Softball starts strong amidst lion roar of March

by John Heglie

At the Polson Softball Complex, the Lady Pirates opened their season with what was originally slated to be the First Four Quad-wrangle against the Western AA Kalispell Flathead Bravettes and the Western BC Plains Trotters, with defending State A champion Columbia Falls WildKats facing one team while Polson played the other. When Plains was unable to attend, the season inaugural had to be reconfigured to accommodate a Triad-tangle. C-Falls JV prevailed over the Flathead JV 17-10 in the first contest. Then, the following games were like a Sweet 16 duet with NCAA March Madness as Polson JV dispatched C-Falls JV 16-4 on Field One while the WildKat varsity triumphed over Flathead varsity 16-0 on the adjoining field. Polson JV played a tight contest with the Bravette JV in which the visitors prevailed 13-11.

Ole Man Winter and Jack Frost colluded with late March roaring like a lion to orchestrate a frigid-fest while the Lady Pirates and Bravettes were trying to play the semblance of a softball contest. The game would be called after two innings when playing conditions degraded with the swirling flakes and wind compromising the quality level of play as well as safety. Samantha Rensvold threw two innings of no-hit pitching while helping out her cause with a trio of assists from tappers to the mound. Olivia Jore hit the first LP home run of the season in the first inning that scored herself and Kailey Smith who preceded her onto the base path. Sierra Perez followed that by lashing a double down the third base line, coming around to score later on in the bottom third of the inning. Carli Maley would mash a solo tater in the second for the 14th dinger of her prep career.

Olivia Jore mashed a 2 run tater in the first. Carli Maley mashed a solo tater in the second, 14th of her prep career. Sierra Perez lashed a double down the third base line in the first.

Polson 8, Flathead 0 (2 inn.)

Lady Pirates (1-0), Bravettes (0-2)

Kalispell  00x – 0  0  2

Polson     62x – 8  8  0

Sam Rensvold (1K,0H,1W,3A) and Carli Maley. Lacie Franklin (3K,1W)  and Laynee Vessar. WP – Rensvold (1-0).

KALISPELL FLATHEAD – Mackenzie Brandt 0-1, Ava Besson 0-1, Macey McIlhargey 0-1, Kaidyn Lake 0-1, Vessar 0-1, Olivia Nyman 0-0, Kinsey Lake 0-1, (0PA): Franklin, Danica Hennell.

POLSON – Mckenna Hanson 0-1, Rensvold 0-2, Carli Maley 2-2, Avery Starr 2-2, Kailey Smith 1-2, Olivia Jore 2-2, Sierra Perez 1-2, Liz Cunningham 0-2, Jaja Nichols 0-1, (cr) Ahrianna Rushing.

HR – Maley, Jore. 2B – Perez. RBIs – Maley, Ka.Smith, Jore 3. BB – Nyman; Hanson.  ROE – Smith, Perez. Runs – Hanson, Maley 2, Starr 2, Ka.Smith, Jore, Perez. (Sa23Mar24) abridged due to inclement weather of plunging temps, swirling flakes and wind.

Rensel mashed a solo tater in the fourth, Moultray & Reid doubled in the first, Peters doubled in the third.

Columbia Falls 16, Flathead 0

WildKats (1-0), Bravettes (0-1)

Kalispell  000 00 –   0   0  4

C-Falls     613 6x – 16 12  0

Ava Besson (1K), (3) Macey McIlhargey (3K) and Laynee Vessar. Maddie Moultray (4IP:7K,0H,2W,1HB) and Demye Rensel. WP – Moultray (1-0)

KALISPELL FLATHEAD – Mackenzie Brandt 0-2, Macey McIlhargey 0-1, Sawyer VanCampen 0-1, Kaidyn Lake 0-2, Vessar 0-2, Ava Besson 0-2, Olivia Nyman 0-1, Lacie Franklin 0-0, Kinsey Lake 0-1, (flex) Danica Hennell 0-1.

COLUMBIA FALLS – Tayler Lingle 3-3, Addy Bowler 0-1, Monica Carpenter 0-1, Haden Peters 2-3, Moultray 1-3, Rensel 1-1, Italia Hoerner 0-3, Bella Mann 0-3, Annika Reid 3-3, Onnikka Lawrence 2-3.

HR – Rensel. 2B – Moultray, Reid, Peters. RBIs – Lingle, Peters 4, Moultray 2, Rensel, Reid 2, Lawrence. BB – McIlhargey, VanCampen; Lingle, Bowler, Rensel. HB – Franklin; Carpenter, Peters, Rensel. ROE – Peters, B.Mann 2. SB – Lingle. CS– Reid.  Runs – Lingle 3, Bowler, Carpenter, Peters 2, Moultray, Rensel 2, B.Mann 2, Reid 2, Lawrence 2. (Sa23Mar24)

Flathead JV 13, Polson JV 11

Kalispell JV  670 – 13  8  1 

Polson JV     47x – 11  3  5

Jaja Nichols (2IP:1K,5W), (3) Ahrianna Rushing (⅓IP:1K,0H,2W) and Opal Nash, (3) JJ Pierre. Lily Anderson (1⅓IP), (2) Lacie Franklin (⅔IP:2K,2H,1W) and Olivia Nyman. WP – Anderson.

KALISPELL FLATHEAD JV – Ava Besson 2-3(2RBI), Teagan Hayek 1-2(BB,ROE), Tegan Strauss 1-2(RBI,BB), Kaidyn Lake 1-3(RBI, 2ROE), Nyman 1-1(2BB), Sawyer VanCampen 0-3(ROE), L.Anderson 1-2(3RBI,BB,FC), Franklin 0-2(HB,FC), Kinsey Lake 1-1(2B,2RBI,2BB).

POLSON JV – Jaja Nichols 0-0(BB,HB), Madison Turner 0-0(2BB), Liz Cunningham 1-1(BB), Olivia Jore 0-1(RBI,BB), Emma Smith 1-2(2B,2RBI,ROE), Rushing 0-1(BB), Nash 1-2(RBI), Pierre 0-2(BB,HB), Alexa Peterson 0-1(BB), (cr) Trinity Magoon. (Sa23Mar24jv3)

Polson JV 16, C-Falls JV 4

C-Falls JV  ( 1 )30 00 –   4  1  3

Polson JV   (12)10 3x – 16  6  3

Madison Turner (5IP:10K,1H,9W) and Opal Nash. Gabby Riley (⅓IP:1K,1H,6W), (1b) B.Osborne (1⅔IP:1K4H,3W), (3) Katie Bulasky (2IP:1H,5W,1HB) and Kylie Gjesdal, (3) H. Littlefield. WP – Turner

COLUMBIA FALLS JV – Alexa Friske 0-1(2BB), Bulawsky 0-1(RBI,BB,HB), Chevelle Bedford 1-3(RBI,2ROE), Kylie Gjesdal-Davis 0-2(BB), Brooklyn Osborne 0-1(BB), Dayvian Edwards 0-3, Tasia Harrison 0-3, Hailey Littlefield 0-1(2BB), Riley 0-2(BB).

POLSON JV – Jaja Nichols 0-2(BB,ROE,SB), Trinity Magoon 0-0(BB), Turner 2-4(2B,RBI,ROE), Liz Cunningham 1-1(2RBI,2BB), Natalie Leonard 0-0(BB), Olivia Jore 1-2(RBI,BB), Lara Duran 0-0(2RBI,ROE), Emma Smith 0-0(RBI,4BB), Ahrianna Rushing 0-2(RBI,BB,HB), Nash 2-3(4RBI,BB), JJ Pierre 0-2(BB), Alexa Peterson 0-1(RBI,BB), Kena Sutton 0-1. (Sa23Mar24jv2)

C-Falls JV 17, Flathead JV 10

Kalispell JV  9( 1 ) – 10  4  3 

C-Falls  JV    5(12) – 17  7  5

Katie Bulawsky, (2) Gabby Riley and Bella Mann. Danica Hennell, (2) Lily Anderson and Laynee Vessar.

KALISPELL FLATHEAD JV – Kinsey Lake 0-3(2ROE, D3K), Hennell 0-1(2BB), Mackenzie Brandt 0-2(D3K,FC), Sawyer VanCampen 1-2, Vessar 1-1(BB,RBI), Olivia Nyman 0-1(BB,FC), L.Anderson 1-2(FC), Tegan Strauss 1-2(HR,FC,3RBI), Teagan Hayek 0-1(BB,ROE).

COLUMBIA FALLS JV – Alexa Friske 0-1(2BB), Bulawsky 0-1(2BB,ROE), Bella Mann 1-2(BB), Onnikka Lawrence 1-2(2RBI,HB), Chevelle Bedford 2-3(3B,3RBI,ROE), Kylie Gjesdal-Davis 1-1(RBI,BB,HB), Brooklyn Osborne 1-1(2B,3RBI,BB,HB), Dayvian Edwards 1-1(RBI,BB), Riley 0-1(BB). (Sa23Mar24jv1)

Lady Pirates splish and splash to secure first conference win

by John Heglie

At the Polson Softball Complex, the visiting Lady Indians of Browning and the host Lady Pirates squeezed in a conference clash between raindrops that ended by run rule before both spectators as well as players were completely soaked. Lady Pirate hurler Samantha Rensvold was in fine form, fanning seven over three innings when not inducing a groundout and flyout to account for the remainder. Mckenna Hanson stroked the lone extra base hit to open the bottom half of the inaugural inning with a double. Bottom third of the order batter Sierra Perez had the lone multi-hit outing at the plate, while Rensvold accounted for the remaining hit to help out her own cause. Middle-of-the-order batter Kailey Smith launched a shot into centerfield for a sacrifice fly.

For the Lady Indians, relief pitcher Camee RidesAtTheDoor had a strikeout, while second base fielded a bounding ball and threw to first base Madison Augare to complete the groundout.

Polson 15, Browning 0

Lady Pirates (1-0, 2-0), Lady Indians (0-1)

Browning  000 –   0  0  4

Polson       771 – 15  4  0

Sam Rensvold (3IP:7K,0H,0W) and Carli Maley. Justine Whitford, (2) Camee RidesAtTheDoor (1K) and Paulina Fitzgerald, (2) Judy NoRunner. WP – Rensvold (2-0).

BROWNING –  Fitzgerald 0-1, Joss Salois 0-1, Maya Andreas 0-1, Madison Augare 0-1, Whitford 0-1, Averi CalfRobe 0-1, MaKayla McNeely 0-1, C.RATD 0-1, Kenna Edwards 0-1.

POLSON – Mckenna Hanson 1-1, Rensvold 1-1, Carli Maley 0-1, Avery Starr 0-0, Kailey Smith 0-1, Olivia Jore 0-1, Sierra Perez 2-2, Liz Cunningham 0-1, Emma Smith 0-1, Jaja Nichols 0-0, (cr): Madison Turner, Ahrianna Rushing.

2B – Hanson. RBIs – Hanson, Rensvold, Maley, Ka.Smith, S.Perez 2, Cunningham 2, Nichols. SF – Ka.Smith. BB – Nichols 2, Ka.Smith, Hanson 2, Maley, Starr 2, Cunningham, Rensvold 2, Jore 2, Sierra Perez. HB – Maley, Starr. ROE – Maley, E.Smith. SB – Nichols 2, Turner, Rushing, Hanson, S.Perez. Runs – Hanson 2, Turner 2, Rushing 2, Starr 2, Ka.Smith, Jore 2, S.Perez 3, Nichols.

(Fr05Apr24)

Pirates edge Ronan in rivalry wrangle first round

by John Heglie

At Ronan, the visiting Lady Pirates of Polson and the host Maidens squared off in the first round of their cross-county Mission Valley rivalry. The game would not only be the first regulation length contest of the season for Polson, but also one of the more competitive matches of  the series within recent vintage. Originally slated for the previous Thursday, rain descended to halt that preceding attempt after the top half of the second inning with Polson countering the Ronan two run first with three of their own in which inning leadoff Olivia Jore doubled and scored, capped by a Samantha Rensvold double that plated the two preceding batters who had drawn walks. Four days later in the bottom half of the second, the Maidens tied the contest when Hanna Lytton plated on a Kailyn Marengo run scoring single. Maiden leadoff Nikki Kendall, who had reached base on a walk, also attempted to score, but was ruled out at the plate after a relay from left field to short to home for the third out.

The top of the Polson order rotated to the plate during the fourth inning, with Polson retaking the lead after Mckenna Hanson eventually scored after her second hit of the contest. With two more Lady Pirate runners on board after a bean ball and walk, middle-of-the-order batter Kailey Smith mashed a tater over the right field fence to stake Polson to a 7-3 advantage.

