Maidens, Lady Pirates battle foes in weekend tourney
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FRENCHTOWN – The Polson Lady Pirates and Ronan Maidens softball teams were both on the road this weekend during the two-day Frenchtown Invitational softball tournament.
The Lady Pirates and Maidens opened the first day of the tournament on Friday with losses. The Lady Pirates fell to Belgrade 5-4, while the Maidens fell 4-0 to Loyola.
In the second game of the day, Polson recovered from their loss with a 12-2 win over Butte Central, however, Ronan wasn’t as fortunate, falling 10-6 to Anaconda.
Against Belgrade, Lady Pirates Paige Noyes and Lauren Vergeront each had two RBIs. Noyes also had three hits, while Vergeront had a home run.
In the late game Friday, six Lady Pirate batters had two hits or more each. Vergeront had four hits, and Josie Caye had a home run and a double.
On Friday, Loyola held the Maiden batters to just one hit by Madison Miller, while in the nightcap game Kiara Sherman blasted a home run for the Maidens. Julia Daley, Macao Jackson and Emilie Corley each had a double.
The Maidens and Lady Pirates went 2-0 against their tournament opponents on Saturday, cruising to mercy-rule victories in the morning games. Ronan defeated Dillon in two-and-a-half innings 20-3, while Polson downed Browning 20-2 in three innings. For the Maidens, Jackson was the winning pitcher in two innings allowing three hits, three strikeouts and a walk. Jackson also paced the Maidens at the plate going three-for-four with a double, a home run and four RBIs. Ellie Thiel was the winning pitcher for the Lady Pirates, giving up two runs on two hits, striking out two and walking one. At the dish, Caye led Polson going four-for-four with an RBI, while fellow Lady Pirate Cali Cannon had a good day at the plate going three-for-four with four RBIs.
In the nightcap, Polson defeated Florence 14-5, and Ronan slipped past Butte Central 12-9. In the pitcher’s circle, Vergeront went the distance for the Lady Pirates allowing five runs on seven hits, while walking and striking out four. Batters Kobbey Smith and Lexi Orien hit home runs for the Lady Pirates.
“I felt that the Frenchtown Tournament went very well and that the team all contributed and picked each other up,” said Polson Lady Pirate head coach Jami Hanson. “Despite losing to Belgrade 5-4 on the nightcap Friday, I think it showed the girls what they are capable of and truly just how good we are.”
The game took a 10-run rally in the bottom of the seventh and the Maidens pulled off the Friday evening victory over Butte Central.
Maiden pitcher Jackson picked up a win going the full seven innings and striking out seven. For Ronan at the plate, Corley and Madison Clairmont both hit home runs, while Jackson and Ragan Clairmont each hit triples and Miller had a double.
