalispell, the Bravettes showed they had vastly improved since their clash back in early April. Kalispell jumped out to a four run lead, which Polson cut in half in their bottom half of the first inning.

After the Bravettes padded their lead by picking up solo runs in the second and third innings, the Lady Pirates countered with a trio in the bottom of the third to pull within one, 6-5. Quinn Motichka had intended to sacrifice in order to advance the base runner into scoring position. But as the slap-bunt chopper bounded toward the left side of the mound, Motichka put some of her all-conference cross country speed on display, forcing an errant throw by the pitcher that overshot its mark. The error allowed quickster Quinn to head to second and was waved on toward third when the retrieving first baseman overthrew third base, allowing Motichka to motor home for the equivalent of a slap-bunt chopper, compound error, inside-the-park home run. But that would be all the points that Polson would plate as they stranded five while lining out or flying out in their remainder of at-bats.

Seniors Hannah Potter and Lydia Dupuis collaborated on a trio of hits that produced an RBI, scored a run and included a stolen base each. Kaelyn Smith reached safely thrice and pinched a pair of bases to move past super-state selectees Kodi Woods (2011 23SB) and tie Ashley Johnson (2012 26SB) for fourth place among Lady Pirate school stolen base records, the queen of softball swipes belonging to Strohm Fouty (2002 39SB).

Flathead 9, Polson 5

Flathead 411 210 0 – 9 16 3

Polson 203 000 0 – 5 *7 2

Kylee Beccari and Jayden Russell. Lauren Vergeront, Camas Renault (3) and Ashley Benson. W—Beccari. L – Vergeront (0-2).

Pitching specs: Vergeront (2IP: 5H,1W,1PO), Renault (5IP: 3K,11H,3PO), Becarri (3K,2W,2HB,1PO).

POLSON — Kaelyn Smith *1-3, Laurel Bitterman 2-4, Benson 0-2, Lydia Dupuis 1-4, Hannah Potter 2-4, Quinn Motichka 0-3, Hannah Fryberger 0-3, Mikayla Croft 0-2, Kaylanna DesJarlias 0-1, Vergeront 0-1, Renault 1-2.

HR – Russell. 3B – Knutson. 2B – Russell, O’Brien, Meredith 2. RBIs – Russell, O’Brien, Torgerson, Meredith 2, Knutson 2, Nunn; Benson 1, Dupuis 1, Motichka 1. SacB – O’Brien. SacF – Benson. BB – Russell; Fryberger, Motichka. HB – Smith, Benson. 6SB – Smith 2, Bitterman, Dupuis, Potter, Fryberger. CS – Fryberger. (Tu10May16)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s): P6H. Russell 3AB (W,HR,2B,E,PO), Knutson 2H (3B,1B,FC,1B), Nunn 3H (1B,FC,FC,1B); Smith 0H (1B,HB,F5,FC - hit scored as E, but fielder never got glove on bouncer past), Motichka 1rbi (3R scored, batter gets RBI credit for base runners who scored on compound error, but not herself).

At Butte this past weekend, the Lady Pirates improved their record 4-0 when they dispatched a pair of Southwestern Division teams, then raised the bar on the level of their competition as they faced off against the current second place Eastern as well as Central Division contenders. Polson ten run ruled their first three opponents by a combined score of 43-6, establishing early leads which thereafter they expanded upon to their advantage. But in their final game, they ran into the clutches of some talented talons belonging to Golden Eagles from Fergus County. Having played Central A leader Belgrade in a game that hinged upon a single run, Lewistown plated a pair of runs in the first inning and then forced the Lady Pirates to rally from a deficit for a narrow 5-3 win.

Camas Renault and Lauren Vergeront both picked up a pair of victories in the circle at the two day tournament, while Hannah Potter tattooed the second tater of the season over the fenceline for a home run against the Cowgirls from Miles City. The Lady Pirates smacked a baker’s dozen hits for extra bases among their more than four dozen over the weekend.

When Polson wasn’t bludgeoning the ball with the bat, they were tearing up the base paths with unauthorized pilferage. The Lady Pirates plundered 44 stolen bases over the course of their quartet of games with Kaelyn Smith leading the way with ten, Laurel Bitterman eight, a half dozen by Lydia Dupuis as well as Quinn Motichka and another four with a pair or better. The weekend tally pushed the Lady Pirates over the century mark for the season and brings the season stolen base total for Smith to three dozen, a feat that had yet to be reduplicated since the four year tenure of 2002-05 graduate Strohm Fouty, who owns the school softball record for stolen bases with 39 pilfered her freshman season. She averaged over 30 per season for a cumulative prep total of 148 (39+37+35+37). Smith has already eclipsed one of those with her tally thus far and could leave the other three in the rear window by the end of the regular schedule this week.