After Polson tacked on an insurance run the following inning, the Maidens countered in their half of fifth with back-to-back doubles from Marengo and Ally Luedtke, followed by a single from cleanup batter Nevaeh Perez. With two out and a tandem having crossed the plate, pinch hitter Kaydance Santos threaded a single past the Polson infield to score courtesy runner Bailee Woll for the third run of the inning to close within 6-8. Polson would bring in Rensvold to extricate her team from the inning as well as the game, inducing a lineout to end the inning coupled with a combination of strikeouts and groundouts to close out the contest. Polson tacked on an insurance run in the top half of the seventh as a form of liability insulation when Ronan rotated the heart of their order to the plate the final frame.

Kendall threw well for the Maidens, fanning 15 for her second double figure K count of the young season and has one shy of three dozen strikeouts over the course of just three games. Counterpart Avery Starr likewise shined, benefitting from some timely run support that provided latitude to challenge batters aggressively.

The competitive contest sets the tone for round two the early part of May when the weather as well as bats are anticipated to heat up.  The way the Maidens are playing thus far, a third rendezvous with the flying R of Ronan during the postseason lies within the realm of probabilities.

Polson 9, Ronan 6 

Lady Pirates (2-0, 3-0), Maidens (0-1, 1-2)

Polson  030 410 1 –  9  7   1

Ronan  210 030 0 –  6   8  2

Nikki Kendall (7IP:15K,7H,8W,1HB) and Adrienne Crockett. Avery Starr (4⅔IP:6K,7H,2W,1HB), (5) Sam Rensvold (2⅓IP:3K,0H,1W) and Olivia Jore, (5) Carly Maley. WP – Starr (1-0). LP – Kendall (1-2). Sv – Rensvold.

POLSON – Mckenna Hanson 3-3, Sam Rensvold 1-3, Carli Maley 0-3, Avery Starr 0-3, Kailey Smith 1-4, Olivia Jore 2-3, Sierra Perez 0-3, Liz Cunningham 0-2, Jaja Nichols 0-2, (cr): Ahrianna Rushing.

RONAN – Kendall 0-2, Kailyn Marengo 2-4, Ally Luedtke 1-3, Nevaeh Perez 2-3, Brynn Courville 0-4, Kylee Kelch 0-2, Kaydance Santos 1-1, Mira Corum 1-3, Crockett 0-3,  Hanna Lytton 1-3, (cr) Bailee Woll, Morgan Simpson.

HR – Ka.Smith. 2B – Rensvold, Jore; Luedtke, Marengo. RBIs – Hanson, Rensvold 2, Ka.Smith 3; Marengo, Luedtke, N.Perez, Santos. Runs – Jore, Nichols, Hanson; Kendall, Marengo, Luedtke 2, Woll, Lytton. SH – Nichols, Cunningham. BB – Hanson 2, Maley, Starr, Jore, S.Perez, Cunningham, Nichols; Kendall 2, N. Perez. HB – Rensvold; Luedtke. ROE – Maley. FC – Courville.  SB – Hanson, Jore, S.Perez, Nichols; Kendall, Luedtke. CS – Hanson. Runs – Hanson 2, Rensvold, Rushing, Ka.Smith, Jore, Cunningham 2, Nichols; Kendall, Marengo, Luedtke 2, Woll, Lytton. (M08Apr24) resched from Th04Apr

variants – P(Rgc:2E, PiScore:1E), R(Rgc:8H, PiScore:7H): Hanson(t5:1B+E vs ROE), Maley(t2:1B vs E5; sb vs di), Cunningham(3sb vs wp/pb/ot); Luedtke(b1:di vs sb), N.Perez(b1:H+Eot/1rbi vs ROE/0rbi)

Defending champ WildKats repel Pirate incursions to capture first skirmish

by John Heglie

At Larry Smith Field in Polson, the defending State A champion WildKats of Columbia Falls and the host Lady Pirates squared off where they left off last postseason much like when they last met at the Western A Divisonal championship. The game started out favorably for the Lady Pirates when WildKat leadoff Tayler Lingle was caught in a rundown between third and home to deny what could have been the initial scoring event of the contest. That initial advantage would gravitate to the hosts, who plated three in the bottom half of the first to stake themselves to a 3-0 lead. So far to good, but it wouldn't be enough. The Kats would counter in the top half of the third when their two leadoff speedsters reached base, then were plated when Haden Peters launched a pitch that just cleared the right-center outfield fence to tie the game. Not yet finished, the Kats would tack on two more as they ran through their entire order for 5-3 advantage. The lead could have been larger but for some savvy Polson infield defensive plays that extracted them from the inning without incurring further damage.

Polson would close the gap to one when Avery Starr plated from third on an infield miscue. But the WildKats countered the following inning to reacquire the two run margin, 6-4. Thereafter, the Lady Pirates were able to manuever runners onto base, but couldn't string together hits to move them to where they needed to get. Meanwhile, the Kats tacked on another insurance run, then further expanded their lead with a big final frame. The Lady Pirates were able to close the gap with a pair during their final trips at the plate, but needed to run through their entire lineup and then some if they were going to challenge the visitors for a chance to alter the outcome, a daunting task when a pitching ace the caliber of Maddie Moultray is throwing from the mound in an effort to deny such bids to alter differentials on the scoreboard.

Columbia Falls 10, Polson 6

Lady Pirates (2-1, 3-1), WildKats (2-0, 3-1)

C-Falls  005 110 3 – 10 15  2

Polson   301 000 2 –   6   7  3

Sam Rensvold (6IP:5K,14H,5W), (7) Avery Starr (1IP:1K1H,1W) and Carli Maley. Maddie Moultray (13K,7H,3W,2HB) and Demye Rensel. WP – Moultray (3-1). LP – Rensvold (2-1).

COLUMBIA FALLS – Tayler Lingle 2-2, Addy Bowler 3-4, Haden Peters 2-5, Moultray 0-3, Rensel 2-4, Annika Reid 0-3, Italia Hoerner 3-4, Bella Mann 1-3, Onnikka Lawrence 2-4, (flex) Syd Burke, (cr): Alexa Friske, Monica Carpenter.

POLSON – Mckenna Hanson 2-4, Rensvold 2-3, Maley 2-4, Avery Starr 0-2, Kailey Smith 0-3, Olivia Jore 0-4, Sierra Perez 1-3, Liz Cunningham 0-2, Jaja Nichols 0-3, (cr): Ahrianna Rushing.

HR – Peters, B.Mann. 2B – Bowler, Lawrence; Hanson. RBIs –  Bowler 2, Peters 4, Rensel, Hoerner, B.Mann; Maley 3. SF – Rensel. SH – Bowler, B.Mann. BB – Lingle 3, Moultray 2, Reid; Starr 2, Cunningham. HB – Ka.Smith., Rensvold. ROE – Bowler; Jore. FC – Peters, Lawrence 2; Cunningham. SB – Lingle; Rensvold. CS – Lawrence. Runs – Lingle 2, Bowler 2, Peters, Friske, Carpenter, Hoerner, B.Mann, Lawrence; Hanson 2, Rensvold 2, Starr 2. PK – Rensel; Maley. (Tu09Apr24)

variants – Bowler(t3:2B+E9)

Beaucoup batting by Bucs blister Beavers

by John Heglie

At Corvallis for an exhibition pickup to keep softball skills sharp in lieu of a forfeit by their originally schedule opponent, the Lady Pirates faced the Lady Beavers of Dillon after their conference clash against Corvallis. The contest featured eight Polson extra base hits that included a trio of mashed taters. Olivia Jore hit a pair over the left center fence, then closed out her final trip to the plate with an opposite field double. All told, Jore generated a half dozen RBIs. Carli Maley mashed her tater in the fourth inning between the tandem by Jore. Maley's three run shot to straight away center was her 16th varsity career dinger. Mckenna Hanson clobbered a pair of doubles, notching her 50th varsity career extra base hit in the process with her bottom half inning opening double to left field. Joining Hanson and Jore by inflicting doubles troubles upon the Lady Beavers were Liz Cunningham and Emma Smith.

exhibition

Polson 18, Dillon 3

NWA Lady Pirates (7-1), SWA Lady Beavers (na)

Dillon   020 ( 1 ) –   3   3  3

Polson  116 (10) – 18 16  2

Sam Rensvold (4IP:6K,3H,0W,1HB) and Carli Maley. Adyson Creighton (2⅔IP:4K,13H,1W), (3) Tymber Barnes and Kinzy Creighton. WP – Rensvold (6-1).

DILLON – Tyler Gibson 0-2, A.Creighton 0-2, K.Creighton 1-2, Emily Brevig 0-2, Ashlyn Burk 0-1, Kylie Konen 2-2, Katey Vezina 0-2, Barnes 0-2, Bailey Blake 0-1.

POLSON – Mckenna Hanson 2-3, Rensvold 1-3, Maley 1-3, Kailey Smith 2-3, Olivia Jore 3-4, Sierra Perez 1-4, Emma Smith 3-4, Liz Cunningham 3-3, Jaja Nichols 0-0.

HR–  Maley, Jore 2. 2B– Konen; E.Smith, Hanson 2, Cunningham, Jore. RBIs– Vezina, Blake; Hanson 2, Maley 3, Ka.Smith, Jore 6, S.Perez, E.Smith, Cunningham. SH– Nichols 2, Rensvold. BB– Nichols, Hanson, Maley. HB– Burk; Kailey Smith. Runs–  Burk, Konen 2; Hanson 2, Rensvold, Maley, Ka.Smith 3, Jore 3, S.Perez 2, E.Smith 2, Cunningham 3, Nichols. (Sa20Apr24exh)

Mckenna Hanson (2021fr.13xbh,2022so.16xbh, 2023jr.16xbh)=45; 2024: Wf(3B,2B), CF(2B), Br(2B), Dil(2B,2B)

Saturday, March 25, 2023

PLAINS AT POLSON

Friday, March 31, 2023

Lady Pirates open conference with win over Libby

POLSON 13 LIBBY 3

The ball was flying out of the park as the Lady Pirates blasted 3 homeruns on their way to a conference rout of rival Libby.  Samantha Rensvold won her third game of the year going the distance in the game shortened by the 10 run rule. Carli Maley, Kailey Smith, and Nikki Kendall had home runs for the Lady Pirates (3-0 overall, 1-0 NWA).

Saturday, April 8, 2023

Lady Buccaneers bounce Bulldogs

by John Heglie
 
At Larry Smith Field in Polson, the host Lady Pirates extended a warm welcome to the visiting Lady Bulldogs with boisterous bats interspersed with fleetness of foot by pounding out nine hits along with plating runs among the high teens.

Caitlyn Ward was the lone Lady Pirate to generate multiple hits over the course of the contest. Kailey Smith smacked the lone extra base hit in the form of a double, but almost duplicated the feat when she laced a laser -liner into centerfield during bottom of the second action that the Lady Bulldog fielder deftly snared to deny a bid for extra bases.

Though Mckenna Hanson went hitless this time around, she nonetheless reached base thrice when  bopped by a bean ball followed by drawing a pair of walks, scoring all three times. Leadoff Nikki Kendall, Carli Maley and Smith each generated a trio RBIs with their appearances at the plate.

Hurler Samantha Rensvold fanned a quartet on two innings of work to pick up her fourth victory, while Avery Starr closed out the contest in relief. Rensvold has accrued 21 strikeouts so far this season.

Polson 19, Whitefish 0
Lady Pirates (2-0, 4-0), Lady Bulldogs (0-3)

Jude Perry, (2a) Avarie Mackenzie, (2b) Perry and Selena Simms.
Sam Rensvold (4K), (3) Avery Starr (1K) and Carli Maley.

WP – Rensvold (4-0). Sv – Starr.

WHITEFISH – Samantha Bennetts 0-1, Simms 0-1, Perry 0-1, Mackenzie 0-1, Esme Fennessey 0-1, Josie Voeller 0-1, Chloe Tafelski 0-1, Kaci Hill 0-1, Rayna Mercer 0-1.

POLSON – Nikki Kendall 1-3, Mckenna Hanson 0-0, Maley 1-2, Rensvold 1-2, Tyneesha Brown 1-2, Kailey Smith 1-2, Caitlyn Ward 2-3, Ansley Nordberg 0-2 (cr) Olivia Jore, Sierra Perez.

2B – Ka.Smith.

RBIs – Kendall 3, Maley 3, Starr 2, Brown 2, Ka.Smith 3, Ward 2, Nordberg. BB – Hanson 2, Rensvold, Brown, Starr, Nordberg. HB – Ka.Smith, Hanson, Maley.

D3K – Kendall. SB  – Jore. ROE – Brown. FC – Maley. Runs – Kendall 2, Hanson 3, Jore 2, S.Perez 2, Rensvold, Starr 3, Brown, Ka.Smith, Ward 2, Nordberg 2.

defensive substitutions t3: c Olivia Jore, 1b Nevaeh Perez, 2b Alyssa Orien, 3b Emma Smith, ss Rensvold, lf Jaja Nichols, cf. S.Perez, rf Lizzy Cunningham.

