Gold within grasp for Polson softball
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ANACONDA — The Polson Lady Pirate softball team was ready to end things at the State A tournament Saturday in Anaconda, but even the best-laid plans don’t always work out. Rainy, snowy conditions led the Montana High School Association to delay the conclusion of the tournament until Monday, when Polson was slated to face comeback kids the Belgrade Lady Panthers at 2 p.m. Results of the contest were not available by press time, but Polson head coach Larry Smith was confident his girls would end Monday as state champions for the third year in a row. After trouncing Hamilton 25-3 on Friday, the Lady Pirates faced Southwestern A rival Frenchtown in an undefeated match that proved to be just as exciting as predicted, with Polson taking charge in a seven-run fourth inning and eventually winning 9-2.
“It kind of sent the message that the Lady Pirates are here,” Smith said of the victory. “Now all we gotta do is take care of business, if they ever let us play.”
If Belgrade has anything to say about it, taking care of business won’t be that easy for Polson. The Lady Panthers clawed their way back from the losers’ bracket, winning four straight games and ending Frenchtown’s and Columbia Falls’ seasons, to challenge Polson for the title. The Lady Pirates have to win just one game over Belgrade to take the crown, but Belgrade would have to beat Polson twice to be named the winner.
Against Hamilton Friday, Martina Marquardt led the Lady Pirates’ charge with a triple, a home run and seven RBIs. Polson led 17-3 after just two innings, and the game was called after five innings because of the 10-run margin rule. Ashley Johnson had three hits and drove in two runs, and pitcher Shalaina Duford went 2 for 2 and drove in two more runs. Teammates Heidi Rausch, Jessica Bagnell and Colleen Jacobson all had two RBIs.
The following day, Polson sent Frenchtown to the losers’ bracket, driving in seven runs in the fourth inning and holding the Lady Broncs scoreless the rest of the game. Riley Kenney went 3 for 4, while Johnson and Duford had two hits each.
This was the first season in years where Polson had to worry about securing a spot at State, Smith noted, and the extra challenge of being down after struggling early in the season was a good test for the Lady Pirates.
“I think it made them that much stronger,” Smith said.
State A tournament
Polson 9, Frenchtown 2
Undefeated game
Frenchtown 002 000 0 – 2 7 1
Polson 200 700 x – 9 10 1
Abby Indreland and Madison McGuire. Shalaina DuFord and Jaylin Kenney. W – Duford. L – Indreland (15-2).
POLSON – Ashley Johnson 2-4, Riley Kenney 3-4, DuFord 2-4, Heidi Rausch 0-2, J. Kenney 1-4, Martina Marquardt 0-3, Jessica Bagnell 0-2, Makaliah Wilson 1-3, Jaiden Toth 1-3.
Polson 25, Hamilton 3
Winners’ bracket
Hamilton 3 0 0 00 – 3 4 4
Polson 6(11)4 4x – 25 16 0
Rebecka Hood, Kaytlyn Menk (1), Hood (2) and Candice Dunagan. Shalaina Duford and Jaylin Kenney. W – Duford. L – Hood.
POLSON – Ashley Johnson 3-4, Riley Kenney 1-4, Duford 2-2, Heidi Rausch 2-2, J. Kenney 1-3, Martina Marquardt 3-4, Jessica Bagnell 2-5, Makaliah Wilson 2-2, Colleen Jacobson 0-3. 2B – Dunagan, Goligoski, R. Kenney. 3B – Rausch, Marquardt. HR – Marquardt, Duford. RBIs – Dunagan 2, Goligoski, Johnson 2, R. Kenney, Duford 2, Rausch 2, J. Kenney, Marquradt 7, Bagnell 2, Wilson, Jacobson 2.
