Softball Roundup: Lady Pirates walk it off against Wolfpack

At Larry Smith Field in Polson, the visiting Kalispell-based Lady Wolfpack of Glacier and the host Lady Pirates engaged in a classic cross classification clash that would force an extra frame to decide its outcome.

The Lady Pirates struck early in their half of the first frame when a pair of doubles sandwiched an outfield error to plate two. Polson added another run on a RBI single by Mckenna Hanson to stake the Lady Pirates to a 3-0 advantage after four.

Hurler Katelyne Druyvestein was in vintage form having already delved into double digits for strikeouts after five innings.

The visiting Lady Wolfpack would succeed in erasing the deficit as they scored thrice in the top half of the sixth. Three singles by Alli Kernan, pinch hitter Paishance Haller and Emma Cooke would collude with a pair of trajectory malfunctions by the pitching battery to erase the deficit and knot the contest at three apiece.

Miffed at the prospect of having a carefully crafted cushion evaporate, Druyvestein went back to work, striking out the next two batters to close out the sixth, then fanned all three the top half of the seventh.

The Lady Pirates were poised to retake the lead when they loaded the bases in the bottom half of the sixth with nobody out, applying a vintage dose of well executed small ball. But Glacier would dodge any detriment from their dilemma without incurring damage as they snuffed the lead runner at the plate for the first out, followed by relief pitcher Ella Farrell inducing a pair of infield outs with a pop-up and lineout. After a quiet seventh, the contest would head into an extra frame.

In the top half of the eighth, Glacier advanced a runner into scoring position after a walk followed by a two out single by Emma Cooke. But Druyvestein would quash the potential rally by inducing an infield groundout.

With two outs in the bottom half of the eighth, the Lady Pirates would conjure their chance from the ethers of the unexpected when Nikki Kendall reached base after beating out a dropped third strike. Cleanup batter Turquoise Pierre would then lace a liner into the outfield, where it carried just enough to carom off the tip of the fielder's glove. The play at the plate would arrive just a tad tardy as Kendall plated for the walkoff win.

Druyvestein's 16 strikeouts matched her other stellar mid-teen performance stemming from the State A undefeated semifinal 1-0 squeaker over Laurel last season. According to veteran coach emeritus Larry Smith, Druyvestein has etched a place among the pinnacle of Pirate pitching performances, matching the feats of yesteryear standout hurlers Jaime Richards in the early 90's and Bridget Johnson early after Y2K, who each threw 16 strikeouts in regulation contests.

The win was the seventh among the history of the series between Polson and Glacier in which the Lady Pirates have prevailed, this one being the closest affair as well as the first to extend extra innings.

At Ronan, the visiting WildKats capitalized on a barrage of extra base hits accelerated by a dose of Mother Nature further compounded by fielding foibles to capture a crucial conference confrontation in Northwest A action. Demye Rensel and Abbie Darsow collaborated on five home runs that accounted for eight RBIs between them. The Maidens countered with a home run of their own by starting hurler Kiara Sherman along with a handful of other extra base hits from Kaydance Santos, Kaleigh Benson and Ally Luedke. But Ronan's run generating value would not be enough to offset the Columbia Falls cumulative barrage.

Trailing 9-2 entering the bottom half of the fifth, the host Maidens sent their entire lineup to the plate, scoring four to close the gap within striking range. With two out, a walk and bean ball placed two runners aboard as the Maidens brought the tying run to the plate. But a dropped third strike throwout would end the inning without shrinking the deficit further..

Thereafter, the Kats erupted for seven runs that included four-baggers by Darsow and Rensel that would put the game out of reach.

Meanwhile, the Mission-Arlee-Charlo Lady Bulldogs had a disappointing trip to the UM field in Missoula on May 3, when the lost 12-1 to Florence-Carlton in a showdown of top B/C state contenders.

MAC bounced back with convincing wins over Plains, 16-1, Troy, 15-0 and Thompson Falls, 15-1.