Friday, April 14, 2023

Fire and Ice: Cross-county conference clash gravitates by way of purple and gold

by John Heglie
 
At Ronan, the host Maidens had intended to exploit the cooler than usual spring temperatures to their advantage in an effort to ice the potency of the offensive capabilities of their cross county cousins from Polson. But the visting Lady Pirates discovered that the preferable method for staying warm incorporated swinging arms with stick in hand to better their chances to move around the base paths. Over a dozen hits later that included eight for extra bases, Polson had not only generated some heat, but picked up a crucial conference contest in the process.

Carli Maley, Kailey Smith and Mckenna Hanson each mashed taters that accounted for a combined eight runs, while Tyneesha Brown, Hanson and Nikki Kendall collaborated on five doubles.

The Maiden top half of the order accounted for three hits along with as many deep fly balls. But the trajectories of the latter would unfortunately route their way directly into the gloves of fielders for outs that denied any chance for exploiting gaps that would have resulted in extra bases.
 
Samantha Rensvold picked up her fifth victory, fanning six while issuing no free passes.
 
Polson 17, Ronan 0

Lady Pirates (3-0, 5-0), Maidens (1-3)

Sam Rensvold (6K,0W) and Carli Maley. Tyariah Morigeau (2IP:3K,8H,3W), (3) Kaleigh Benson, (4) Kaydance Santos (2K,3H,0W) and Shelby Taylor, (3) Tracee Burland. WP – Rensvold (5-0).
POLSON – Nikki Kendall 2-3, Mckenna Hanson 3-4, Maley 3-4, Rensvold 2-4, Avery Starr 0-1, Kailey Smith 1-2, Sierra Perez 1-2, Ansley Nordberg 0-1, Caitlyn Ward 0-2, Tyneesha Brown 3-3, (cr) Olivia Jore, Jaja Nichols.

RONAN – Ally Luedtke 1-2, Brogan Youngren 0-2, Benson 0-2, Santos 1-2, Morigeau 1-2, Kylee Kelch 0-2, Ernie Tapia-Torosian 0-1, Bailee Woll 0-1, Tracee Burland 1-1.

HR – Maley, Ka.Smith, Hanson. 2B – Hanson 2, Brown 2, Kendall. RBIs – Kendall, Hanson 6, Maley 2, Rensvold, Ka.Smith 5, Perez. SF – Ka.Smith.  BB – Kendall, Starr 2, Ward. Runs – Kendall 3, Hanson 3, Jore 2, Maley, Nordberg, Nichols, Starr, Ka.Smith, Ward, Brown 3.

Saturday, April 15, 2023

Polson topples Loggers in key conference clash

by John Heglie
 
At Libby, the visiting Lady Pirates seemed well situated in the driver's seat with a 7-0 lead through five and a half. But a walk followed by errors interspersed with singles opened the door for the Lady Loggers to close the gap during the bottom half of the inning as they plated five to pull within two runs of Polson.

But during top half of the sixth action, the Lady Pirates would respond by running through their entire order and then some as they not only reacquired their previous margin, but also some additional insurance, plating seven.  A cascade of compound calamities in the form of a string of miscues allowed middle of the Polson order batters to not only reach, but also move around the base path. When the top third of the order rotated to the plate, Nikki Kendall, Mckenna Hanson and Carli Maley strung together sequential doubles that accounted for four more RBIs.By the time the Lady Loggers were able to extract themselves from their predicament, they trailed by nine instead of two.

Samantha Rensvold would then slam the door on any chance of a Libby counterattack as she notched a trio of strikeouts while inducing a groundout and a flyout the final two innings. Rensvold wrapped up the contest with eight K's.
Kailey Smith smacked a triple in the first inning, while Hanson dealt another double during the third inning. Kendall, Hanson and Maley generated seven RBIs over the course of the contest.

Polson 14, Libby 5

Lady Pirates (4-0,6-0), Lady Loggers (3-3, 3-4)

Sam Rensvold (8K,4H,2W) and Carli Maley. Mackenzie Foss and Kinzee Boehmler. WP – Rensvold (6-0)

POLSON – Nikki Kendall 3-5, Mckenna Hanson 4-5, Maley 1-5, Rensvold 1-4, Avery Starr 1-4, Kailey Smith 1-5, Ansley Nordberg 1-4, Caitlyn Ward 0-3, Tyneesha Brown 0-3, (cr) Sierra Perez, Olivia Jore.

LIBBY – Paislee McDonald 1-4, Kinzee Boehmler 1-3,  Foss 0-2, Jossalyn White 1-2, Phoenix Vincent 0-3, Aleesha Bradeen 0-2,  Peyton Waggoner 0-3, Jaycee Wilson 1-3, Madison Vincent 0-2.

3B – Ka.Smith; Boehmler. 2B – Kendall, Hanson 2, Maley; White.
 
RBIs – Kendall 3, Hanson 3, Maley, Rensvold, Starr, Ka.Smith; McDonald, White, Wilson.
 
SH – Starr; White, M.Vincent.
 
BB – Nordberg, Ward 2, Brown; Foss, Bradeen.

HB – Rensvold.

ROE – Kendall 2, Rensvold, Starr, Ka.Smith; P.Vincent, Waggoner. FC – Boehmler.

SB – Jore, Kendall; M.Vincent. Runs – Kendall 4, Hanson 2, S.Perez, Rensvold, Starr 2, Ka.Smith 2, Ward, Brown; McDonald, Bradeen, Waggoner, Wilson, M.Vincent.

Friday, April 21, 2023

Lady Pirates notch conference win over WildKats

The Pirates moved to 5-0 in the conference and 7-0 overall with a key win at Columbia Falls Friday evening. Trailing 6-5 going into the 7th inning Polson scored 3 runs to take an 8-6 lead.  Avery Starr came in to relieve Samantha Rensvold and shut the WildKats down in the bottom of the inning.

Saturday, April 22, 2023

Lady Pirates pound Browning

The Lady Pirates pounded out 10 hits and Avery Starr went the distance on the mound for the conference win. The Pirates are 6-0 in the conference and 8-0 overall.

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Lady Pirate softball squeezes past Frenchtown in vintage nailbiter classic

by John Heglie
 
At Larry Smith Field in Polson, the visiting Lady Broncs of Frenchtown and the host Lady Pirates dueled one another in yet another vintage rendition among the history of their rivalry in a contest whose outcome hung in the balance, tied four times along with featuring multiple lead changes. The two leaders of their respective Western conferences at this juncture of the season share 15 State A titles between them since Y2K.

The Lady Pirates staked themselves to an early 4-0 lead after two innings on a two run single by Avery Starr in the first and a twin RBI double by Carli Maley in the second. The Lady Broncs countered in the top half of the third when they ran through their entire order, plating five to overtake the lead.
Polson retook the reigns of the contest with a four run fourth.. Frenchtown responded in the top half of the fifth when they sent their entire order to the plate once again, plating four runs of their own to retake their previously held one run advantage.  The Lady Pirates knotted the contest in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI single from Mckenna Hanson that plated bottom of the order batter Tyneesha Brown.

Both teams manuevered a single batter onto the base path in the sixth. Polson's Kailey Smith tripled with two out, but neither team could capitalize.
Frenchtown would send a half dozen batters to the plate in the top half of the seventh. Middle reliever Starr would give way to starter Sam Rensvold.  Though two runs would score, Rensvold induced a pair of groundouts to limit further damage.

In the bottom half of the inning, bottom third of the order batter Caitlyn Ward would safely single, advance to second on a passed ball, then scored when leadoff Nikki Kendall reached base on an infield miscue. Hanson's RBI single would knot the contest at 11 apiece. After back-to-back walks loaded the bases, a trajectory malfunction that allowed Hanson to scored from third would end the contest.

The firepower exhibited at the plate by both squads reflected why each leads their respective conference as well as warrant consideration as part of the conversation as to which clubs are liable to vye for postseason berths in the following month.  But on the flipside, both teams were plagued by multiple M&M misfires, miscues and malfunctions that each will focus upon reducing to a more miniscule level over the course of the following weeks.

Taking into account the caliber of competition during the course of this first encounter of the 2023 season, it is anticipated that both teams are liable to face off against one another yet again at some juncture during postseason play.

Both teams will be in attendance at the Betty Paskey Memorial Frenchtown Invitational softball tournament this weekend.
 
Polson 12, Frenchtown 11
NWA Lady Pirates (9-0), SWA Lady Broncs (5-2)

Olivia Campbell, (3) Parker Robinson, (5) Kendra Jacobs and Tarin Croy. Sam Rensvold (3IP:4K,5H,2W,1A), (4) Avery Starr (3IP:7H,5W), (7) Rensvold (1H,1W,2A) and Carli Maley.

WP – Rensvold (7-0).

FRENCHTOWN – Saige Williams 2-4, Alexis Godin 1-4, Carah Evans 2-4, Campbell 1-3, Robinson 1-4, Jacobs 1-4, Tar.Croy 3-4, Dakota Fortney 1-2, Tanli Croy 1-2, (cr) Bailey Hansen, Lauren Magnuson.

POLSON – Nikki Kendall 2-5, Mckenna Hanson 2-4, Maley 1-3, Rensvold 1-3, Starr 2-5, Kailey Smith 1-3, Ansley Nordberg 1-4, Ansley Nordberg 1-2, Tyneesha Brown 1-2, (cr) Olivia Jore.

3B – Ka.Smith. 2B – Tar.Croy, Evans; Maley. RBIs – Williams, Godin, Evans, Robinson 2, Jacobs, Tar.Croy 2, Tan.Croy; Hanson 2, Maley 2, Rensvold, Starr 3. SH – Brown, Ward.

BB – Tan.Croy 2, Campbell, Williams, Evans, Fortney 2, Godin; Ka.Smith, Hanson, Rensvold 2, Brown, Maley 2, Ward.

ROE – Kendall. FC – Jacobs; Hanson, Ka.Smith, Nordberg.

SB – Tan.Croy, Magnusen; Kendall. Runs – Godin, Evans 2, Campbell, Magnuson, Hansen 2, Fortney 2, Tan.Croy 2; Kendall 3, Hanson 2, Jore, Rensvold 2, Ward 2, Brown 2.

DP – P1(t4:1-6-3).

Saturday, April 29, 2023 - 10:30 AM

Polson drops two games at Frenchtown Invitational.

The Lady Pirates fell twice at the Frenchtown Invitational on Saturday.  Nikki Kendall led off the Havre game with a home run on the first pitch of the game.  Polson scored another run in the 1st inning and then were shut down for the rest of the game by Havre's Elle Verpbergen who went the distance for the Victory.  Polson outhit Havre 10-9 but the Blue Ponies were able to string more together to push across 6 runs for the victory.  Avery Carlson homered for Havre in the bottom of the sixth.  Samantha Rensvold was credited with her first pitching loss of the season.

In the second game of the day defending class B state champion Florence came from being scoring 3 runs in the top of the seventh inning to down the Lady Pirates 8-7.  Carli Maley and Nikki Kendall each doubled for Polson.  Avery Starr was credited with the loss for the Lady Pirates.

The Lady Pirates are 6-0 in the conference and 9-2 overall.

Havre 6, Polson 2

Saturday, April 29, 2023 - 4pm

FLORENCE 8,  POLSON 7

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Pirate fastballers repel Ronan response in rivalry wrangle rematch

by John Heglie
 
At Larry Smith Field in Polson, the visiting Maidens of Ronan and the host Lady Pirates clashed in the second round of their annual NWA cross-county rivalry wrangle. Host Polson was less than the most accommodating hostess when it came to laying out much of a welcome mat as they plated nine runs in the first inning to stake themselves to a comfortable lead, sending their entire order to the plate and then some before the Maidens were able to extract themselves from their predicament. Half of the Lady Pirate ten hits would be further compounded by an equal amount of errors as the boo-boo bug would take its bite out of  the visitor game plan. The top third of the Polson order would not only rotate to the plate twice, but accounted for five crucial runs to stake starting hurler Sam Rensvold to a comfortable margin with Rensvold helping out her own cause when she plated as well.

To the Maidens credit, their lineup showed resilience despite the setback as they countered with a trio of runs the following pair of innings. Mira Corum would double in the top half of the second and plated on a Morgan Simpson single. The Maidens were poised for more when Bailee Woll hit a laser-liner toward an apparent infield gap. But Polson second base Mckenna Hanson snared the rocket, then turned a double play to pick off the runner attempting to advance. Ronan picked up two more in the top half of the third when leadoff Brogan Youngren doubled. Kaleigh Benson would single her home, then plated herself on a Tyariah Morigeau RBI double.

But the Lady Pirates responded with a run each in the bottom half of both innings that dulled the edge of the Ronan response with Avery Starr punctuating her presence at the plate with an exclamation point solo home run in the third inning.