Polson (2-2, 16-6) will have already had their showdown with Columbia Falls for second place in the NWA division standings on Tuesday, then wrap up their regular schedule in Whitefish on Thursday.

2016 LaVerne Combo Softball Invitational

Friday-Saturday, May 13-14, 2016

Polson 5, Lewistown 3

Polson 050 000 – 5 10 1

Lewistown 200 100 – 3 *9 2

Camas Renault, Lauren Vergeront (2) and Benson. Carley Carpenter and Karlie Southworth. W – Vergeront (2-2). L – Carpenter.

Pitching specs: Renault (1K,3H,1W), Vergeront (6K,6H).

POLSON – Kaelyn Smith 1-2, *Paige Noyes 1-1, Laurel Bitterman 2-3, Ashley Benson 1-3, Lydia Dupuis 0-3, Hannah Potter 0-3, Quinn Motichka 2-3, Hannah Fryberger 1-3, Mikayla Croft 0-1, Vergeront 1-2, Renault 1-3.

HR – Comes, Southworth, Weichel. 2B – *Fryberger, Bitterman. RBIs – Smith, *Bitterman 2, Fryberger, Renault; Weichel, Comes, Southworth. BB – Gapay. 4SB – Smith, Bitterman, Motichka 2. (Sa14May16pm)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s): L8H – Potter (0H), Bitterman (0RBIs). Haley Bennett dnp, should read Paige Noyes. Butcher (left out of box 2AB), Gremaux 1AB.

Polson 14, Miles City 3

Polson 211 37 – 14 14 3

Miles City 030 00 – 3 4 1

Camas Renault (3K,2H,1W,1HB,2PO), Lauren Vergeront (5) and Ashley Benson, Kaylanna DesJarlias (5). Kylee Licht and Madi Hill. W – Renault (7-1). L – Licht. Sv – Vergeront (2K,2H).

POLSON — Kaelyn Smith 2-2, Paige Noyes 0-1, Laurel Bitterman 1-4(E), Benson 1-3, Lydia Dupuis 1-4, Hannah Potter 2-4, Quinn Motichka 3-4, Hannah Fryberger 0-1, Breyland McColl 0-1, Mikayla Croft 1-3, Vergeront *0-0, Renault 2-3, DesJarlias 1-1, .

HR – Potter. 3B – Benson. 2B – Smith, Potter, Motichka, Croft, Renault. RBIs – Smith 2, Bitterman, Benson 2, Dupuis 2, Potter 2, Motichka 2, Vergeront; Licht. SacB – Smith 2. SacF – Vergeront. BB – Benson, Fryberger 2; Dittus. 11SB – Smith 3, Bitterman, Benson, Dupuis 3, Potter, Motichka 2. (Sa14May16am)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s): Vergeront 1AB (SacF = 0AB)

Polson 12, Stevensville 2

Polson 214 5 – 12 *10 *1

Stevensville 001 1 – 2 3 5

Lauren Vergeront (3K,2H,4W), Camas Renault (4) and Ashley Benson, Kaylanna Desjarlais (4). Sarah Morrison, Haley Kampka (4) and Dani Trangmoe. W – Vergeront (1-2). L – Morrison. Sv – Renault (1H).

POLSON – Kaelyn Smith 2-3, Laurel Bitterman 2-3, Ashley Benson 1-2, Lydia Dupuis 0-1, Hannah Potter *1-3, Quinn Motichka 0-3, Hannah Fryberger 0-2(FC), Camas Renault 1-3, Lauren Vergeront 1-2.

2B – *Renault; Kampka, Hambrick. RBIs – *Smith, Bitterman, Benson 2, Motichka, Renault; Kampka, Martin.

BB – Benson, Dupuis 2, Fryberger 2; Newman, Lendman, McCoy. 15SB – Smith 3, Bitterman 4, Benson 2, Dupuis, Potter 2, Motichka, Renault, Paige Noyes. (Fr13May16gm2)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) derived from LP records that differ from those reported by media coverage: P7H/P0E,S5E – Smith (0RBI), Potter (0H); Kampka 0H

Polson 17, Dillon 1

Polson 340 46 – 17 *18 *2

Dillon 000 10 – 1 3 *4

Camas Renault, Lauren Vergeront (5) and Ashley Benson. Adrianna Pittman, Bailey Berriochoa (5) and Erica Rude. W – Renault (6-1). L – Pittman.

