Lady Pirates softball putting the puzzle together

“Within the teams and individuals, I see so many similarities from different teams,” Smith explained. “However, I’ve noticed that they are all different and there are sometimes extreme differences in how some of my teams communicate. But it’s the camaraderie that has made them all winners. All of the teams won differently.”

Smith said he is starting to notice his current Lady Pirates are developing that team continuity and chemistry, the key ingredient to all of his championship teams of years past.

“They are starting to come together and both offense and defense are starting to click,” Smith said. “Everyone is getting going 100-percent on both ends. If everyone up and down the lineup does their job, then our team will be someone to deal with come the championship round.”

During the Frenchtown Tournament, the Lady Pirates exemplified some of the character Smith was talking about when they rallied from a 4-0 deficit to win the game 5-4to finish the Frenchtown Tournament Friday and Saturday with an unblemished 3-0 record.

It wasn’t just the Lady Pirates’ record. It was the caliber of teams they defeated including Hamilton, Butte Central and Florence that not only boosted their confidence but also raised their stock in the competitive landscape of Class-A softball.

“Our goal with our program is to always think ‘number one’ and my team thinks they are going to win it,” Smith said. “They are building towards becoming a more tightly-knit group all of the time. I always tell the girls ‘look to your teammate to your left and your right all of the time because you need each and every one of them to form a team.’”

Smith said his team continues to develop a “family dynamic” with each passing game.

“Every one of them has to be like a family and appreciate each other,” Smith said. “It seems that we all get along very well and it shows during the game. The players in the dugout and the others on the field are all encouraging each other.”

Polson 4, Butte Central 3

The Lady Pirates faced one of the top-ranked Class-A teams in the state and hoped to avenge their earlier home loss against the unbeaten Lady Broncs.

Polson was able to to avenge its 7-6 April 22 loss to Hamilton with a 4-3 victory Friday night at Frenchtown High School’s Stadium.

Lady Pirates’ Hannah Fryberger went 1-for-4, with a home run on a solo blast to give Polson’s star pitcher Haley Fyant run support. Fyant and Ashley Benson also contributed in the team’s run production with RBIs.

Polson 8, Butte Central 4

Polson was able to manufacture several runs in their 8-4 victory against Butte Central Friday at Frenchtown High School.

The Lady Pirates got plenty of support from their team with seven batters with multiple hits.

Kaelyn Smith, Laurel Bitterman, and Hannah Fryberger all were 3-for-5 on the day. Haley Fyant, Ashley Benson, and Camas Renault all hit 3-for-4, and Quinn Motichka batted 2-for-4.

Fyant and Benson finished the night with two RBIs each. Laurel Bitterman and Renault also contributed with an RBI in the victory.

Smith said he felt his team learned something from letting Butte Central back into the first game.

“We really gained a lot of confidence and in our very first game in the tournament, we were able to knock them off,” Smith said. “The previous week they had beaten us on our home field. That victory was a huge shot in the arm to give us some confidence. We allowed Butte Central to get four runs in the seventh. We probably relaxed a little too much and gave in. Against quality teams, you never should ease up. You just have to keep the pedal to the medal.”

Polson 5, Florence 4

Polson found themselves trailing 4-0 to Florence, one of the top-ranked teams in Class B-C, at the conclusion of the top of the second inning.

The Lady Eagles were able to produce runs off of unforced errors. The Lady Pirates were able to surge back in the top of the 7th when Hannah Fryberger’s single to center began the rally. After a Fyant fly out to center, the Pirates started to get on base again. After Camas Renault walked and Kaylanna DesJarlais RBI singled to center scored Fryberger. This was followed by Motichka’s single set up. Breyland McColl had a game-winning single that scored Jerrica McCrea, who was pinch running for Renault and DesJarlais to win the game.

“This is a good thing that our team never really quite gave up and we always kept fighting,” Smith said. “Even if you are ten runs down or ten runs up, you have to continue to fight and don’t panic. ‘It’s never over till’ it’s over’ as Yogi Berra used to say.”

Smith said he felt his team exemplified the characteristics necessary to be in the conversation of a championship team.

“This is especially true when you get into the state tournament and everyone there is good,” Smith said. “Showing resilience is a real key factor and it is being able to come up down the home stretch and to have the ability to come back from controversial plays. When you make a mistake, it is how you react afterwards. positivity is the key to being a winner.”

