Article by John Heglie
The following article is a revision of a softball preseason preview that appeared partially in print (Lake County Leader (Th. 26 Mar 2009) B3,B4) and in its entirety as a Web Extra (@ www.leader advertiser.com) at the paper’s website on the internet. This version has been updated to reflect recent developments and incorporate observations that could be included. It is intended that this presentation will function as a type of introduction to familiarize fans with the current players on the roster of the Polson Lady Pirates as they compete in the 2009 Class A State Softball Tournament, and as a consequence, heighten viewing pleasure by providing glimpses through windows into each respective personality along with some of their contributions to the team.
2009 Western A Polson Lady Pirates
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| Head coach Larry Smith and coach Jan Rafter strategize about their next move from the dugout. |
Many anticipated that the preceding 2008 season would be a rebuilding year given the graduation of the “magnificent seven” seniors from the 2007 class A state champion squad. The Western A conference soon learned that the cupboard was hardly bare as the 2008 Lady Pirates (9-1 conf., 16-4 overall) once again captured another conference title, nipping rival Libby 6-4 on the final game of the regular season for the crown by the margin of a single run. After a first round bye at State and a 6-4 second round victory over Butte Central on the shoulders of an Amanda James grand slam, the Pirates found themselves engaged in a semifinal battle with Corvallis and their pitcher Kasie “with a K” (over 300 strikeouts for the season) Conder . With the game tied at two apiece in the sixth inning with only one out, Sarah Newton had managed to work her way into scoring position over at third. A laser was hit by James that would potentially plate Newton and score the leading run. Unfortunate for the Pirates, Corvallis third baseman Megan Auch was able to intercept the hit in mid-flight with her glove and tagged out Newton for a double play. The epic pitchers duel would stretch into extra innings, with Corvallis plating the winning run in the ninth on a RBI blooper to right field and dropping the Lady Pirates into the consolation bracket, where they would close out the tournament against Frenchtown with a loss 8-5. Had Polson been able to get by Corvallis, they would have faced conference rival and eventual champion Libby in the undefeated game, a team they matched up with quite well. That is how close Polson came to defending their 2007 state championship.
Graduating from the 2008 Lady Pirates squad were all-conference honorable-mention catcher Caitlyn Vassar (28 Hits, 1 HR, 18 RBI, .378 Avg) and all-conference 1st-team outfielder Maggie Gordon (38 Hits, 11 2B, 16 RBI, .422 Avg). The Pirates also had to fare without the numerous contributions of Wenatchee Valley College bound senior twice all-state, thrice all-conference 1st-team (2006 of, 2007 of, 2008 ss) Amanda “A.J.” James, leaving a gaping hole in the infield defense as well as the associated reduction in offensive firepower (36 Hits, 3 HR, 26 RBI, .424 Avg in 2008) her presence brought to the roster. James was an experienced veteran (108 H, 11 HR, 83 RBI, .424 Avg overall for prep (fr.-jr.) career) and the repercussions stemming from her absence from the lineup were in need of being patched in order for the Lady Pirates to mount a sustainable assault upon the regular as well as post-season. Senior outfielder Liz Simshaw (15 Hits, 1 HR, 11 RBI, .395 Avg in 2008), who often platooned with others in right field, was a valuable contributor to the first half of the 2009 season until other developments precluded further participation for the remainder of the softball schedule. Fans may recall the spectacular diving catch Simshaw made during the Libby home game last season that snuffed out a potential Logger rally and was a critical component to the Lady Pirates capturing the conference title.
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| Dakota Peterson sets up to launch another projectile toward its awaited destination. |
On the mound is University of Great Falls bound all-conference 2nd-team senior pitcher Dakota “D-Rae” Peterson (17-6, 109 SO, 3.22 ERA in 2008), who tends to launch her arsenal of round missiles with pinpoint precision and just enough velocity to take out their intended target. Peterson worked during the off season on expanding the repertoire of pitches at her disposal. Her efforts have been yielding increasingly favorable results, one of them being the deeper appreciation batters have acquired for the “K” that is part of her first name.
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| Kayla Duford follows in the footsteps of Pirate tradition, skillfully anchoring the defense behind the plate. |
Taking over the reins behind the plate is sophomore Kayla “Mighty KayCee” Duford, backup catcher last season who saw periodic action (6 Hits, 5 RBI, .545 Avg in 2008) and has emerged as a force to be reckoned with both defensively as well as with her bat. Unlike her counterpart in the 1888 Ernest Thayer baseball poem, Polson‘s “Mighty KayCee” seldom fans in clutch situations and has become an integral component to the success of the Lady Pirates this season. The skills she displayed in both volleyball and basketball have crossed over nicely when she digs errant throws out of the dirt or delivers the ball with accuracy to an awaiting glove of a teammate.