Thereafter, the Maidens were able to maneuver a pair of runners into scoring position, but couldn't capitalize as Starr came on in relief to stiffle the threat with a strikeout. Polson would tack on a trio of insurance runs that would ensure the trajectory of the outcome.
 
Polson 14, Ronan 3

Lady Pirates (7-0, 10-2), Maidens (2-5, 5-8)

Tyariah Morigeau (⅓IP:1K,3H,1W), (1) Kaydance Santos (3⅔IP:1K,7H,2W,1PO) and Brogan Youngren, (4) Tracee Burland.

Sammantha Rensvold (3⅔IP:3K,6H,1W), (4) Avery Starr (1⅓IP:1K,0H,1HB,1PO) and Carli Maley. WP – Rensvold (8-2). LP – Morigeau (5-6). Sv – Starr.

RONAN – Youngren 1-2, Ally Luedtke 0-3, Kaleigh Benson 1-2, Morigeau 1-3, Santos 0-3, Mira Coru 2-2, Morgan Simpson 1-1,  Burland 0-1, Bailee Woll 0-2, Kylee Kelch 0-2.

POLSON – Nikki Kendall 3-4, Mckenna Hanson 1-2, Maley 2-4, Rensvold 0-2, Starr 1-3, Kailey Smith 1-3, Ansley Nordberg 0-2, Caitlyn Ward 0-3, Tyneesha Brown 2-3, (cr) Olivia Jore, Sierra Perez.

HR – Starr.
2B – Corum, Youngren, Morigeau; Hanson, Brown.
RBIs – Benson, Morigeau, Simpson; Kendall 2, Maley 2, Starr, Ka.Smith, Ward.
SH – Nordberg.
BB – Youngren; Hanson 2, Rensvold.
HB – Benson. ROE – Woll; Maley, Rensvold, Starr, Ward 2.
SB – Starr, S.Perez. Runs – Youngren, Benson, Corum; Kendall 3, Hanson 2, Jore 2, S.Perez, Starr 2, Ka.Smith, Ward, Brown 2.
DP – P1(t2:4-3)

RONAN 3, POLSON 14

Friday, May 5, 2023

Rain in respite, Lady Bucs best Browning

by John Heglie
 
At Larry Smith Field in Polson, the visiting  Lady Indians scored first when a pickoff attempt went awry, allowing Browning leadoff Kayt Evans to plate the first run. Though their own leadoff was left stranded on third in the bottom half of the first, the host Lady Pirates put into practice plenty of proficiency thereafter as well as exercised discriminating eyes at the plate as 14 different batters would reach base by various means.

Polson smacked a trio of extra base hits over the course of the contest. Mckenna Hanson would mash a tater for two in the bottom half of the third. Nikki Kendall tripled in the second to plate a pair, while Sam Rensvold doubled in one two batters later.

The visitors were missing their veteran pitching battery on account of illness, requiring redeployment of some personnel to less familiar positions.
 
Polson 16, Browning 1

Lady Pirates (8-0, 11-2), Lady Indians (0-6, 2-9)?

Brooke Blue and Natalee St. Goddard. Avery Starr (7K,2W) and Carli Maley. WP – Starr (3-0).

BROWNING – Kayt Evans 1-2, Blue 0-2, Tayleigh Upham 0-2, St.Goddard 0-2, Madison Augare 0-1, Maddison Burns 0-2, Jessica Perez 0-1, Jennika Marceau 0-1, Jazmine Bechtel 0-1.

POLSON – Nikki Kendall 3-3, Jaja Nichols 0-0, Mckenna Hanson 1-1, Alyssa Orien 0-0, Maley 0-2, Olivia Jore 0-0, Rensvold 1-3, Starr 1-2, Nevaeh Perez 1-3, Ansley Nordberg 0-1, Lizzie Cunningham 0-1, Caitlyn Ward 0-0, Emma Smith 0-0, Tyneesha Brown 0-0, Sierra Perez 0-1.

HR – Hanson. 3B – Kendall.
2B – Rensvold. RBIs – Kendall 3, Hanson 2, Jore, Rensvold 2, Starr, N.Perez.
SH – Nordberg, Hanson, Nichols.
BB – J.Perez, Augare; A.Orien, Hanson, Rensvold, Brown 2, Maley, Starr 2, Jore, Ward.
HB – E.Smith, Ward.
ROE – Augare; Rensvold, Nordberg, S.Perez.
FC – N.Perez. D3K – Blue.
SB – Kendall, Ward.
Runs – Kendall 2, Nichols, Hanson 2, A.Orien, Jore, N.Perez, Nordberg 2, Ward 2, E.Smith, Brown 2, S.Perez.

BROWNING 1 POLSON 16

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Farrell, Allen, Goudette power pack over Polson

By Daily Inter Lake

Ella Farrell hit two home runs, and Zoey Allen and Kenadie Goudette each hit one as Glacier’s softball squad made quick work of visiting Polson Tuesday, 15-0.

Farrell went 3-for-3 with a double; she hit a three-run homer in the first inning and — after Allen hit a two-run shot in the third inning — added a two out grand slam in the same frame for a 12-0 Wolfpack lead.

When Goudette hit a three-run homer with one out in the fourth inning, the game ended under the mercy rule. The Western AA Pack improved to 12-1 with the non-conference win. Polson, which leads the Northwest A, fell to 11-3.

Morgan Vivian threw a complete game for Glacier, allowing only Samantha Rensvold’s single in the second inning. She walked none and struck out five.

Samantha Rensvold, Avery Starr (3), Nikki Kendall (4) and Carli Maley. Morgan Vivian and Cazz Rankosky.

POLSON — Kendall 0-2, Mckenna Hanson 0-2, Maley 0-2, Rensvold 1-2, Starr 0-2, Kailey Smith 0-1, Ansley Nordberg 0-1, Caitlyn Ward 0-1, Tyneesha Brown 0-1, Sierra Perez 0-0.

GLACIER — Kenadie Goudette 3-4, Nakiah Persinger 2-3, Rankoski 0-2, Emma Cooke 0-2, Ella Farrell 3-3, Zoey Allen 1-2, Vivian 2-2, Daytona Schuman 0-0, Avery Anderson 0-2, Brooklyn Imperato 1-2.

2B — Farrell. HR — Farrell 2, Goudette, Allen. RBIs — Farrell 7, Goudette 4, Allen 2, Cooke.

No welcome to the jungle: Pirates razed by Wolves

by John Heglie
 
At Kalispell, there was no heartwarming Mowgli comparison such as found in the Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling after Polson's visit to Glacier. The host Lady Wolfpack shifted gears away from the past two season one run splits by inflicting something akin to a M&M overdose of malevalent mayhem upon visiting Polson with a mascot mauling without sugar coating. While Glacier hurler Morgan Vivian hancuffed Lady Pirate batters to a single hit, the Wolfpack offense at the plate brutalized visiting pitching that included five extra base hits, a quartet of which were see-ya/out-a-here home runs. Starter Sam Rensvold would supply the only base hit for Polson, though the Lady Pirates had one other base runner when Caitlyn Ward reached on an infield error. Mckenna Hanson smacked a stroke that held extra base potential, but its trajectory drifted foul.

The Lady Pirates will likely be reticent about mashed taters on their dinner plates for a time as they got more than their fill after this past visit to Kalispell.

The team will travel to the LaVerne Combo Butte Invitational softball tournament this weekend, where they are slated to face Billings Central, Laurel, Glendive and Havre..
 
Glacier 15, Polson 0

Lady Pirates (11-3), Lady Wolfpack (12-1)

Morgan Vivian (5K) and Cazz Rankosky. Sam Rensvold (2IP:2K,2H,3W), (3) Avery Starr (1⅓IP:2K,6H,3W), (4) Nikki Kendall and Carli Maley. WP – Vivian (5-0). LP – Rensvold (8-3).

POLSON – Kendall 0-2, Mckenna Hanson 0-2, Maley 0-2, Rensvold 1-2, Starr 0-2, Kailey Smith 0-2, Ansley Nordberg 0-1, Caitlyn Ward 0-1, Tyneesha Brown 0-1, (cr) Sierra Perez.

KALISPELL GLACIER – Kenadie Goudette 2-4, Nakiah Persinger 2-3, Rankosky 0-1, Emma Cooke 0-2, Farrell 3-3, Zoey Allen 1-2, Vivian 0-2, Avery Anderson 0-2, Brooklyn Imperato 1-2, (cr) Daytona Schuman.

HR – Farrell 2(gs), Allen, Goudette. 2B – Farrell. RBIs – Goudette 4, Persinger, Cooke, Farrell 7, Allen 2. SH – Imperato. BB – Rankosky 2, Cooke, Allen, Vivian, Anderson. ROE – Ward; Goudette, Rankosky, Vivian. FC – Vivian. Runs – Goudette 2, Persinger, Rankosky 2, Cooke, Farrell 3, Allen, Schuman, Anderson. (Tu0May23)

variants – G(MaxP:12H, PiScore:9H): Goudette(b1:ROE vs H), Vivian 2H(b1:FC vs H, b4:ROE vs H)

Friday, May 12, 2023

Butte Inv - Laverne Combo

GAME 1

POLSON 2, BILLINGS CENTRAL 9

GAME 2

LAUREL 6, POLSON 5

Saturday, May 13, 2023

POLSON 12, HAVRE 9

DAWSON COUNTY 2, POLSON 6

Monday, May 15, 2023

Lady Pirates down Bulldogs, remain undefeated in conference play

Polson was the beneficiary of 11 walks and scored 16 runs on just 6 hits in downing the Lady Bulldogs.  Samantha Rensvold allowed 3 hits while striking out 4 and walking 3 in the run-rule shortened game. The Lady Pirates are 9-0 in conference and 14-5 overall.

POLSON 16, WHITEFISH 0

Tuesday, March 16, 2023 (Suspended due to lightning delay, finished Wednesday, March 17)

Kats capsize Pirates to capture NWA conference crown

by John Heglie
 
At Larry Smith Field in Polson, the host Lady Pirates and the visiting WildKats of Columbia Falls clashed in the final regular schedule contest between both clubs with the NWA conference crown hinging on the outcome. Polson had won their earlier meeting 8-6 back in April. Win the game outright or lose by no more than two runs and the Lady Pirates would capture the NWA crown and take the #1-seeding into the divisional tournament.

The contest started out promising for the host purple & gold as a fitting tribute for honoring their three seniors on Senior Night. Leadoff Nikki Kendall opened with a double, then stole third base. Mckenna Hanson singled Kendall home, followed by Carli Maley mashing a tater over the fence in left-center to stake Polson to a 3-0 advantage.

But typical of recent clashes between the Kats and the Pirates, that lead would not hold up for long. Columbia Falls knotted the contest at three apiece in the top half of the second when Demye Rensel parked a three run homer on the other side of the fence.

At that juncture, it looked like the match was going to play out similar to a prize fight in which both contestants duke it out round after round to determine who would remain standing at the conclusion. But as if the clouds gathering in the distance were a portent of things yet to come, the contest would instead take a turn to reflect the adage about "sometimes when it rains, it pours." Pirate pitching would be plagued by precision predicaments as five walks and a bean ball would route a half dozen Kats with a free pass onto the base path, exacerbated by the infield defense falling afoul to fielding foibles. Columbia Falls would run through their entire order and then some in the top half of the third, plating seven runs to vault to a commanding 10-3 lead. With only one out and runners at the corners, lightning would strike in advance of the gathering storm, forcing a precautionary delay in the action due to the inadvisability about holding metal rods in hand when bolts of lightning are flashing about. Shortly thereafter, a downpour would postpone the proceedings until the following day when more conducive weather would prevail.

On the following afternoon, the Kats would pick up where they left off, plating two more runs on the lone hit of the inning to expand their advantage 12-3. Thereafter, the Lady Pirates would succeed in routing only three runners onto the base path the following four innings, not enough to dent in the deficit. Meanwhile, the WildKats would tack on a strategic run in the top of the sixth to make it 13-3. When the Lady Pirates went quietly 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the inning, the contest was over due to the ten-run ruling.

The Lady Pirates bid farewell to their soon to depart senior trio of Ansley Nordberg, Caitlyn Ward and Tyneesha Brown, a productive bottom third of the batting order over the course of the majority of the season.

The Lady Pirates are slated to commence postseason play against 6SW Dillon at the Western A Divisional in Frenchtown this weekend. The winner of that contest will then face the winner of 4NW Ronan vs 3SW Stevensville.
 
Columbia Falls 13, Polson 3

Lady Pirates (9-1, 14-6), WildKats (9-1, 17-3)

C-Falls  039 001 – 13  5   3
Polson   300 000 –  3   4   5

Maddie Moultray and Demye Rensel. Avery Starr (2IP:2K,2H,3W), (3a) Nikki Kendall (2W,1HB), (3b) Sam Rensvold (4IP:2K,3H,2W,1HB) and Carli Maley.

