Polson softball punches ticket to State

Polson is on its way to the state tournament in Billings after placing second at the Western A Divisional Tournament on Friday and Saturday, May 17-18, in Polson.

In the Western A Championship Game, Liz Cunningham went 4-for-4 for the Lady Pirates, but Columbia Falls came away with a 9-5 victory and the tournament trophy.

Columbia Falls had an 8-0 lead through two innings before Polson had a three-run rally of their own in the third. They wouldn’t score again until two runs in the seventh. The Lady Pirates had five hits, with McKenna Hansen collecting the only other hit.

Samantha Rensvold pitched the game's final five innings, striking out 10. Polson enters the state tournament as the West’s No. 2 seed with an 18-6 record.

The Lady Pirates smacked 10 hits and overcame five errors in a 12-4 win over Frenchtown in the Western A Divisional semifinal earlier on Saturday. McKenna Hanson went 3-for-4 in the game, swatting two home runs and driving in three runs.

Polson led 8-0 after three innings and never looked back. Olivia Jore also went 3-for-4 and had a home run and three RBI. Kailey Smith had two hits and two RBI as well.

Avery Starr started the game, striking out three and scattering four hits.

Polson made quick work of their Western A Divisional Tournament opening foe Hamilton, defeating the Lady Broncs 10-0 on Friday, May 7. Carli Maley had a home run, while Olivia Jore went 3-for-4 with two RBI.

Maley’s home run is her 21st career round-tripper, which ties her for second all-time in the Lady Pirates program.

Polson led 3-0 after two innings and scored three more runs in the fifth and another four in the sixth. Sam Rensvold was in the circle for Polson, striking out seven and allowing just two hits.

Hanson had a double, as did Emma Smith. Smith drove in two runs, while Liz Cunningham drove in three.

Polson: Saturday, May 18

Western A Divisional Championship

COLUMBIA FALLS 9, POLSON 5

Polson - 003 - 000 - 2 - 5 - 5 - 4

C-Falls - 440 - 100 - x - 9 - 10 - 2

POLSON PITCHING: Avery Starr (1IP:1K,3H,2HB), Sam Rensvold (5IP:10K,7H,1W)

POLSON HITTING: Mckenna Hanson 1-3, Rensvold 0-3, Maley 0-2, Olivia Jore 0-3, Avery Starr 0-4, Kailey Smith 0-4, Emma Smith 0-2, Liz Cunningham 4-4, Jaja Nichols 0-2, (cr) Opal Nash, (lf) Ahrianna Rushing. RBIs: Ka.Smith, Cunningham 3;

Western A Divisional Semifinal

POLSON 12, FRENCHTOWN 4

Polson - 026 - 102 - 1 - 12 - 10 - 5

Fr-town - 000 - 110 - 2 - 4 - 7 - 4

POLSON PITCHING: Avery Starr (4⅓IP:3K,4H,1W), (5) Sam Rensvold (2⅔IP:1K,3H,0W,1PO,1A)

POLSON HITTING: Mckenna Hanson 3-4, Rensvold 1-5, Maley 0-3, Olivia Jore 3-4, Starr 1-3, Kailey Smith 2-4, Sierra Perez 0-2, Emma Smith 0-3, Liz Cunningham 0-3, Jaja Nichols 0-4, (cr): Opal Nash, Madison Turner. RBIs: Hanson 3, Jore, Starr 3, Ka.Smith 2, E.Smith; HR: Hanson 2, Jore

Friday, May 17

POLSON 10, HAMILTON 0

Hamilton - 000 - 000 - 0 - 2 - 3

Polson - 210 - 034 - x - 10 - 11 - 2

POLSON PITCHING: Sam Rensvold (6IP:7K,2H,4W)

POLSON HITTING: Mckenna Hanson 1-3, Rensvold 1-4, Carli Maley 2-2, Olivia Jore 3-4, Avery Starr 1-3, Kailey Smith 0-4, Emma Smith 1-4, Liz Cunningham 1-3, Jaja Nichols 1-2, (cr) Opal Nash. RBI: Hanson, Maley, Jore 2, Starr, E Smith 2, Cunningham 3; HR– Maley. 3B– Cunningham. 2B– E.Smith, Hanson.

    Lady Pirate Mckenna Hanson launches another homer during the Class A Divisional Tournament, held last week in Polson. (Bob Gunderson photo)
  

    Polson's Liz Cunningham went 4-for-4 for the Lady Pirates in Saturday's Western A Championship game against Columbia Falls. (Bob Gunderson photo)