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| Senior Rochelle Woods rocks at first base. |
Reprising her role at first base is all-state / all-conference 1st-team senior Rochelle “Rock’n Ro” Woods, a solid player who was one of the most consistent contributors to the Pirates last season (38 Hits, 24 RBI, .458 Avg in 2008) and whose level of play often sets the tone of any given contest. The athletic versatility of Woods was further made evident when she filled in as backup pitcher, compiling a record of 2-0 (6 SO, 1 Save) over the course of 3 games last season. The characteristic stretch of Woods as she awaits the throw at first, which almost makes the hamstrings of those less limber ache as they watch, has kept many a would-be runner off the base path.
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| Senior Su-san Perez-Tenas can absorb hits much like a black hole when covering second base. |
Executing duties at second base this season is all-conference 1st-team utility senior Su-san Perez-Tenas (22 Hits, 14 RBI, .324 Avg in 2008). The versatility she displayed last year playing at multiple positions continues to be an indispensable asset to the Lady Pirate infield as she has made multiple defensive stops to limit what otherwise might have dribbled through for extra base hits. Perez-Tenas has become one of the more proficient slap-bunters on the squad and her bat has been heating up as the season progresses.
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| Junior Staci Benson turns a double play with her golden glove at shortstop. Utility player Cecilly Grant backs her up from centerfield. |
Shifting over to shortstop after excelling at second base last season is twice all-conference (1st-team 07 ut, 2nd-team 08 2b) junior Staci “Killer Bee” Benson, a big reason behind much of the buzz that can be heard reverberating from the Lady Pirate dugout. Her defense as well as bat (26 Hits, 6 2B, 8 RBI, .388 Avg in 08) have stung the opposition many a time over the last pair of seasons (29 Hits, 2 HR, 26 RBI in 07). The lone “Rookie” on the 2007 state championship squad, Benson is now a veteran who is likened by her coach to be pound-for-pound as close to a “pure softball player” as one is liable to find around the Mission Valley, a “mighty mite” whose persistence pesters opponents as she siphons off their vitality with her defensive erasure of potential scoring threats as well as offensive productivity at the plate.
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| Senior Sarah Newton poses a double-pronged threat with her vacuum-like glove at third and her offensive punch at the plate. |
Shoring up third base is all-state / thrice all-conference (2nd-team 06/07 p, 1st-team 08 3b) senior Sarah “Neutralizer” Newton, whose glove has muted many a would-be rally when her bat (43 Hits, 6 HR, 29 RBI, .512 Avg in 2008) isn’t pounding opponents into submission. A member of the Homecoming royal court this past Fall, she stands supreme wearing the crown as Polson’s reigning all-time home run leader with over two dozen (2 in 06, 11 in 07, 6 in 08) career blasts out of the park. A capable pitcher, Newton had been bothered by shoulder soreness that limited her availability to contribute from the mound (2 IP, 1 Save in 09; 1IP, 1 Save in 08; 8-0 in 07, 5-1 in 06). Newton has crested the century mark in both hits and runs scored for her career.
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| Senior Charlee Jenson is the quintessential transformer, morphing seamlessly between pitcher or outfielder as needed. |
Outfielders returning from last year include starting senior Charlee “Chuck(ie)“ Jenson, who can doll herself up like many a lass when not in uniform, but morphs into a menace from the mound and a terror at the plate when she takes the field. A solid fielder as well as seasoned hitter (25 Hits, 2 HR, 15 RBI, .403 Avg in 2008), Jenson brings loads of experience bolstered by an extensive summer ASA portfolio.
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| Sophomore outfielder Sallie Sams rounds third after crunching her first varsity home run. One can't help but smile when all your Pirate mates await to congradulate you at home plate! |
Other returnees who filled in at various times in a supplementary capacity include versatile sophomore Sallie Sams, who pummeled opponent pitching (8 Hits, 2 2B, 3 3B, 1 RBI, .471 Avg in 2008), showed some wheels on the base path (14 Runs), and in the second game of one doubleheader swung a wicked bat (5-6) as well as pitched an inning in relief. Recently she has also been swinging the bat at a pace that has picked up from where she left off last season. Early training in ballet provided a springboard from which Sams can now showcase an adapted form of acrobatic agility, albeit on the stage of a softball field, much to the delight of a wider viewing audience.
Another is natural right-handed junior MacKenzie Fortin, who has been converted into a proficient slap bunter and has excellent speed. In one game she went 4-7 and last season batted a .500 Avg with a fraction of the playing time of some of her teammates.
Rounding out the returnees with outfield experience is sophomore speedster Kodi Woods, who was often inserted into the game as a pinch runner to utilize her quickness, a strategy which paid rich dividends since she scored 19 Runs as a return on the investment.
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| Freshman outfielder Riley Kenney lays some lumber on the Logger ball by smacking a double in the top of the 4th |
Two new talented players have been making their presence known on the Lady Pirate roster this Spring. One of them is junior Cecilly Grant, whose pitching capability adds another dimension to the contributions she has to offer. The other is fab frosh phenom Riley Kenney, who performs at a level that shows why she belongs with displays of skill beyond her years, is making an impact in her third sport at the varsity level. Kenney has been swinging the bat with increasing proficiently as well as turning in some spectacular defensive plays in the field. Beneath her warm smile and friendly demeanor, which opponents mistakenly misinterpret that she might cut them some slack, there lurks a fierce competitor who not only has an aptitude for the game, but seeks to excel at each task which confronts her.