WP – Moultray.
LP – Starr (5-2).

COLUMBIA FALLS – Taylor Lingle 0-4, Aspen Dawson 0-3, Moultray 1-1, Haden Peters 0-4, Syd Mann 1-3, Maddie Collins 0-4, Sophie Robbins 0-3, Kyrah Trenkle 1-2, Rensel 2-3, (cr) Bella Mann, Annika Reid, Sydney Burke.

POLSON – Kendall 1-3, Mckenna Hanson 2-3, Maley 1-3, Rensvold 0-3, Starr 0-1, Kailey Smith 0-3, Ansley Nordberg 0-3, Caitlyn Ward 0-2, Tyneesha Brown 0-2, (cr) Sierra Perez.

HR – Rensel; Maley.

2B – Trenkle; Kendall.

RBIs – Dawson, S.Mann 2, Collins, Trenkle 2, Rensel 5; Hanson; Maley 2.

SH – Robbins.

BB – Lingle, Dawson, Moultray 3, S.Mann, Trenkle; Starr 2.

HB – Trenkle, Rensel. ROE – Peters, S.Mann, Collins 2, Trenkle; Kendall.

FC – Dawson, Peters, Collins, Robbins; Ka.Smith.

SB – Kendall. Runs – Dawson 2, B.Mann 2, Peters, S.Mann 2, Collins, Robbins, Trenkle 2, Rensel, Reid; Kendall, Hanson, Maley.

Wildkats gain top seed in Northwest A with win over Lady Pirates

The Lady Pirates committed 5 errors and the 3 pitchers combined for 7 walks against Columbia Falls with the Wildkats prevailing 13-3.  The game left both teams at 9-1 in the conference.  Columbia Falls earned the conference championship based on the run differential in the two games against Polson.  Polson won the first contest 8-6 at Columbia Falls earlier in the season.  Columbia Falls had only 5 hits in the contest.  Maddie Moultray went the distance in the circle for the win.  Avery Starr was credited with the loss. The Lady Pirates are 9-1 in conference and 14-6 overall.  Polson opens Western A Divisional play against Dillon at 11:00am on Field 2 in Frenchtown on Friday.

COLUMBIA FALLS 13, POLSON 3

Friday/Saturday, May 19-20, 2023

Western A Divisional

Friday, May 19, 2023

Game 1

DILLON 5, POLSON 15

Friday, May 19, 2023

Game 2

RONAN 5, POLSON 7

May 25-27, 2023

State A softball tournament

at Belgrade

Game 1

Laurel 15, Polson 6

There was no letdown for Laurel after sitting on a 7-3 lead overnight due to a suspension of play. The Locomotives picked up where they left off and topped Polson 15-6 to advance in the winners bracket.

Laurel scored seven runs in the sixth inning to pull away from the Pirates. Arlette Nieto, Mia Anderson and Madison Moorman each recored three RBI. Josie Benson scored four runs on three hits and added two RBI.

Carli Haley led the Pirates with two hits on the day, including a home run. Rachel Miller earned the win on the mound for Laurel, allowing six runs on eight hits while striking out six.

Laurel advances to face Eastern A rival Havre in the undefeated quarterfinals.

Game 2

POLSON 18, PARK 8

Game 3

Polson 11, Libby 2

The Loggers led 1-0 before the Pirates (18-8) exploded for 11 runs in three innings.

Avery Starr’s RBI single capped a 3-run fifth inning for Polson; Olivia Jore’s 3-run homer put the Pirates up 9-1 in the sixth.

Jossalyn White hit an RBI single in the fourth inning for Libby, and Mackenzie Foss clubbed a solo home run in the sixth.

Nikki Kendal, Caitlyn Ward, Tyneesha Brown and Mckenna Hanson all scored two runs for Polson. Starr went the distance in the circle, scattering nine hits with no walks. She struck out nine.

Avery Starr and Carli Maley. Foss, MacDonald (6) and Boemhler.

POLSON — Nikki Kendall 1-3, Mckenna Hanson 1-2, Maley 1-4, Olivia Jore 1-4, Starr 2-4, Kailey Smith 0-4, Ansley Nordberg 1-3, Caitlyn Ward 1-3, tyneesha Brown 1-3, Samantha Rensvold 0-0, Jaja Nichols 0-0.

LIBBY — MacDonald 1-3, Boemhler 1-3, Foss 2-3, White 2-3, P.Vincent 0-3, Wilson 0-3, Waggoner 2-3, McElmurry 1-3, M.Vincent 0-3.

2B — Hanson, Maley, Starr. HR — Jore, Foss. RBIs — Jore 3, Kendall, Hanson, Maley, Starr, Foss, White.

POLSON 11, LIBBY 2

Game 4

BILLINGS CENTRAL 9, POLSON 5

Saturday, May 26, 2022

Polson 10, Plains 0 (5 inn.)

Plains   0 0 0 0 0 -   0  0 4
Polson  1  1  5 2  1 - 10 10 0

WP - Druyvestein. LP - C. VonHeeder.

Hits - Polson: Maley 3 (HR), Starr 2, Kendall 2 (2B), Druyvestein, Pierre (3B), Jaiven BadBear (HR).

RBIs - Polson: Maley 2, BadBear 2, Hanson, Kendall, Pierre.

Polson 8, Butte Central 2

Butte Central 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 - 2 2 4
Polson             2 3 2 0 0 1 x - 8 9 2

WP - Katelyne Druyvestein. LP - Mehring.

Hits - Polson: McKenna Hanson 3 (2B, 3B), Nikki Kendall 3, Carli Maley, Avery Starr, Anna Vert.

RBIs - Polson: Hanson 2, Kendall 2, Druyvestein, Turquoise Pierre, Reegan Stinger.

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Bucs bounce Bitterroot Broncs

by John Heglie
 
At Larry Smith Field in Polson, the host Lady Pirates unsaddled the visiting Bitterroot Lady Broncs on a crisp and windy night under the lights. Polson was in firm control after one. But the wheels would fall off the wagon for Hamilton when control issues from the circle were compounded by fielding faux pas that resulted in a ten run third inning that would end the game early. Clobberin Carli Maley stroked the lone extra base hit, while every Lady Pirate batter reached base either by means of free pass or hit. Hurler Katelyne Druyvestein would pick up her third win of the season after a light workload in which she faced only thirteen Broncs in the batter's box, sending half of them back to the dugout empty handed with strikeouts.
 
Polson 16, Hamilton 0
NWA Polson (3-0), SWA Hamilton (0-2)

Hamilton 0 0  (0) –  0 0 3
Polson     4 2 (10) – 16 8 2

Brynne Johnson (2IP:1K,6H,2W), (3a) Katelyn Shepherd (⅓IP:5W,2HB), (3b) Johnson (⅔IP:2H,3W) and Addison Flynn. Katelyne Druyvestein (7K,3W) and Mckenna Hanson. W – Druyvestein (3-0). L – Johnson (0-2).

HAMILTON – Flynn 0-2, Delilah Beck 0-1, Cierra Cole 0-2, Maddy Ward 0-1, Alyson Broad 0-0, Shepherd 0-1,  Johnson 0-1, Haylie McKinley 0-1, Madison Fischer 0-0, (flex) Thea Jackson.

POLSON – Druyvestein 1-1, Hanson 2-3, Nikki Kendall 0-2, Carli Maley 2-2, Ashlynn Depoe 0-2, Avery Starr 1-1, Caitlyn Ward 0-1,  Jaivin BadBear 1-2, Anna Vert 1-1, (flex) Lexi Johnson.

2B – Maley. RBIs – Druyvestein 3, Hanson, Maley 2, Ward, BadBear 2. SF – Druyvestein. SH  – Beck. BB – Broad, Fischer, M.Ward; Depoe, Vert 2, Starr 2, C.Ward 2, endall, Druyvestein, Maley. HB – BadBear, Druyvestein. SB – M.Ward; Vert, Starr 2, Hanson, C.Ward, Druyvestein. Runs – Druyvestein 2, Hanson 2, Kendall, Maley 2, Depoe, Starr 3, Ward, BadBear 2, Vert 2.

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Lady Pirates shiver past Maidens in key conference clash

by John Heglie
 
At Larry Smith Field in Polson played under unseasonably frigid wintery conditions in low-30s temps with brisk wind chill dipping well below thethreshold, the visiting Ronan Maidens and the host Lady Pirates played out the first round of their annual Rez rivalry wrangle. Both pitchers fanned four batters while issuing comparable free trips to the base path. But Polson's ace hurler Katelyne Druyvestein supplemented her portfolio by inducing four tappers to the mound where she assisted in throwouts.

What differentiated between the two Mission Valley rivals would be the measure of heat generated at the plate by bats which factored into the outcome. Whereas visiting Ronan would only see five base runners over the course of the contest with two advancing into scoring position, host Polson would more than triple their opportunities that included four hits for extra bases. Lady Pirate number three batter Nikki Kendall would smack a pair of triples, number six batter Avery Starr would mash a solo tater over the fence in left field to open second inning scoring, while bottom of the order batter Anna Vert to lash a laser liner into left center for a double.

The game was close through an inning and a half with the Lady Pirates nursing a slender one run lead until they erupted in the bottom half of the second as they sent their entire order to the plate and then some, scoring seven runs on seven hits. Thereafter, Druyvestein had all the cushion she needed to challenge the remaining Maiden hitters she would face.

To Ronan's credit, they succeeded in applying a measure of damage control when they stranded seven Lady Pirates on the base path. During second inning action, a Maiden outfielder came within inches of snaring one of Kendall's doubles for what would have notched the third out, thereby ending the inning early while negating five runs from eventually crossing the plate.

Should Mother Nature cooperate, both teams hit the road for Saturday contests. The Maidens will clash with the WildKats of Columbia Falls on Lady Griz turf at the University of Montana, while the Lady Pirates travel to Libby for their second conference contest.

Polson 10, Ronan 0

Polson (1-0, 4-0), Ronan (0-2, 1-5)

Ronan  0 0 0 0 0 –  0  2 1
Polson  1 7 2 0 x  – 10 13 1

Kiara Sherman (4K,3W) and Harlee Stokes. Katelyne Druyvestein (4K,1W,1HB,4A) and Mckenna Hanson. W – Druyvestein (4-0). L – Sherman (1-5).

RONAN – LouRasia Weatherwax 1-3, Kaleigh Benson 0-3, Ashlie Welker 0-0, Sherman 1-2, Tracee Burland 0-2, Haylie Webster 0-2, Stokes 0-2,  Kaydance Santos 0-0, Ally Luedtke 0-2, (flex) Hanna Lytton, (cr) Kylee Kelch.

POLSON – Druyvestein 3-4, Hanson 0-4, Nikki Kendall 2-2, Turquoise Pierre 1-2, Carli Maley 2-3, Avery Starr 2-3, Kaleigh Smith 1-2,  Jaivin BadBear 1-3, Anna Vert *1-3, (flex) Ashlynn Depoe.

HR – Starr. 2B – Kendall 2, Vert. RBIs – Druyvestein, Hanson, Kendall 3, T.Pierre, Maley, Starr 2. BB – Welker; Smith, T.Pierre, Kendall. HB – Welker. ROE – Santos;*Vert. FC – Vert. SB – Santos; Kendall. Runs – Druyvestein 2, Kendall 2, T.Pierre, Maley, Starr, BadBear, Vert 2.

Saturday, April 16, 2022

Polson shuts out Libby, still undefeated

LIBBY — Katelyn Druyvestein threw a 5-hit shutout and had four hits from her leadoff spot, leading Polson over Libby 10-0 in Northwest A softball Saturday.

Courtney Benson got two of Libby’s five hits, including a double, but the Loggers (4-3 overall, 2-1 in league) couldn’t push a run across against the Pirates’ ace. Druyvestein struck out 15 hitters and walked none.

Polson (5-0, 2-0) got all the runs it needed in the first when Turquoise Pierre’s single to left was misplayed for an error, scoring Druyvestein — who’d led off with a single — and Nikki Kendall, who had walked. Pierre moved to third on the play, and scored on a grounder by Carli Maley to make it 3-0.

Marli hit a 2-run single to make it 8-0 in the fourth inning; Druyvestein’s 2-run double in the seventh capped the scoring.

Libby’s next action is Tuesday against visiting Columbia Falls, at 5:30 p.m.

Polson 3 1  1  3 0 0 2 - 10 13 1
Libby   0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -  0  5 4

Katelyn Druyvestein and Mckenna Hanson. Taylor Munro, Paislee MacDonald (4) and Kinzee Boehmier.

POLSON — Druyvestein 4-5, Hanson 0-5, Nikki Kendall 2-3, Turquoise Pierre 1-4, Carli Maley 2-4, Avery Starr 2-4, Kailey Smith 0-3, Tyneesha Brown 1-1, Jaivin Bad Bear 1-4, Anna Vert 0-3.

