Lady Pirates build momentum after winning three-straight

The Polson High School Lady Pirates’ softball team faced a critical time this week after they uncharacteristically fell to Hamilton 20-1 in one of the worst defeats in recent Polson softball history.

This week, the Lady Pirates’ competition wasn’t necessarily conducive towards building the team’s confidence as they prepared to play Ronan, Browning, and Libby. Two of those three conference games could have easily become losses, and against the Maidens it almost did.

Polson narrowly escaped a hard-hitting Ronan team that Lady Pirates’ coach Larry Smith gives credit for “never quitting.”

Lady Pirate Paige Noyes ended the conversation of a Maidens’ upset when she singled in her third RBI of the game in order to ice the game in the top of the 7th inning. Polson won the game 11-10 Tuesday afternoon at Ronan High School, but it wasn’t easy and that is the way coach Smith said he likes it.

Polson ended Ronan’s extra-innings threat by playing solid defense, according to Smith.

The Lady Pirates were able to start the first three innings of play with a 6-0 advantage, and Smith said the early lead generated overconfidence in his team.

“We played flat and maybe we were a little overconfident,” Smith said. “Our offense was OK and we were able to garner several hits and take the game away on the defensive side of the game. The last couple of innings in that game, we were just spectacular and our defense kept them from winning the game in extra innings because they were threatening. We came away with some spectacular double plays.”

The Pirates, who are experiencing their first year having Ronan in their division after losing to Frenchtown and Hamilton, said he is “happy” the Maidens look to provide some competition for his top-notch team this year and in the future.

“I am glad to be able to see everyone compatible that makes the league and everyone much stronger,” Smith said. “That was my big concern when Frenchtown left as far as competing that (our conference) wouldn’t be as competitive (as in years past).”

Smith credits coach Manyhides for developing the Maidens team into being formidable since she began the program.

“She learned how to win and knows how to win, and her players have picked up on that,” Smith said. “I coached against her when she was a player at Frenchtown. She was always tenacious and a tough out as far as a batter. She was a tough kid on defense and she has brought that attitude to the Ronan girls and that has really helped. She has helped them throughout the season and there is just a toughness about her that is really rubbing off on her players.”

The next game for Polson wasn’t the challenge the Maidens presented. Though Polson defeated Browning 30-1, it was beneficial for both teams.

Polson got a chance to develop confidence in their hitters from top-to-bottom and Browning got a chance to get some valuable field time, something they haven’t had because of the weather.

Smith said he isn’t reading into the 29-run victory over the Lady Indians.

“I still have to hand it them, (the score) isn’t indicative of the type of players they are,” Smith said. “We’ve played them so many times in the past and they’ve been really competitive. They’ve had some great players and good pitcher-catcher combinations. Our players got their bats swinging positively and one of those games we got multiple homers by different people. Everyone up and down the order was just hitting the ball (against Browning).”

The Pirates were able to sustain their momentum with their second consecutive victory over Libby. The Lady Pirates defeated Libby 5-1 Thursday afternoon at Libby High School.

Libby, who was the perennial favorite to win the conference by several early-season prognosticators in the media, has now lost two consecutive conference games to the Lady Pirates.

Smith said he agrees with the media, coaches and many experts that pegged the Lady Loggers in the first place. Even after their 5-1 victory, Smith said Libby was predicted correctly.

“Our girls went up to Libby and beat a good team,” Smith said. “Libby is a very, very good team and they have one of the best pitchers in the conference. The Loggers didn’t get a bunch of hits and their pitcher didn’t strike us out. Our batters really built a lot of confidence from that Browning game and carried it over against Libby.”

The Lady Pirates will head to the Frenchtown Tournament on April 27 and are currently slated to play Fergus and Hamilton in the tournament. Smith said he felt his team has a lot of confidence headed into the tournament.

“I think our willingness to trust one another, our team has really played well together, the young players are blending in well with the older players, we have some really great leaders and it has really shown,” Smith said. “Our team is communicating a lot more and we are building confidence in one another. They know if they get the job done, they have back up. Our pitcher Vanessa Kent allowed only six hits and to a team like that, it is a really positive thing and a really big confidence booster.”