Polson 24, Browning 2

Polson 7(11)6 – 24 13 2

Browning 2( 0 )0 – 2 3 7

Susan Connelly, (3) Brooke Blue and Natalee St.Goddard. Turquoise Pierre (3IP:5K,2W) and Mckenna Hanson. W – T.Pierre (1-0). L – S.Connelly.

POLSON – Nikki Kendall 1-2, Hanson 3-3, T.Pierre 2-3, Carli Maley 0-1, Avery Starr 2-3, Kailey Smith 1-1,Ashlynn Depoe 1-2, Ansley Nordberg 0-0, Jaivin BadBear 1-1, Tyneesha Brown 1-1, Anna Vert 1-2, Lexi Johnson 0-1, Julia Barnard, 0-1.

BROWNING – Kaytins Evans 0-2, St.Goddard 1-2, Madison Augare 1-1, Emily Williams 1-2, T.Upham 0-2, S.Connelly 0-1, Jennika Marceau 0-1, Joslyn Grinsell 0-1, Bella Kipling 0-1, Whitley Bird 0-1.

HR – Hanson, T.Pierre. 3B – Hanson 2. RBIs – Kendall, Hanson 5, T.Pierre 4, Starr 3, Depoe 2, BadBear, Brown, Vert 2, Johnson; Williams, S.Connelly. SF – Depoe. BB – Johnson, T.Pierre, BadBear, Vert, Nordberg, Hanson, Brown, Kendall 2, Maley; Augare. HB – Maley 2. ROE – Kendall, T.Pierre, Starr, Depoe, Vert; Upham, St.Goddard. SB – T.Pierre, BadBear. Runs – Kendall 3, Hanson 4, T.Pierre 2, Maley 4, Starr 3, Depoe, BadBear 2, Brown 2, Vert 2, Barnard; St.Goddard, Augare.

Polson 4, Glacier 3 (8 inn.)

Glacier 000 003 00 – 3 4 4

Polson 200 100 01 – 4 7 2

Katelyne Druyvestein (16K,2W,1HB) and Mckenna Hanson. Alli Kernan (1K,4H,3W), (4) Ella Farrell (4⅔IP:6K,3H,3W) and Brooklyn Imperato. W – Druyvestein (10-3), Farrell.

KALISPELL GLACIER – Kenadie Goudette 0-2, Paishance Haller 1-1, Sammie Labrum 0-2, Emma Cooke 2-4, Farrell 0-4, Nakiah Persinger 0-3, Imperato 0-3, Avery Anderson 0-3, Teagan Powell 0-3, Kernan 1-3, (flex) Mady Osler, (cr) Bella Hodous.

POLSON – Druyvestein 1-3, Hanson 1-4, Nikki Kendall 0-5, T.Pierre 1-4, Carli Maley 1-4, Avery Starr 1-2, Caitlyn Ward 0-2, Jaivin BadBear 1-3, Anna Vert 1-3, (flex) Ashlynn Depoe, (cr) Julia Barnard, Tyneesha Brown.

2B – Druyvestein, T.Pierre. RBIs – Cooke; Hanson, Kendall, T.Pierre 2. SH – Vert, Ward 2, Druyvestein, Hanson. BB – Labrum, Haller; Druyvestein, BadBear,T.Pierre 2, Starr 2. HB – Labrum. ROE – Persinger; Kendall, T.Pierre. FC – Farrell, Powell; Kendall. D3K – Kendall. Runs – Kernan, Hodous, Cooke; Druyvestein, Kendall 2, BadBear.

Columbia Falls 16, Ronan 6

C-Falls 330 037 – 16 17 2

Ronan 101 040 – 6 8 7

Kiara Sherman (5.2 IP:2K,1W), (6) Tyariah Morigeau (0.1 IP) and Harlee Stokes. Maddie Moultray (7K,2W) and Demye Rensel. W – Moultray. L – Sherman. (6-6).

COLUMBIA FALLS – Syd Mann 1-5, Haylee Lawrence 3-5, Moultray 0-4, Aspen Dawson 1-4, Haden Peters 2-4, Alethia Fisher 2-3, Abbie Darsow 3-4, Kyrah Trenkle 1-3, Maddy Collins 1-1, Rensel 3-4, (flex) Sophie Robbins, (cr): Addy Bowler, Taylor Lingle.