LIBBY — Courtney Benson 2-3, MacDonald 0-3, Mackenzie Foos 0-3, Munro 1-3, Mylie Rayome 1-3, Destinee Crawford 0-3, Jossalyn White -3, Boehmier 0-2, Aleesha Bradeen 0-1, Sidney Rusdal 1-2.

2B — Druyvestein 2, Starr, Brown, Benson. RBIs — Maley 3, Druyvestein 2, Starr, Smith.

Friday, April 22, 2022

C-Falls softball downs Polson, 14-4

By Daily Inter Lake

POLSON — Kyrah Trenkle had three hits, and she and Abbie Darsow hit home runs to lead Columbia Falls to a 14-4 Northwest A softball win over Polson Friday night.

Maddie Moultrey went the distance on the mound for Columbia Falls (9-1 overall, 3-0 in league games), which used two big innings to build a 14-0 lead and earn its first win over the Pirates since April of 2019. Moultray gave up eight hits and two walks, fanned eight, and helped her own cause with a double.

Polson hurt its cause with nine fielding errors, and just one of the nine runs Columbia Falls scored off ace Katelyn Druyvestein was earned.

Trenkle singled to start the Wildkats’ 8-run third, and capped it with a two-out, 2-run homer to center field. Darsow hit a 3-run shot to cap a fourth-inning outburst.

Haden Peters scored three times for Columbia Falls

Polson (5-1, 2-1) put up a crooked number in the fourth, getting an RBI double from Nikki Kendall and a 2-run triple from Jaivin Bad Bear. Down 14-4, the defending State A champions got a runner to second in the fifth inning, but couldn’t score and the game ended under the mercy rule.

C-Falls 0 1 8 5 0 - 14 11 1
Polson 0 0 0 4 0 -   4  8  9

Maddie Moultray and Demye Rensel. Katelyn Druyvestein, Turquoise Pierre (3) and McKenna Hanson.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Sydney Mann 1-2, Hayley Lawrence 1-4, Moultray 1-3, Aspen Dawson 2-4, Haden Peters 1-4, Abbie Darsow 1-3, Aletheia Fisher 1-4, Kyrah Trenkle 3-3, Rensel 0-2, Maddy Collins 0-0, Annika Reid 0-0, Taylor Lyingle 0-0.

POLSON — Druyvestein 2-3, Hanson 1-2, Nikki Kendall 1-2, Turquoise Pierre 0-3, Carli Maley 1-3, Avery Starr 1-2, Kailey Smith 0-3, Jaivin Bad Bear 2-3, Anna Vert 0-2, Alexis Johnson 0-0.

2B — Lawrence, Moultray, Hanson, Kendall. 3B — Bad Bear. HR — Darsow, Trenkle. RBIs — Darsow 3, Trenkle 2, Moultray, Dawson, Peters, Mann, Bad Bear 2, Kendall, Vert.

Saturday, April 23, 2022

Big innings bounce Lady Bucs past Browning

by John Heglie

At Larry Smith Field in Polson, the host Lady Pirates culminated the first half of their conference schedule with a victory over the visiting Browning Lady Indians.

The Lady Pirates smacked a trio of extra base hits that accounted for a half dozen runs. Katelyne Druyvestein and Carli Maley hammered homers, while Nikki Kendall drilled a double.

Druyvestein not only mashed the first tater of her varsity career, but her over the fence, out of the park home run was also her first ever of that variety in the history of her softball career. Previous four-baggers had been of the inside-the-park variety as she outraced the defensive coverage to cross home plate. Maley's two-run shot in the bottom of the second frame was her second of the season, its left-center trajectory coming close to taking out a windshield of a vehicle parked on the other side of the fence. Kendall's double rolled to the centerfield fence, scoring three. Mckenna Hanson earned queen of the bean honors when she "took one for the team" thrice, generating a pair of RBIs in the process. Middle third of the order batter Kailey Smith reached base on all four of her trips to the plate with two hits providing bookends for a free pass by walk along with reaching by error.  Many of the supplemental reserves saw action as they substituted for regulars the final two innings.

The Lady Pirates embark upon a competitive schedule the final week of April as they face Frenchtown in a rematch of the State A title tilt last season, then play four at the Frenchtown Invitational this weekend.

Polson 20, Browning 0

Polson (3-1, 6-1), Browning (0-3, 0-4)˜

Browning (0) 0 0 0 0 –   0  0 5
Polson   (10) 6 2 2 x – 20 11 2

Brooke Blue (⅔IP:6H,2W,3HB), (1) Susan Connelly and S.Connelly, (1) Blue. Katelyn Druyvestein (2IP:5K), (3) Turquoise Pierre (3IP:7K) and Mckenna Hanson, (3) Carli Maley. W – Druyvestein (6-1). L – Blue. Sv – Pierre.

BROWNING – Kaytins Evans 0-2, Blue 0-2, Madison Augare 0-2, Paris Vaile 0-2, Larissa Lahr 0-2, Emily Williams 0-1, Jennika Marceau 0-1, Aubrey Momberg 0-0,  J.Grisell 0-1, Whitley Bird 0-1.

POLSON – Druyvestein 1-2, Tyneesha Brown 0-1, Hanson 0-0, Caitlyn Ward 0-2, Nikki Kendall 2-4, T.Pierre 1-2, Maley 2-3, Kailey Smith 2-3, Ashlynn Depoe 1-2, Ansley Nordberg 0-1, Jaivin BadBear 1-1, Lexi Johnson 0-0, Anna Vert 1-2, Julia Barnard 0-1.

HR – Druyvestein, Maley. 2B – Kendall. RBIs – Druyvestein, Hanson 2, Kendall 4, T.Pierre, Maley 3, Ka.Smith, Johnson, Vert, Barnard. BB – Druyvestein, Brown, T.Pierre, Maley, Ka.Smith, Depoe, BadBear, Johnson 2, Barnard. HB – Hanson 3, T.Pierre. FC – T.Pierre, Depoe, Ward, Barnard. ROE – Blue; Druyvestein, Maley, Ka.Smith, Brown. SB – Hanson, Johnson. Runs – Druyvestein 2, Hanson 2, Kendall, T.Pierre 3, Maley 3, Ka.Smith, Depoe 2, BadBear 2, Johnson 2, Vert, Barnard. 

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

Frenchtown scores extra-inning walk-off win over Polson in 2021 state title rematch

FRENCHTOWN — Make it a perfect 10 for the Frenchtown softball team.

The Broncs improved their record to 10-0 with a win Tuesday night, but their latest victory didn’t come easy. It wasn’t expected to be a walk in the park either because they were hosting the defending State A champions in a rematch of last year’s state title game, which Polson had won 9-3.

This time, Frenchtown emerged victorious. They needed extra innings to do so and pulled out a 3-2 win when Cassidy Bagnell scored the winning run in walk-off fashion.

“Great softball game,” Frenchtown coach Eli Field said. “We competed at the plate all night long. I felt like we made life tough on their pitcher. She did a really good job. We hit some balls really well. They hit some balls well. Both teams made amazing defensive plays.”

Bagnell reached base in the bottom of the eighth inning on a one-out single, stole second base and advanced to third on Sadie Smith’s 4-3 groundout. She scored during the next at-bat when an 0-2 pitch to Alexis Godin went wide and rolled away from the catcher.

Bagnell finished 2 for 4 at the plate with two runs scored. Her first run put Frenchtown up 1-0 when she and Smith led off the bottom of the first inning with back-to-back doubles.

Polson scored both of its runs in the third inning when Nikki Kendall smacked a two-run double off the fence in left field, driving in Anna Vert and Katelyn Druyvestein. Godin tied the game 2-2 with a solo home run over the scoreboard in center field in the fourth inning.

Smith held Polson to four hits and two walks in eight innings while striking out six batters. She had pitched the Broncs to the state title game last year but was unable to throw in the championship contest after she took a pitch off her hand in the prior game.

Druyvestein limited Frenchtown to five hits and one walk in 7 2/3 innings while striking out five. Her pitching was a major force in the Pirates’ title run last year, but they’ve needed to replace five key senior hitters in their lineup this year.

Polson dropped to 6-2 with the non-conference loss. Its first loss came on Friday, 14-4 against conference foe Columbia Falls.

The Broncs, who play in the Southwest A, and Pirates, who play in the Northwest A, aren’t scheduled to face each other again in the regular season. If they meet up for another round, it’ll be at the state tournament in May in Hamilton.

“I’m feeling good for our kids to walk away with the win but also understanding at some point we’re going to see these guys again,” Field said. “It was a 50-50 game.”

Frenchtown 3, Polson 2

Polson          0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 - 2 4 1
Frenchtown 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 - 3 5 0

W: Sadie Smith. L: Katelyne Druyvestein.

Hits - Polson: Druyvestein, Nikki Kendall 2 (2B), Anna Vert. Frenchtown: Cassidy Bagnell 2 (2B), Smith (2B), Alexis Godin (HR), Toni Beatty.

RBIs - Polson: Kendall 2. Frenchtown: Smith, Godin.

Friday, April 29, 2022

Game 1

Polson hands Florence 1st loss in battle of 2021 State A, State B-C champs

FRENCHTOWN — Polson put together a five-run sixth inning to pull off a 6-5 comeback win over Florence in a battle of defending state champion softball teams on Friday.

The Pirates, last year's State A champions, improved to 7-2 by becoming the first team to beat the Falcons, last season's State B-C champions. They had lost to Frenchtown, the 2021 State A runner-up, on an extra-winning walk-off Tuesday.

Trailing 5-1 entering the bottom of the sixth, Polson's Turquoise Pierre drove in Julia Barnard with an RBI single, Carli Maley brought home Nikki Kendall with an RBI double, Avery Starr sliced a two-run single that scored Pierre and Maley, and Tyneesha Brown scored on an error to break the 5-5 tie.

Katelyne Druyvestein had Polson's other RBI, which came on a sacrifice fly that scored Jaivin BadBear in the third inning. The Pirates collected six runs, five earned, on six hits against Florence starter Kylie Kovatch, who struck out eight and didn't issue a walk in six innings.

Druyvestein pitched all seven innings, holding Florence to five runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits and one walk while striking out eight and having her defense commit eight errors. Florence struck early, scoring two runs in the first inning when Kasidy Yeoman singled and advanced the next three bases on errors and Kolbi Wood reached on an error and later scored on an error.

The Falcons went up 3-0 when Madi Potter, who walked, scored on Autumn Sutton's RBI double. They pushed their lead to 4-1 in the fifth when Rylie Yeoman scored on Oliver Coulter's RBI sacrifice fly after reaching on an error, and they made it 5-1 in the sixth when Jaidyn Larson reached on an error and ended up scoring on an error.

Friday, April 29, 2022

Game 2

Lady Pirates pound Blue Devils

FRENCHTOWN — The Polson battery of pitcher Katelyn Druyvestein and catcher McKenna Hanson teamed up for a one-hitter and combined for six RBIs in the Pirates’ 13-0 win over Corvallis at the Frenchtown Invitational softball tournament Friday.

The win was Polson’s second of the day: The defending Class A champion ended State B champion Florence’s hopes 6-5 in the day’s first game.

Druyvestein allowed one hit and no walks in five innings of work, and struck out 11.

Hanson caught the first three innings, and hit a two-run home run in the third. Two batters later Turquoise Pierre hit a solo shot to put Polson (8-2) up 10-0.

Druyvestein, Jaivin Bad Bear and Anna Vert each scored three times for the Pirates, who totaled 14 hits and four walks against three Corvallis pitchers.

Corvallis 0 0 0 0 0 -   0   1  3
Polson    3 3 4 3 x - 13 14  1

Gabby Kriger, Mikee Greenwood (2), Mel Race (3) and Kaitlin McCartney. Katelyne Druyvestein and McKenna Hanson, Carli Maley (4).

CORVALLIS — M.Greenwood 1-1, Emma Cashell 0-2, Kriger 0-2, McCartney 0-3, Ella Dowd 0-0, Jess Saturday 0-2, Soph Cooper 0-2, Syd Wolsky 0-2, J.Greenwood 0-2.

POLSON — Druyvestein 2-3, Hanson 2-3, Nikkie Kendall 1-3, Tynessha Brown 1-1, Turquoise Pierre 3-3, Alexis Johnson 0-0, Maley 1-2, Avery Starr 1-2, Kailey Smith 1-1, Caitlyn Ward 1-3, Jaivin Bad Bear 0-1, Anna Vert 1-2.

HR — Pierre, Hanson. RBIs — Druyvestein 3, Hanson 3, Pierre 2, Kendall, Brown, Maley, Starr.