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| Charlee Jenson, a Transformer in action at her alternate venue, the outfield. |
A veritable farm system of skilled players on the junior varsity, who could contend for starting roles on many other squads throughout the conference, continue to apply pressure on their varsity counterparts as they vie for a slot at the table of the Lady Pirate roster. One of them is freshman catcher Ashley Johnson, who has already seen some varsity action behind the plate at the LaVerne Combo Invitational Tournament at Butte, and has a gun for an arm that has cut down base runners numerous times when they have dared to steal on her. Another capable player added to the varsity roster for the Butte tournament is sophomore Kylie Knutson, who can swing a mean bat, flash speed on the base path as well as make defensive plays. Knutson went 3-3 against a high caliber team in her inaugural varsity debut. Others include junior Melissa Dellwo, who was added to the expanded roster for the state tournament last season. The pitching capability of sophomore Marissa McCrea elevates her stock as a multi-dimensional contributor. A talented incoming freshman class seasoned with substantial ASA experience which placed first and second at many of the summer tournaments adds to the mix even further. Among them include Makaliah “Mak” Wilson, who displayed both athleticism as well as poise under pressure on the frosh basketball court this past winter, and now provides coverage at first base. Other teammates from the summer ASA 14U Lakers include Stephanie Angle, Maranda Crandall and Colleen Jacobson, all who are capable of pounding the ball when their bats heat up. Not to be overlooked is Tuesday Roullier, who adds her skill sets as well as some phonetic rhythm to round out the squad. Freshman Francine Pierre, who had been part of the JV squad the first half of the season, relocated to another state.
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| Just like when she was a little girl, Sarah Newton still revels in a good game of tag!. |
A cursory assessment of the Lady Pirates identified two areas where they could be vulnerable. The first would be at pitching depth. Few pitchers possess the kind of stamina displayed by Japan’s Yukiko Ueno during the 2008 Beijing Olympics when she pitched 21 innings the day earlier - the equivalent of three full games - before handing Team USA its first loss in the gold medal match. Relying on a sole starter to go the distance runs the risk of a pitcher running out of gas, particularly during those contests that stretch into extra inning matches as well as the multi-game format characteristic of tournaments. Unless one can make up the cumulative years of a Sushi diet that may account for Ueno’s stamina, the Lady Pirates were in need of bringing on another arm that could keep batters off balance as well as throw strikes. That call has been answered by Charlee Jenson, who worked during the off season at refining a repertoire of pitches to supplement the pitching needs of her teammates. Heading into the home stretch of the 2009 season, Jenson has pitched effectively and posted seven wins in the process. Sarah Newton has also been resharpening her skills in the event her services should be called upon from the mound in relief, thereby adding another dimension to the pitching options available to the Lady Pirates along with Cecilly Grant.
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| Rochelle Woods fields what could have been an infield hit and gets set up to lay another runner to rest. |
The other area of vulnerability would be senioritis, an affliction which tends to sap the drive of graduating seniors the Spring before their graduation. The senior-laden Lady Pirates could find themselves susceptible to this condition, which can be overcome by staying focused, setting attainable goals and maintaining a hunger for what lies within their grasp. Veteran 22nd-year head coach Larry Smith, assisted by Jan Rafter, instill into their players mastery of basic fundamentals which should help counteract any waning attention spans. They also have a wealth of unafflicted talent at their disposal itching for an opportunity to shine in the event one of their senior teammates succumb to any debilitating effects of such an ailment.
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| Having reeled another one in, Gates Millenium Scholarship recipient Su-san Perez-Tenas flips the catch to Rochelle Woods at first base for an out. |
The 2009 Lady Pirates have been competitive in each of their contests. Everyone on the varsity has at least one hit, and each of the starters have racked up double digits in this category. Each of the starters on the varsity have generated multiple RBIs, the majority them well into double digits with one remaining starter closing in on that mark. All of the starters have multiple extra base hits and by the end of the season many of those numbers should register double digits as well. Given such offensive firepower, the prospect for the Lady Pirates to append their names to some form of hardware in the postseason appear good given the advantages of home cooking and having their own beds to sleep in.
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| Bee" (ss Staci Benson) takes flight, gathering in one honey of a hit by Libby that could have stretched for extra bases. |
However, it remains prudent to adhere to the established adage that one should never count their chickens before they hatch, since the caliber of any team qualifying for a state tournament means they are capable of deflating the aspirations
of a squad which dares to enter with an oversized ego. As has been experienced in the past by several could-have-been/would-have-been champions, one overlooks any team to their own peril.
Lady Pirate statistics provided courtesy of coach Larry Smith
Photos courtesy of the following contributors:
Mike Humphrey, Lake County Leader, Western News
To purchase pictures you can contact Mike at: Mike Humphrey@www.mikehumphrey.net
or go to his website at:
http://www.mikehumphrey.net/>
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