POLSON – Kaelyn Smith *2-4, Laurel Bitterman 0-3, Ashley Benson *3-4, Lydia Dupuis 2-2, Hannah Potter 2-4, Quinn Motichka 2-4, Hannah Fryberger 3-4, Mikayla Croft 2-4, Camas Renault *2-3(E), (cr) Paige Noyes, (defensive subs – Breyland McColl, Kaylanna Desjarlais, Noyes).

3B – Pittman. 2B – Benson, Potter, Fryberger 2; Pittman. RBIs – Smith *2, Benson *4, Dupuis 2, Potter 3, Fryberger 2, Motichka *3, Croft; Rude. SacB – Smith. BB – Dupuis, Bitterman. HB – Dupuis, Bitterman. 14SB – Smith 3, Bitterman 2, Benson, Dupuis 2, Potter, Motichka, Fryberger 2, Noyes 2. (Fr13May16gm1)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) derived from LP records that differ from those reported by media coverage: P15H/P1E,D6E – Smith (1H, 0RBI, 0CS), Benson (2H,2RBI), Renault (1H), Motichka (2RBI).

RONAN

In their final week of the regular schedule, the Ronan Maidens swept a pair of doubleheaders by a combined score of 94-4 to capture the Western BC regular season crown for their district and one of the top seedings heading into the Divisional tournament to be held this weekend in Anaconda.

At Ronan on Senior Night last Tuesday, the Maidens swept the Lady Bluehawks from Thompson Falls with a pair of shutouts.

The Maidens hit a combined baker’s dozen extra base hits, all doubles, with the five honored seniors Carston Rhine, Kaitlyn Sassaman, Jordyn Clairmont, Amanda Morency and Kiana Brown contributing eleven of those for 21 RBIs. All five seniors had two hits in the first game, joined by Katlyn Santos, who also went a perfect 3-3 in the second game.

Last Thursday in Eureka, the Maidens wrapped up their regular schedule against the Lincoln County Lady Lions by a combined score of 46-3. The Maidens pounded out 39 hits over the course of the two games with Kaitlyn Sassaman going a perfect 5-5 with 3RBIs in the first game and Gabby Wirz going a perfect 4-4 with 4RBIs in the second game. Carston Rhine, Amanda Morency, Sadie Wirz and Jordyn Clairmont each had more than one hit in one or both games of the doubleheader sweep that contributed another collective 16 RBIs by the quartet. Rhine wrapped up the regular schedule by cresting the century plateau with 101 strikeouts. Gabby Wirz has chimed in with another 31Ks over the course of 26 innings pitched.

Ronan (15-2, 15-6) secured the number one seeding from their district heading into the Western BC Divisional tournament, where they await the winner of the Florence vs. Deer Lodge contest. The top four teams advance to the State BC tournament in Kalispell.

Ronan 26, Eureka 3 (gm1)

Ronan 213 03(17) – 26 *22 *3

Eureka 001 01 1 – 3 *3 *5

Carston Rhine (4K,2W,1HB,4PO) and Sadie Wirz. Laura Williams, Sarah Hepner (5), Courtney Lemer and Makennah Apeland. W – Rhine (12-4). L – Williams.

RONAN — Kaitlyn Sassaman 5-5, Gabby Wirz *5-6, Rhine 3-6, Amanda Morency *3-6(FC,E), Kiana Brown *1-4(2E), S.Wirz 2-5, Jordyn Clairmont 2-4, Courtnee Clairmont *0-2(FC), Shailee Courville 0-1(E), Katlyn Santos 1-4(E).

HR – Morency. 3B – *Smith. 2B – G.Wirz, *J.Clairmont. RBIs – Sassaman 3, G. Wirz *4, Rhine, Morency 3, Brown, S. Wirz *2, J. Clairmont *4; Morgan, Hepner. SacB – S.Wirz, C.Clairmont. BB – Morency, Brown 2, Courville, Santos; Hepner 2. HB – Silva. (Fr13May16gm1)

Asterisk (*) denotes Ronan version stat scoring variant(s) that differ from those reported in media coverage by host venue: Ron24H,Eur7H/Ron2E,Eur7E – G.Wirz 3H (1B,F8,1B,1Brbi,2Bw/3rbi,1B) 3RBI, Morency 5H (1B,W,FC,1B,E,HR), Brown 3H (PO,1B,W,E,W,E), S.Wirz 3RBI, J.Clairmont 2rbi (W,1Bw/2rbi, F7,2Bw/2RBI, 2B miscredited to Brown), C.Clairmont 3AB (FC miscredited as H); Smith 3B (cited as 2B by host venue, RBI scored as E by Ronan), Morgan 2H (K,1B,E).