Saturday, April 30, 2022

Game 3

Locomotives shut down Lady Pirates offense

Laurel 5, Polson 2

Laurel  0 1 2 0 2 0 0 — 5 9 0
Polson 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 — 2 7 2

W: Kadence Temple. L: KATELYNE DRUYVESTEIN.

Laurel—Hits: Charley McLean 2, Shelbi Block 2, Kadence Temple, Josie Benson, Mia Andersen, Tierra Langford, Taylor Strecker. 2B: Shelbi Block. 3B: Shelbi Block. HR: Josie Benson. RBIs: Josie Benson 2, Charley McLean, Shelbi Block, Taylor Strecker.

Polson—Hits: KATELYNE DRUYVESTEIN 2, JAIVIN BAD BEAR 2, MCKENNA HANSON 2, NIKKI KENDALL. 2B: MCKENNA HANSON 2, KATELYNE DRUYVESTEIN. RBIs: MCKENNA HANSON.

Game 4

Polson bats pound East Helena

Polson 16, East Helena 0

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

Lady Pirates eek out close win in extra innings

In the bottom of the eight inning, Turquoise Pierre "Turq" drove home the winning run with a blast that sailed over the left fielders head to the wall scoring Nikki Kendall from 1st base to secure the extra inning victory over Kalispell Glacier.  The Lady Pirates led most of the game until a passed ball allowed the game to be tied in the sixth. Katelyne Druyvestein struck out 16 Kalispell batters in going the distance for the win.

LOB--2022 Glacier 4, Polson 13. ERR--Paishance Haller, Mady Osler (2), Avery Anderson, Mckenna Hanson, Carli Maley. 2B--Turquoise Pierre, Katelyne Druyvestein. HBP--Sammie Labrum. SACB--Anna Vert, Mckenna Hanson, Caitlyn Ward (2), Katelyne Druyvestein. SB--Jaivin BadBear (2).

PB--Brooklyn Imperato (3). WP--Alli Kernan, Ella Farrell (2), Katelyne Druyvestein. SO--Teagen Powell (2), Sammie Labrum (2), Avery Anderson (2), Kenadie Goudette (2), Brooklyn Imperato (3), Ella Farrell (3), Nakiah Persinger, Emma Cooke, Jaivin BadBear, Caitlyn Ward, Nikki Kendall (2), Katelyne Druyvestein (2), Carli Maley. BB--Sammie Labrum, Paishance Haller, Turquoise Pierre (2), Jaivin BadBear, Avery Starr (2), Katelyne Druyvestein.

Friday, May 5, 2022

Lady Pirates down Browning

Turquoise Pierre secured the victory on the mound as the Lady Pirates blasted Browning 24-2 in a game shortened by the mercy run rule. Turquoise Pierre helped her own cause with a home run and Mckenna Hanson also left the park for a round tripper.

LOB--Polson 1, Browning 4;  ERR--Jaivin BadBear, Carli Maley,  Kipling, J Grinsell, Susan Connelly, T Upham, Whitney Bird,  Goddard, E Williams. 3B--Mckenna Hanson (2). HR--Turquoise Pierre, Mckenna Hanson. HBP--Carli Maley (2). SACF--Ashlyn Depoe. SB--Turquoise Pierre, Jaivin BadBear.

PB-- Goddard (7). WP--Turquoise Pierre, Susan Connelly (9). SO--Julia Barnard, Carli Maley, Kipling, J Mororan, T Upham, Katelyne Evans, E Williams. BB--Alexis Johnson, Turquoise Pierre, Jaivin BadBear, Anna Vert, Ansley Nordberg, Mckenna Hanson, Tyneesha Brown, Nikki Kendall (2), Carli Maley, Madison Augare.

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Polson too much for Bravettes

By FRITZ NEIGHBOR

POLSON — Carli Maley homered and drove in seven runs, and Class A power Polson topped AA Flathead 15-5 in a softball game shortened to five innings by the mercy rule.

The Bravettes (2-14) found their offense in the fifth inning with a grand slam by Macy Craver and an RBI double from Kaidyn Lake.

Polson (13-3) scored a single run in the fifth to push its lead back to 10, ending the game.

Katelyne Druyvestein struck out nine Bravettes, and walked one.

Flathead 0 0 0 0 5 - 5  5  5
Polson     1 6 3 4 1 - 15 13 0

Lacie Franklin, Ava Besson (3) and Laynee Vessar. Katelyne Druyvestein and McKenna Hanson.

FLATHEAD — Macy Craver 1-3, Vesar 0-3, Besson 2-3, Kaidyn Lake 1-3, Mackenzie Brandt 0-2, Ellie Eve 0-2, Franklin 0-1, Lyssa Leimkuehler, Brynn Mailman 0-1.

POLSON — Druyvestein 2-4, Hanson 1-3, Nikki Kendall 2-3, Turquoise Pierre 2-4, Carli Maley 3-4, Avery Starr 0-4, Jaivin Bad Bear 0-0, Ashlyn Depoe 1-2, Julia Barnard 0-0, Ansley Nordberg 1-1, Anna Vert 1-2, Tyneesha Brown 0-1, Alexis Johnson 0-1.

2B — Lake. HRF — Craver, Maley. RBIs — Craver 4, Lake, Maley 7, Kendall 2, Hanson, Pierre.

Friday/Saturday, May 13-14, 2022

Butte Invitational - Laverne Combo

Friday

Feller's Walk-off Gives Laurel Victory Over Polson

A walk-off home run propelled Laurel Locomotives Varsity to a decisive, dramatic victory over Polson Lady Pirates Varsity, 3-2.  The game was tied at two with Laurel Locomotives Varsity batting in the bottom of the sixth when Taylor Feller hit a solo homer.

The pitching was strong on both sides. Ella Crookston struck out 12, while K Druyvestein sat down eight.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Laurel Locomotives Varsity tied things up at two.  Lexie Stahlman grounded out, scoring one run.

Crookston earned the win for Laurel Locomotives Varsity. The righthander surrendered two runs on five hits over six innings, striking out 12 and walking one.

Druyvestein took the loss for Polson Lady Pirates Varsity. Druyvestein allowed six hits and three runs over five innings, striking out eight and walking zero. Laurel hit one home run on the day. Feller went yard in the sixth inning.

Feller, Crookston, Charley McLean, Mia Andersen, Arlette Nieto, and Kadence Temple all had one hit to lead Laurel Locomotives Varsity.

Nikki Kendall went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Polson in hits.

Laurel 3, Polson 2

LOB--Polson 5, Laurel 3. ERR--Ashlyn Depoe (2), Nikki Kendall (3). HR--T Feller. SB--Nikki Kendall.

WP--Ella Crookston. SO--Ashlyn Depoe, Turquoise Pierre (2), Jaivin BadBear, Anna Vert, Avery Starr (2), Nikki Kendall, Katelyne Druyvestein (2), Carli Maley (2), Ella Crookston, Charlie McLean, Josie Benson (3), L Stahlman, Kaden Temple, M Nieto. BB--Avery Starr.

Polson 11, Stevensville 0

LOB--Polson 5, Stevensville 5. ERR--Turquoise Pierre, Claire Moody, Emmy Kopsa (3). 2B--Turquoise Pierre, Mckenna Hanson, Carli Maley (2), Claireschneiter 1. HR--Jaivin BadBear, Nikki Kendall. HBP--Anna Vert, Claireschneiter 1. SACB--Emmy Kopsa. SB--Ashlyn Depoe, Anna Vert, Mckenna Hanson.

PB--Emmy Kopsa (2). WP--Lily Brushia (2), Claire Moody (6). SO--Ashlyn Depoe (2), Avery Starr, Nikki Kendall, Katelyne Druyvestein, Hailey Thomas, Sophie Berning, Olivia Gray, Maddy Dauds (2), Emmy Kopsa. BB--Ashlyn Depoe, Turquoise
Pierre, Jaivin BadBear, Anna Vert, Nikki Kendall (2), Katelyne Druyvestein, Claire Moody.

Saturday

Billings Central 11,  Polson 7

LOB--Billings Central 3, Polson 7. ERR--Lydia Todd, Ashlyn Depoe, Jaivin BadBear (2), Avery Starr, Mckenna Hanson, Nikki Kendall, Carli Maley. 2B--Gigi Hastings, Brynn Bohrer. HR--Gigi Hastings, Turquoise Pierre, Katelyne Druyvestein. SACB--Lydia Todd. SB--Lydia Todd.

PB--A.ly Kowalozyk. WP--Katelyne Druyvestein. SO--Krista Gauslow, Peyton Whitehead (2), Nikki Kendall, Carli Maley. BB--Nikki Kendall.

Polson 13, Dillon 2

LOB--Dillon 4, Polson 4. ERR--E Weldon, T Gibson (2), P Farrow (2). 2B--Ashlyn
Depoe, Katelyne Druyvestein. HR--A Creighton, Carli Maley. SB--Kailey Smith, Turquoise Pierre.

PB--K Creighton. WP--A Creighton, T Gibson. SO--E Weldon, K Creighton, L Rhodes (2), A Creighton, A Pflieger, K Vezina, T Gibson, P Farrow, Alexis Johnson, Tyneesha Brown, Katelyne Druyvestein. BB--T Gibson, Kailey Smith, Turquoise Pierre, Anna Vert, Avery Starr (2), Mckenna Hanson, Nikki Kendall, Katelyne Druyvestein.

Tuesday, May17, 2022

POLSON (15) AT RONAN  (0)

LOB--Polson 9, Ronan 4. ERR--Turquoise Pierre (2), Kylee Kelch, Lourasia Weatherwax 1, Hailee Webster. 2B--Avery Starr, Mckenna Hanson (2), Carli Maley (2). HR--Turquoise Pierre. HBP--Mckenna Hanson. SB--Turquoise Pierre (2), Julia Barnard, Jaivin BadBear, Anna Vert, Katelyne Druyvestein.

PB--Mckenna Hanson, Ashlee Welker (2). WP--Kiara Sherman. SO--Jaivin BadBear, Mckenna Hanson, Kylee Kelch (2), Kiara Sherman, Harlee Stokes (2), Ashlee Welker, Ally Luedtke, Hailee Webster, Nona Tenas (2), Julianna Vizarra. BB--NikkiKendall (2), Katelyne Druyvestein, Hailee Webster.

Friday, May 21, 2022

Libby Loggers Varsity's Strong Offense Falls Just Short To Polson Pirates

Scorekeepers were kept busy today during a high-scoring contest between Polson Pirates and Libby Loggers Varsity where Libby Loggers Varsity lost 10-7.
Libby Loggers Varsity collected 11 hits and Polson Pirates had six in the high-scoring affair.

Libby Loggers Varsity fired up the offense in the first inning. Libby Loggers Varsity scored two runs when Mackenzie Foss singled.

Polson Pirates pulled away for good with five runs in the fourth inning. In the fourth Jaivin Bad Bear doubled on a 0-2 count, scoring one run, Turquoise Pierre doubled on a 2-1 count, scoring one run, and Carli Maley doubled on a 3-0 count, scoring two runs.

Katelyne Druyveistein got the win for Polson Pirates. The pitcher lasted seven innings, allowing 11 hits and seven runs while striking out four.
Foss took the loss for Libby Loggers Varsity. The pitcher allowed six hits and ten runs over six innings, striking out 11.

Libby Loggers Varsity totaled 11 hits. Paislee MacDonald, Courtney Benson, Taylor Munro, and Kinzee Boehmler each had multiple hits for Libby Loggers Varsity. Boehmler, Munro, Benson, and MacDonald each collected two hits to lead Libby Loggers Varsity.

Polson Pirates tallied six hits in the game. Bad Bear and Pierre all managed multiple hits for Polson Pirates. Polson Pirates stole eight bases during the game as two players stole more than one. Bad Bear led the way with two.

Saturday, May 21, 2022

Double, error gets C-Falls a walk-off win over Polson

By Daily Inter Lake

COLUMBIA FALLS — Aspen Dawson hit a two-out double, then came around to score the winning run on an error as Columbia Falls beat Polson 5-4 in a Northwest A softball showdown Saturday. Sydney Mann doubled in a run in the four and scored for the Wildkats (20-3 overall, 8-0 in league) who beat Polson (16-6, 6-2 in league) for a second time this season. Maddie Moultray went the distance on the mound, scattering nine hits and a walk. Two of her four runs allowed were earned, and she struck out four. Polson had tied the game 4-4 in the top of the seventh with singles by Anna Vert, Katelyne Druyvestein and Nikki Kendall, with Kendall’s driving in two runs.

Druyvestein allowed just four hits but five walks. She allowed two earned runs and fanned six, and took the loss when Moultray’s grounder got through the second baseman for an error.

Both teams have qualified for the State A, along with Ronan (11-11, 3-5), which begins Thursday in Hamilton.

