Polson Softball stays hot during busy stretch

The Polson Lady Pirates continued their strong season over the past week, navigating a busy slate of games with a 5-2 record and improving to 11-2 overall. Along the way, senior slugger Olivia Jore etched her name deeper into the program's record books by tying for fourth on the PHS all-time home run list.

Polson opened the stretch with a commanding 15-0 win over Whitefish on Monday, April 21. The Lady Pirates made quick work of the visiting Bulldogs, scoring six runs in each of the first two innings and adding three more in the third to end the game by mercy rule. Abby Sanford, Jaycee Haggard, and Kendyl Jaeger each contributed hits, with Haggard and Jaeger driving in multiple runs. Madison Turner was dominant in the circle, striking out six in two innings of work before Sanford closed it out.

The following day, Polson hosted Frenchtown in a highly anticipated matchup but came up short, falling 7-2. After falling behind 2-0, the Lady Pirates managed to plate a run in the third, but a big five-run fifth inning by the Broncs put the game out of reach. Liz Cunningham paced the offense with a 2-for-4 day at the plate, and Sam Rensvold added two hits and a double. Rensvold also pitched, striking out three in the effort.

Polson quickly bounced back at the Frenchtown Invitational, starting Friday with an exciting 6-5 walk-off win over Havre. The Lady Pirates found themselves trailing 5-1 midway through the contest but mounted a rally, scoring one in the fourth, one in the fifth, and three in the sixth to complete the comeback. Jore provided the biggest spark, launching a two-run home run—her fifth of the season—to help fuel the surge. Cunningham was clutch as well, going 3-for-4 with a double. Rensvold and Emma Smith each added two hits, and Maddy Turner earned the win in relief.

Later that day, the Lady Pirates overwhelmed Billings Central, rolling to a 12-2 win in five innings. Polson’s bats were red-hot from the start, with Jore leading the way by going 3-for-4 with three RBIs, including a double. Sierra Perez collected three hits and drove in two runs, while Nash, Rushing, and Nichols each added RBIs in a balanced offensive attack. Rensvold tossed a complete game, striking out seven and limiting Billings Central to five hits.

Saturday saw Polson continue its dominant tournament run with a 16-0 rout of Laurel. The Lady Pirates exploded offensively, racking up 10 hits, half of which were doubles. Kendyl Jaeger went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI, while Jore stayed hot with two more hits, including another double. JJ Pierre added two hits and two RBIs, and Madison Turner chipped in with a pair of runs batted in as well.

In the circle, Rensvold and Turner combined for a one-hit shutout, striking out eight between them and not allowing a walk.

The victory also marked a historic milestone for Jore, who's double and home run during the weekend tied her for fourth on Polson's all-time home run list alongside Lexie Orien (2018-21) with 18 career bombs.

However, the tournament finale didn’t go Polson’s way, as the Lady Pirates fell 8-4 to Dillon. Despite grabbing an early 2-0 lead, Polson couldn’t hold off Dillon's offense, which scored in four consecutive innings. Jore continued her torrid pace with another home run—her sixth of the season—and drove in two runs. Nash added an RBI single, but defensive errors proved costly as Polson committed seven miscues in the field.

Rensvold struck out 11 in 5 and 2/3 innings but took the hard-luck loss after being let down by the defense. Turner finished the game in relief.

Despite the defeat, Polson’s performance across the tournament showed their potential as a high-powered offensive team capable of taking over games quickly. Jore’s record-tying weekend and consistent hitting from Cunningham, Nash, Perez, and Pierre highlighted the Lady Pirates’ deep lineup.

In the circle, Rensvold and Turner continued to provide a strong one-two punch, keeping Polson competitive in every contest.

Now at 11-2 overall, the Lady Pirates return home with momentum as they eye the final stretch of the regular season, and a potential postseason run. 