Ronan 22, Eureka 0 (gm2)

Eureka 000 – 0 1 7

Ronan *767 – *20 *17 0

Gabby Wirz (4K) and Sadie Wirz. Courtney Lemer and Ambryn Smith. W – G. Wirz (3-2). L – Lemer.

RONAN – Sassaman 2-3, G. Wirz *4-4, Rhine *0-2(E), Mariah Meyers 1-1, Morency *1-3(2E), Jaylyn Hakes 1-1, Brown *1-3(E), S. Wirz *3-4, J. Clairmont 2-3, Courville *1-2(E), Santos 1-4.

2B – Morgan; Morency. RBIs – Sassaman, G.Wirz (2), Morency, S.Wirz (2), Clairmont (3), Courville. (Fr13May16gm2)

EUREKA – Sarah Hepner 1-4, Rylee Morgan 1-4, Lemer 2-4, Bailey Bishop 1-2, Ambryn Smith 2-3, Apeland 1-4, Williams 1-4, Karissa Kaufman 0-4, Shyann Ferguson 0-3.

2B – Morgan; Morency. RBIs – Sassaman 2, G.Wirz 4, *Meyers, S.Wirz 2, J.Clairmont 3, Courville. SacB – Brown. BB – Sassaman, Courville,

Asterisk (*) denotes Ronan version stat scoring variant(s) that differ from those reported in media coverage by host venue: Ron19R/Ron14H (7R in 1st inning) – G.Wirz 2H,3AB (1B,1Bw/rbi,1Bw/rbi,1Bw/2rbi), Rhine (W,PO,E) b3rbi (should read Meyers), Morency 3H (E,2B,E), Brown 4AB (Sac counted as H), S.Wirz 2H (1B,1B,PO,1B), Courville 0H (E,SacF,W,1B).

Ronan 26, T Falls 0 (gm1)

T. Falls 0( 0)0 00 – 0 1 3

Ronan 1(17)2 6x – 26 14 0

Maya Stiles and Haley Morgan. Carston Rhine (7K, 2PO) and Sadie Wirz. W – Rhine (10-4). L – Stiles.

RONAN – Kaitlyn Sassaman 2-2, Gabby Wirz 1-3, Carston Rhine 2-4, Shailee Courville 0-0, Amanda Morency 2-4, Kiana Brown 2-3, Sadie Wirz 1-3, Jordyn Clairmont 2-3, Courtnee Clairmont 0-0, Jaylyn Hakes 0-0, Katlyn Santos 2-4.

2B – Sassaman, Rhine, Morency 2, Brown, *J.Clairmont. RBIs – Sassaman, G. Wirz, Rhine 3, Morency 3, Brown 2, S. Wirz, J. Clairmont 2, *C.Clairmont, Hakes, Santos. 13BB – Sassaman, G.Wirz, Courville, Brown, S.Wirz, J.Clairmont 2, C.Clairmont 3, Hakes 2, Santos. HB – Sassaman, S.Wirz. SB – Rhine 2, Brown, J.Clairmont.

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) that differ from media coverage:

Ronan 22, T Falls 0 (gm2)

Ronan (18)04 – 22 16 0

T. Falls 000 – 0 1 4

Rhine, G. Wirz (2) and Sassaman, S. Wirz. Stiles and Dylan Barerra. W – Rhine (11-4). L – Stiles. Sv – G.Wirz.

Pitching specs: Rhine (1K,1H,1W,2PO), G.Wirz (4K).

RONAN – Sassaman 2-3, G.Wirz 0-1, Rhine 1-4, Morency 2-4, Brown 3-4, S.Wirz 1-2, J.Clairmont 2-3, C.Clairmont 2-3, Santos 3-3.

2B – Sassaman, Rhine, Brown, J. Clairmont 2, C. Clairmont, Santos. RBIs – Sassaman 2, G. Wirz, Rhine 2, Morency, Brown, S. Wirz, J. Clairmont 4, C. Clairmont 2, Santos 3. 9BB – Sassaman, G.Wirz 2, Rhine, S.Wirz 2, J.Clairmont, C.Clairmont, Santos. SB – Sassaman.