Polson Softball finishes third at State

Polson faced a familiar foe in the MHSA Class A State Championships semifinal game, dropping the matchup 10-8 to Northwest A rival Columbia Falls on Saturday, May 25, in Billings.

Mckenna Hanson went 3-for-3 with two home runs, but three runs in the bottom of the sixth put Columbia Falls up by a margin that couldn’t be overcome by Polson’s two-run rally in the top of the seventh.

Hanson drove in four runs in the matchup, while Carli Maley also homered and drove in two runs. Olivia Jore also had a hit that left the park.

It was Hanson’s 10th home run of the season and 21st of her career, which ties her for third place with Heidi Rausch in the Polson softball program. Maley’s home run was her 11th of the season and 24th of her career, placing her second all-time for the Lady Pirates.

Lady Pirate Avery Starr went six and two-thirds innings, striking out six in her final game of the season. Polson finished the year with a 21-8 record.

At Billings

Third Place Game: COLUMBIA FALLS 10, POLSON 8

Polson - 102 - 300 - 2 - 8 - 7 – 6

C-Falls - 401 - 113 - x - 10 - 10 – 1

POLSON PITCHING: Avery Starr (6 and 2/3 IP, 6K,7H,1W), Sam Rensvold (1/3 IP)

POLSON HITTING: Mckenna Hanson 3-3, Rensvold 0-4, Carli Maley 1-3, Olivia Jore 1-4, Avery Starr 0-2, Kailey Smith 0-3, Opal Nash 1-3, Liz Cunningham 0-3, Jaja Nichols 1-3, (cr) Sierra Perez, (lf) Ahrianna Rushing; RBI: Hanson 4, Maley 2, Jore 2; HR: Hanson 2, Maley, Jore

 Lady Pirates whack Laurel

Polson moved to within a game of the state championship matchup earlier Saturday with a 17-6 victory over Laurel.

The Lady Pirates’ bats, working their way up the consolation bracket, played hot, with Mckenna Hanson going 3-for-4, with a home run and three RBI. Olivia Jore, however, had the biggest hit, hitting a grand slam in the top of the fifth and finishing the game with four RBI. Carli Maley had a double, as did Liz Cunningham.

It was Jore’s 10th home run of the season.

POLSON 17, LAUREL 6

POLSON PITCHING: Sam Rensvold (1IP:0K,5H,1W), Avery Starr (6IP:0K,7H,2W) and Carli Maley.

POLSON – Mckenna Hanson 3-4, Rensvold 0-4, Carli Maley 1-5, Olivia Jore 2-5, Starr 0-4, Kailey Smith 2-5, Opal Nash 1-4, Liz Cunningham 1-3, Jaja Nichols 2-3, (cr): Sierra Perez, Madison Turner, (lf) Ahrianna Rushing. RBI: Hanson 3, Maley, Jore 4, Ka. Smith, Nash, Cunningham, Nichols; HR: Hanson, Jore; 2B: Maley, Cunningham

Polson sends Frenchtown packing

Avery Starr pitched six and two-thirds innings against Frenchtown during the Lady Pirates’ first Saturday game, scattering seven hits as Polson knocked the Lady Broncs out of the tournament with a 7-3 victory.

Polson poured it on early, scoring four runs in the first and then adding runs in the second, third, and sixth innings.

Starr helped her own cause by hitting two home runs and driving in four runs. Opal Nash also had a double, while Mckenna Hanson and Olivia Jore each drove in runs for the victory.

POLSON 7, FRENCHTOWN 3

F-Town - 000 - 100 - 2 - 3 - 7 - 1

Polson - 411 - 001 - x - 7 - 8 - 3

POLSON PITCHING: Avery Starr (6 and 2/3 IP:6K,7H,1W), Sam Rensvold (⅓IP)

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

Polson falls to Billings Central

Polson committed five errors in a 15-5 loss to Billings Central in the MHSA Class A Championships Quarterfinals on Friday, May 24.

Billings Central scored nine runs in the bottom of the second, which proved to be the pivotal frame in the otherwise closely played game.

Avery Starr pitched the final three innings of the game, striking out four while allowing just one earned run.

Mckenna Hanson and Carli Maley each hit a home run in the matchup, with Hanson finishing with three homers and Maley finishing with two. Polson had just four hits in the game, while Billings Central had 11.

BILLINGS CENTRAL 15, POLSON 5

Polson - 002 - 30 - 5 - 4 - 5

BilsCen - 092 - 04 - 15 - 11 - 2

POLSON PITCHING: Sam Rensvold, (1 and 2/3 innings pitched, 6 hits, 9 runs, 0 earned runs, 1 walk) Avery Starr (3 innings pitched, 7 hits, 6 runs, 1 earned run, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts)

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

Polson pummels Hamilton in opener

Polson started the MHSA State Class A Tournament with a 7-3 victory over Hamilton on Friday. The Lady Pirates collected 10 hits, while Polson's pitching held Hamilton to just three.

Polson got on the board quickly, using a four-run second inning to build a 6-0 lead through the first three innings. Carli Maley and Avery Starr each homered in the game. Maley finished with two RBI as did Kailey Smith.

Mckenna Hanson, Samantha Rensvold and Olivia Jore each had doubles in the matchup.

POLSON 7, HAMILTON 3

Hamilton - 000 - 120 - 0 - 3 - 3 - 0

Polson - 141 - 100 - x - 7 - 10 - 2

POLSON PITCHING: Avery Starr (6 and 2/3 innings pitched, 3 hits, 3 runs, 2 earned runs, 3 walks, 9 strikeouts), Sam Rensvold (1/3 innings pitched, 0 hits)

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

    Lady Pirate pitcher Avery Starr, shown here against Frenchtown in Divisionals, went six and two-thirds innings against Columbia Falls in the state semi-finals, striking out six in her final game of the season. (Bob Gunderson photo)