RONAN – Kaydance Santos 1-2, Kaleigh Benson 2-4, LouRasia Weatherwax 0-3, Sherman 2-3, Ashlie Welker 1-3, Stokes 0-1, Haylie Webster 0-2, Mira Corum 0-3, Ally Luedtke 2-3, (cr) Tyariah Morigeau.

HR – Rensel 3, Dawson 2; Sherman. 3B – Santos. 2B – Dawson, Fisher, Peters; Benson, Luedtke. RBIs – Dawson, Peters, Fisher, Darsow 3, Rensel 5; Santos, Benson, Sherman 3. SF – Fisher. SH – Santos, Weatherwax. BB – Moultray; Stokes 2. HB – Santos, H.Webster. ROE – Dawson, Lawrence 2, Moultray 2. FC – Fisher, Moultray. Runs – Mann, Lawrence 3, Lingle, Dawson 2, Bowler, Fisher, Darsow 2, Trenkle, Collins, Rensel 3; Santos 2, Benson, Sherman, Luedtke 2. DP – CF1(b3:go6-3-5), R1(t2:fo8-6-5). (Th05May22)

Stat source variations - CF(19H2E vs 17H5E), R(7H8E vs 5H7E): Lawrence (H vs roE), Moultray (t2:H vs roE), Fisher(3H vs 2H: t3H vs FC; t6fo vs SF), Trenkle (2B vs 1B+ot); Santos (b3: go vs SH; b5:0HroE vs 2B+E/3B+E), Benson (2H-b5:1B vs E4t), Sherman (2H-b1:H vs roE), Welker (b4:roE vs H).

Mission-Arlee-Charlo 16, Plains 1

Plains-HS 000 1 – 1 2 5

Mssn-A-C 527 2 – 16 14 1

Izzy Evans (7K,1W,1HB) and Katelyn Young. Celsey VonHeeder (2.1 IP:1K0W,3HB), () Mady Blood (0.2 IP:1H,2W) and Izzy Crabb. W – Evans (9-2). L – VonHeeder.

PLAINS – Izzy Butcher 0-1, Kaylah Standeford 1-2, Mady Blood 0-2, Madison Elliott 1-1, Crabb 0-2, VonHeeder 0-2, Kassidy O'Keefe 0-1, Faith McGonagle 0-1, Teirainy Bellinger 0-1.

MISSION-ARLEE-CHARLO – Jerny Crawford 1-2, Hayleigh Smith 1-4, Payton Smith 3-3, Evans 2-3, Rheid Crawford 3-3, Young 2-3, Bennan Andersen 0-3, Gabby Smith 1-2, Lettie Umphrey 1-2, (cr) Amelia Cronk.

2B – R.Crawford, Young, G.Smith. RBIs – Elliott; P.Smith, Evans 3, R.Crawford, Young 3, G.Smith, L.Umphrey. BB – Butcher; J.Crawford, P.Smith. HB – Elliott. SB – Elliott, Crabb, Standeford; J.Crawford 2, H.Smith 2. CS – Elliott, Butcher. Runs – Standeford; J.Crawford 3, H.Smith 3, P.Smith 2, Evans 3, R.Crawford 3, Young, L.Umphrey.

Mission-Arlee-Charlo 15, Troy 0

Troy 000 – 0 1 3

M-A-C 564 – 15 9 0

Izzy Evans (3K,3W) and Katelyn Young. Elaine Folkerts, (3) Audrianna Borgmann and Alexie Garcia. W – Evans (8-2). L – Folkerts.

TROY – Borgmann 0-1, Folkerts 0-2, Garcia 1-2, Alyssa Kelso 0-1, Jaylee Leighty 0-1, Leslie Gravier 0-1, Casey Kanzler 0-0, Lacey Gravier 0-1, Allie Carr 0-1.

MISSION-ARLEE-CHARLO – Jerny Crawford 1-2, Hayleigh Smith 1-2, Gabby Smith 0-2, Evans 2-3, Rheid Crawford 2-2, Young 0-1, Bennan Andersen 2-2, Lettie Umphrey 0-2, Cassidy Orr 1-2, (flex) Amelia Cronk Earnie Tapia-Torosian.