Saturday, April 26

At Frenchtown

DILLON 8, POLSON 4

Polson - 2000002 - 4 - 5 - 7

Dillon - 200123x - 8 - 6 - 5

POLSON HITTING: Rensvold 0-4, Olivia Jore 1-4, Liz Cunningham 0-4, Opal Nash 1-3, Emma Smith 1-3, Sierra Perez 1-3, JJ Pierre 0-2, Kendyl Jaeger 0-1, Ahri Rushing 1-3, Jaja Nichols 0-3; RBI: Jore 2, Nash 2; HR: Jore

POLSON PITCHING: Samantha Rensvold (5 and 2/3IP, 11K, 5H, 2BB), Maddy Turner (1/3IP, 0K, 1H, 0BB)

At Frenchtown

POLSON 16, LAUREL 0

Polson - 14353 - 16 - 10 - 1

Laurel - 00000 - 0 - 1 - 7

POLSON HITTING: Sam Rensvold 0-2, Aaliyah Adams 1-2, Olivia Jore 2-4, Liz Cunningham 0-2, Peyton Wirz 0-1, Opal Nash 0-1, Jorunn Johnston 1-2, Emma Smith 0-1, Madison Turner 1-2, Sierra Perez 0-2, JJ Pierre 2-3, Ahri Rushing 0-1, Kendyl Jaeger 2-2, Jaja Nichols 0-1, Logan McCrea 1-1. RBI: Rensvold, Adams, Jore, Turner 2, Perez 2, Pierre 2, Jaeger, Rushing; 2B: Pierre 2, Jore, Jaeger, Adams

POLSON PITCHING: Sam Rensvold (2IP, 3K, 0H, 0BB), Maddy Turner (3IP, 5K, 1H, 0BB) 

Friday, April 25

At Frenchtown

POLSON 6, HAVRE 5

Havre - 005000 - 5 - 11 - 5

Polson - 001014 - 6 - 11 - 1

POLSON HITTING: Sam Rensvold 2-4, Olivia Jore 2-4, Liz Cunningham 3-4, Opal Nash 1-4, Emma Smith 2-4, Sierra Perez 0-3, JJ Pierre 0-1, Ahri Rushing 1-3, Jaja Nichols 0-3; RBI: Rensvold, Jore 2, Nash, Smith; 2B: Cunningham; HR: Jore

POLSON PITCHING: Sam Rensvold (2 and 2/3IP, 4K, 5H, 1BB), Maddy Turner (3 and 1/3IP, 1K, 6H, 1BB)

At Frenchtown

POLSON 12, BILLINGS CENTRAL 2

Polson - 23160 - 12 - 16 - 1

Billings Central - 20000 - 2 - 5 - 1

POLSON HITTING: Sam Rensvold 2-4, Olivia Jore 3-4, Liz Cunningham 2-4, Opal Nash 2-3, Emma Smith 1-2, Sierra Perez 3-4, Aaliyah Adams 0-2, JJ Pierre 1-1, Ahri Rushing 1-2, Jaja Nichols 1-2; RBI: Rensvold, Jore 3, Nash 2, Perez 2, Pierre, Rushing, Nichols 2; 2B: Jore

POLSON PITCHING: Sam Rensvold (5IP, 7K, 5H, 1BB)

Tuesday, April 22

At Polson

FRENCHTOWN 7, POLSON 2

Fr-town - 0025000 - 7 - 5 - 2

Polson - 0010010 - 2 - 4 - 8

POLSON HITTING: Sam Rensvold 2-3, Olivia Jore 0-4, Liz Cunningham 2-4, Opal Nash 0-3, Emma Smith 0-3, Sierra Perez 0-2, Aaliyah Adams 0-3, Ahri Rushing 0-3, Jaja Nichols 0-1; RBI: RBI: Perez; 2B: Rensvold

POLSON PITCHING: Sam Rensvold (3K, 5H, 2BB)

Monday, April 21

At Polson

POLSON 15, WHITEFISH 0

Whitefish - 000 - 0 - 1 - 6

Polson - 663 - 15 - 3 - 0

POLSON HITTING: Abby Sanford 1-1, Jorunn Johnston 0-2, Jaycee Haggard 1-1, Aleysia Black 0-1, Graci Hammer 0-1, Peyton Wirz 0-1, Logan McCrea 0-1, Kendyl Jaeger 1-1, Mckenna Corley 0-1; RBI: Sanford, Jaliyah Pierre, Haggard 2, Hammer, Wirz, Jaeger 2, Alyssa Thoft, Anniston Flynn, Corley

POLSON PITCHING: Madison Turner (2 IP, 1H, 0R, 6SO), A Sanford (1IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 2SO)     Polson senior Sierra Perez bunts in a game against Corvallis. (Bob Gunderson photo)