The following are statistics complied on the Lady Pirates’ tournament at the Frenchtown Invite:

Polson 5, Florence 4

Polson (9-5), Florence (11-2)

Florence 040 000 0 – 4 9 1

Polson 000 030 2 – 5 13 2

Brianna Hoffman and Natalie Dulac; Haley Fyant, Camas Renault (4) and Benson. W – Renault (1-0). L – Hoffman. Pitching: Fyant (3K,7H,3W,1HB,2A), Renault (2K,2H,2PO,1A)

FLORENCE – Shannon Byrne 2-4, Dulac 2-4, Chloe Arthur 1-4, Shay Waldbillig 1-3, Hoffman 0-2, Rilee Mangun 1-4, Kali Leibenguth 1-3, Brooklyn Little *0-4(E), Emily Kinnaman 1-3.

POLSON — Smith *2-3, Bitterman 1-4, Fryberger 2-4, Fyant 1-3, Benson 2-4, Renault 0-2, DesJarlais 1-4, Motichka 3-4, Paige Noyes 0-1, Breyland McColl 1-3.

2B – Kinnaman; Fyant; RBIs – Byrne 2, Kinnaman; Benson, Desjarlais, McColl. SacB – Smith. SB – Smith (19th), Fryberger, Motichka. BB – Fyant, Renault 2. DP – P1. (Sa29Apr17gm2)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where sideline stat specs differ from coverage reported to media: GC=F8h4e/P8h3e (Smith 4ab, Bitterman 0h, Fryberger 1h, Fyant 1rbi (solo hit led off inning), Benson 0h, McColl 0h; Little 1h).

Polson 8, Butte Central 4

Lady Pirate defense shined by turning a trio of double plays and a pickoff at home plate which snuffed an attempt by Thatcher to score from third. Polson (8-5)

Polson 100 310 3 – 8 *22 0

Butte Central 000 000 4 – 4 *12 3

Haley Fyant, Camas Renault (6), Fyant (7) and Ashley Benson. Kloie Thatcher, Makala Doherty (2) and Megan Michelotti. W – Fyant (8-5). L – Thatcher. Pitching specs: Fyant (2K,11H,6W,1HB), Renault (1K,1H,1W)

POLSON – Kaelyn Smith 3-5, Laurel Bitterman 3-5, Hannah Fryberger *3-5, Fyant 3-4, Benson *3-4, Camas Renault *3-4, Breyland McColl 0-1, Kaylanna DesJarlias 1-4, Quinn Motichka 2-4, Lisa Costilla 0-2, Natasha Gravelle 0-1, (flex) Paige Noyes.

BUTTE CENTRAL – Thatcher 3-3, Michelotti 1-3, Emma Keely 1-3, Mollie Peoples 0-2, Taylor Wahl 1-3, Kassidy Criscuolo 0-2, Brooke Raiha 3-4, Cassidy Strizic *2-4, M.Doherty 1-4, (flex) Zoe Doherty.

2B – Bitterman, Fyant 2, Renault; Thatcher 2, Michelotti, Keely. RBIs – Bitterman, Fryberger, Fyant 2, Benson *3, Renault; Wahl, Criscuolo, Raiha, Strizic. SacF – Benson. SacB – Costilla. SB – Smith 5, Bitterman. BB – Fyant; Thatcher, Michelotti, Keeley, Peoples 2, Wahl. DP – P3. (Sa29Apr17gm1)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where sideline stat specs vary from BC rendition: P17h/BC11h (Fryberger 2h0rbi, Fyant 3rbi, Benson 2ab-1h2rbi, Renault 2h; Strizic 2ab1h).

Polson 4, Hamilton 3

Hannah Fryberger blasted a solo home run in the top of the seventh to break a three apiece deadlock as the Lady Pirates extracted revenge for their one run loss the preceding encounter.

Polson 200 001 1 – 4 *8 2

Hamilton 102 000 0 – 3 6 1

Haley Fyant (1K,3W,1HB) and Ashley Benson. Sky Lopez and Kelsie Meis. W – Fyant (7-5). L – Lopez.

POLSON – Kaelyn Smith 0-4, Laurel Bitterman 1-4, Hannah Fryberger 1-4, Fyant 1-3, Benson *1-3, Breyland McColl 0-2, Camas Renault 1-1, Quinn Motichka 1-3, Kaylanna DesJarlais 2-3, Paige Noyes 0-3.

HAMILTON – Sophia Doyle 0-4, Caitlin Dillon 1-3, Rachael Ringer 1-3, Mallory McGill 1-4, Rachel Richardson 0-3, Meis 2-3, Tessa Silva 1-4, Hayley Hudgins 0-3, Lopez 0-1.

HR – Fryberger. 2B – *Fyant; Dillon. RBIs – Fryberger, Fyant, Benson; McGill, *Meis, Silva. SB – (cr) Jerrica McCrea. SacB – Lopez. BB – Ringer, Richardson, Meis. HB – Lopez. (Fr28Apr17)

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where sideline stat specs differ from media coverage: P7h, Bitterman (2B), Benson 0h.