2B – Andersen 2, Evans, Orr. RBIs – H.Smith, Evans 2, R.Crawford, Andersen 4. BB – Brogmann, Le.Gravier, Kanzler; J.Crawford, H.Smith, R.Crawford, Young. HB – Young, G.Smith. SB – J.Crawford 5, R.Crawford 4, Evans 3, Young, G.Smith. CS – H.Smith, L.Umphrey. Runs – J.Crawford 3, H.Smith, G.Smith 3, Evans 2, R.Crawford 2, Young 2, Andersen, Orr. (Fr06May22)

Mission-Arlee-Charlo 15, Thompson Falls 1

Mssn-A-C 224 61 – 15 13 2

T-Falls 000 01 – 1 2 2

Liv McCormick (2.1 IP:5H,3W), (3) Olivia Fitchett (1.2 IP:1K,7H,1HB), (5) Teagan Saner (1H) and Sarah Koskela. Izzy Evans (3K,1W) and Katelyn Young. W – Evans (7-2).

MISSION-ARLEE-CHARLO – Jerny Crawford 2-4, Hayleigh Smith 1-3, Payton Smith 1-4, Evans 2-3, Rheid Crawford 2-4, Young 1-4, Bennan Andersen 2-4, Gabby Smith 2-3, Lettie Umphrey 0-1, Amelia Cronk 0-0.

THOMPSON FALLS/NOXON – Olivia Harnett 0-2, McCormick 0-2, Koskela 1-2, Cheyla Irvine 0-2, Fitchett 0-1, Abbi Lane 1-2, Cella VanHuss 0-2, Saner 0-2, Mackenzie Robinson 0-1.

HR – J.Crawford, Evans, R.Crawford, P.Smith. 3B – J.Crawford. 2B – G.Smith, Evans, Andersen; Koskela. RBIs – J.Crawford 5, H.Smith, P.Smith 2, Evans, R.Crawford 2, Young, Andersen 2, G.Smith 2. BB – H.Smith, Evans, L.Umphrey; Fitchett. HB – Cronk. SB – G.Smith, Young, R.Crawford. CS – Koskela. Runs – J.Crawford 2, H.Smith, P.Smith 2, Evans 2, R.Crawford, Young, Andersen 2, G.Smith 2, L.Umphrey, Cronk; Fitchett.

Florence 12, Mission-Arlee-Charlo 1

Mssn-A-C 001 00 – 1 4 4

Florence 103 44 – 12 9 1

Kylie Kovatch (6K) and Kasidy Yeoman. Izzy Evans (3.1 IP:3K,4H,2W), (4) Payton Smith (1.2 IP:4K,5H,0W,1HB) and Katelyn Young. W – Kovatch (13-1). L – Evans (6-2)

MISSION-ARLEE-CHARLO – J.Crawford 0-3, H.Smith 1-2, P.Smith 2-2, Evans 0-2, R.Crawford 1-2, Young 0-2, Anderson 0-2, G.Smith 0-2, L.Umphrey 0-1, Xaria Jacobson 0-1.

FLORENCE – K.Yeoman 3-3, Jaidyn Larson 2-3, Kolbi Wood 1-2, Kovatch 1-3, Rylee Yeoman 0-3, Ava Philbrick 0-3, Madi Potter 1-2, Olivia Couter 1-3, Autumn Sutton 0-2.

RBIs – K.Yeoman 2, Larson 3, Wood 2, Kovatch, Coulter. SF – Wood. BB – K.Yeoman, Sutton. HB – Potter. SB – Coulter, Wood. Runs – K.Yeoman 4, Larson, Wood, R.Yeoman, Potter 2, Coulter 2, Sutton. (Tu03May22)

Stat source variations - 406tsports(MAC:3H3E, F:11H): K.Yeoman (2rbi vs 3rbi), Larson (3rbi vs 2rbi), R.Yeoman (1H vs 0H), Coulter (2H vs 1H), Sutton (1ab vs 2ab).