Polson 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 - 4 9 2
C-Falls 0 3 0 1 0 0 1 - 5 4 6

Katelyne Druyvestin and McKenna Hanson. Maddie Moultray and Demye Rensel.

POLSON — Druyvestein 2-4, Hanson 0-3, Nikki Kendall 2-4, Turquoise Pierre 0-4, Carli Maley 2-3, Avery Starr 1-3, Ashlyn DePoe 0-3, Jaivin Bad Bear 0-3, Anna Vert 2-3, Julia Barnard 0-0, Tyneesha Brown 0-0.

COLUMBIA FALLS — Sydney Mann 2-4, Haylee Lawrence 1-4, Aspen Dawson 1-3, Moultray 0-3, Haden Peters 0-3, Aletheia Fisher 0-2, Abbie Darsopw 0-3, Kyrah Trankle 0-1, Rensel 0-3, Tayler Lingle 0-0, A Bowler 0-0.

2B — Kendall, Dawson, Mann. RBIs — Hanson, Kendall, DePoe, Mann, Lawrence.

Thursday, May 26,2022

Butte Central 4, Polson 3

Butte Central scored the upset of the first round with a 4-3 win over defending state champion Polson in eight innings. The Maroons had qualified for the state tournament on the final day of the regular season with an 8-11 record.

Brooke Badovinac delivered the winning hit, a one-out RBI double in the top of the eighth that drove in Sofee Thatcher, who had reached on an error. She finished 4 for 4 at the plate with a single, two doubles and a home run.

Sofee Thatcher scattered 13 hits and struck out nine batters while pitching all eight innings. Polson had tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh but stranded runners on second and third.

"I feel happy for the kids," Butte Central coach Chunky Thatcher said. "They didn’t give up on themselves. We ran into a lot of tough teams this year and people said we snuck in the back door, but we just had to fight through adversity. Sofee is getting stronger every time out. She competed and that’s all I could ask for. Brooke’s one of the best hitters in the state.

"I’m just really proud of their fight. They could have hung their heads a long time ago and gave up and they haven’t."

LOB--Butte Central 4, Polson 8. ERR-- Thatcher, Mckenna Hanson, Nikki Kendall (3). 2B--Badovinac 3 (2), Avery Starr. 3B--Nikki Kendall. HR--Badovinac 3. SACB-- Berger, Ashlyn Depoe (2). SB--Julia Barnard, Nikki Kendall.

SO--Foley, Berger, Mehring (3), Stimatz (3), Keeley (2), Stillwagon (2), Turquoise Pierre (4), Jaivin BadBear, Anna Vert (2), Katelyne Druyvestein, Carli Maley. BB--Nikki Kendall, Katelyne Druyvestein (2).

Friday, May 27, 2022

Lady Pirates keeps hope of repeat alive

HAMILTON — Columbia Falls stayed alive at the State A softball tournament Friday.
So did defending champion Polson.

Now the Northwest A rivals will play at 9 a.m. Saturday, with a state trophy at stake.
The Wildkats (22-4) bounced back from a 7-1 loss to unbeaten Billings Central to oust Butte Central 10-0 later Friday. Polson (19-7) has won three straight since falling to Butte Central in eight innings on Friday: The Pirates beat Lewistown 13-1, Corvallis 11-1 and Havre 12-4.

The Pirates and Kats will play for a third time Saturday; Columbia Falls won the regular season meetings 14-4 and 5-4.

Polson 13, Lewistown 1

Turquoise Pierre hit a grand slam and finished with six runs batted in, and Katelyn Druyvestein allowed three hits and no walks in six innings, fanning 11.
Pierre’s slam came in a six-run third inning; she also doubled in the frame. She hit sacrifice flies in the first and six innings. Ashlyn Depoes two-run single made it 13-1, and the game ended after six innings.

Avery Starr followed Pierre’s homer with a solo shot of her own.
Courtesy runner extraordinaire Julia Barnard scored four times.

Polson         1 0 6 2 0 4 - 13 13 3
Lewistown 0 0 0 1 0 0 -   1  3  3

Druyvestein and Hanson. K Southworth, Kayla Jensen (3) and Pierre

POLSON — Druyvestein 1-4, Hanson 3-3, Kendall 2-2, Pierre 2-2, Maley 0-4, Starr 1-4, Depoe 1-4, BadBear 1-4, Vert -3, Barnard 0-0, Brown 0-4.

LEWISTOWN — K Foran 0-3, S Sannar 1-3, E Southard 0-3, J Martin 0-3, E Morris 1-2, Addie Vanek 0-1, K Moline 0-3, R Comes 0-2, Southworth 0-3, M Denton 1-2.

2B — Pierre, Hanson. HR — Pierre, Starr, Sannar.

Polson thumps Blue Devils

Polson 11, Corvallis 1

Mckenna Hanson hit an RBI triple in the first inning and a two-run double in the second, and the Pirates rolled.

Nikki Kendall followed Hanson’s double with a two-run single, putting the Pirates up 7-1.
Katelyn Druyvestein threw five innings of two-hit ball, striking out nine. She walked one.

Polson    2 5 0 0 0 3 1 - 11 11 2
Corvallis 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1  3 7

Katelyne Druyvestein, Turquoise Pierre (6) and Mckenna Hanson.
Gabby Kriger, Mel Race (5), Mikee Greenwood (5) and

POLSON — Druyvestein 2-3, Hanson 3-4, Kendall 1-4, Pierre 0-4, Carli Maley 2-5, Avery Starr 1-3, Ashlyn Depoe 0-3, Jaivin BadBear 1-4, Tyneesha Brown 0-1, Anna Vert 1-3, Julia Barnard 0-0.

CORVALLIS — MGreenwood 0-4, Syd Wolsky 1-3, Emma Cashell 1-3, Kaitlyn McCartney 1-3, Kriger 0-3, Ella Dowd 0-2, Trinity McClane 0-3, Soph Cooper 0-3, Jayden Greenwood 0-2.
2B — Hanson, McCartney, Wolsky. 3B — Hanson. RBIs — Hanson 3, Kendall 2, Vert, Druyvestein, Pierre.

LOB--Polson 12, Corvallis 6. ERR--Carli Maley (2), Jess SaturdY11, Kaitlin McCartney (2), Soph Cooper (2), Mikee Griendwood, Jayden Greenwood. 2B--Mckenna Hanson, Kaitlin McCartney, Syd Wolsky. 3B--Mckenna Hanson. HBP--Anna Vert, Avery Starr, Ella Dowd, Jayden Greenwood. SACB Ashlyn Depoe (2). SB--Ella Dowd.

WP--Gabby Kriger3 (2). SO--Nikki Kendall, Carli Maley, Kaitlin McCartney, Soph Cooper (3), Emma Cashell, Mikee Griendwood (2), Gabby Kriger3 (2), Syd Wolsky, Trimity McClane. BB--Turquoise Pierre, Avery Starr, Mckenna Hanson, Nikki Kendall, Katelyne Druyvestein (2), Trimity McClane.

Druyvestein grand slam highlights win over Havre

Polson 12, Havre 4

Katelyne Druyvestein hit a grand slam in this one, a blast to left that capped a six-run fifth inning and put the Pirates up 9-2.

Carli Maley had an RBI single in the first as Polson once again jumped out early; Maley added a solo homer to start that big fifth inning.

Druyvestein went the distance on the bump and scattered eight hits. She walked none, and struck out 13.

Havre, which lost to Frenchtown 15-1 earlier Friday, ended up 15-9.

Polson 3 0 0 0 6 0 3 - 12 12 2
Havre  0 2 0 0 0  1  1 -  4  8 0

Druyvestein and Hanson. Elle Verpfloegen and

POLSON — Druyvestein 2-5, Hanson 2-4, Caitlyn Ward 0-0, Kendall 0-4, Pierre 0-4, Maley 2-4, Starr 1-1, Depoe 2-3, BadBear 1-3, Vert 2-3, Barnard 0-0, Brown 0-0.

HAVRE — AVery Carlson 2-4, Liz Henry 2-4, Alyssa Oliver 0-3, Mally Muse 1-3, Hannah Gingery 0-2, Kamree Oliver 0-1, Camille Keeley 1-3, Jersi Morse 2-3, Keylee Kline 0-3, Dani Wirzberger 1-3.
2B — Starr, Hanson. HR — Druyvestein, Maley. RBIs — Druyvestein 5, Maley

LOB--Polson 8, Havre 4. ERR--Ashlyn Depoe, Anna Vert. 2B--Avery Starr, Mckenna Hanson. HR--Katelyne Druyvestein, Carli Maley. HBP--Jaivin BadBear. SACF--Turquoise Pierre. SB--Anna Vert, Nikki Kendall, Avery Carlson.

PB--Carli Maley, Camille Keeley. WP--Katelyne Druyvestein, Elle Verploegen (4). SO--Turquoise Pierre (2), Nikki Kendall, Katelyne Druyvestein, Hannah Gingery (2), Molly Huse (2), Keylee Kline, Dani Wiryzberger (2), Camille Keeley, Kamree Oliver, Liz Henry (2), Alyssa Oliver (2). BB--Ashlyn Depoe, Anna Vert, Avery Starr, Caitlyn Ward, Nikki Kendall, Katelyne Druyvestein, Carli Maley.

Saturday, May 28, 2022

Polson takes third at State A

HAMILTON — Polson avenged its two regular-season losses to conference rival Columbia Falls and took home some hardware as a result at State A softball on Saturday.

Polson (20-8) took third a year after winning it all by tearing off four loser-out victories after falling in Thursday’s first round. It’s the third consecutive year the Pirates have come home with a state trophy.

On Saturday, Polson came up with a 7-2 victory over the Wildkats in the loser-fourth game and then suffered a 5-4 loss to eventual champion Frenchtown.

In the fifth inning against Columbia Falls (22-5), Polson went up 5-0 thanks in part to a pair of errors, but also an RBI double by Carli Maley. Anna Vert added a solo homer in the sixth inning for Polson to make it 6-0. Haden Peters doubled in both Columbia Falls runs in the seventh.

Druyvestein pitched all seven innings and struck out six Wildkat batters.

Polson had seven hits and scored five runs on two hits in the fifth inning.

Mann struck out two Polson batters. Columbia Falls had nine hits.

Against Frenchtown, Saige Williams broke a 4-4 tie in the top of the seventh after a missed throw to a Polson third baseman allowed her to run home.

Polson was up 3-0 in the third from a Kendall RBI single and a Frenchtown fielding error that allowed the Pirates to add two more runs.

By the fourth, Frenchtown tied it 3-3. And in the sixth inning, the Broncs added another run on a fielder’s choice for the 4-3 lead.

Druyvestein’s RBI single tied it 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth, but Polson went 1-2-3 to end the game in the seventh.

Broncs pitcher Sadie Smith held Polson to four runs on eight hits and struck out five. Polson’s Druyvestein allowed five runs on nine hits and also struck out five batters.

Frenchtown 5, Polson 4

LOB--Frenchtown 5, Polson 7. ERR--Carah Evans, Abby Faulhaber, Turquoise Pierre, Avery Starr, Nikki Kendall (2), Carli Maley. 2B--Carli Maley. SACF--Toni Beatty. SACB--Chloe Long, Olivia Campbell, Turquoise Pierre. SB--Jaivin BadBear.

WP--Sadie Smith. SO--Juna Ashby (2), Toni Beatty, Alexis Godin3, Olivia Campbell, Ashlyn Depoe, Turquoise Pierre (2), Katelyne Druyvestein, Carli Maley. BB--Mckenna Hanson.

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Polson 11, Butte Central 2

Central 000 110 0 –    2 5 4

Polson 000  740 x – 11 9 0

W – Katelynne Druyvestein. L – Reopelle.

Multiple hits – Polson: Druyvestein 2 (2B), Lexie Orien 2 (2B, 2B), SaVanna Carpentier 2, McKenna Hanson 2.

Saturday, March 27, 20221

Polson 21, Park 0

Park     000 00 –   0   1 4

Polson 564 6x – 21 20 0

W – Druyvestein. L – Higgs.

Multiple hits – Polson: Mossey Kaulley 4 (3B), Druyvestein 3 (2B), McKenna Hanson 3 (2B), Carpentier 2, Josie Caye 2 (2B, 2B), Kobbey Smith 2 (2B), Turquoise Pierre 2,

Thursday, April 1, 2021

Druyvestein no-hits Broncs

Hamilton/Darby BRONCS Varsity watched the game slip away early and couldn't recover in a 24-0 loss to Polson on Thursday. Polson scored on a home run by J Caye, a single by L Orien, a single by M Hanson, and a groundout by A. Starr in the first inning.

The Hamilton/Darby BRONCS Varsity struggled to put runs on the board and had a tough time defensively containing Polson, giving up 24 runs.

Polson got on the board in the first inning. Caye hit a solo homer.

K Druyvestein pitched Polson to victory. The fireballer surrendered zero runs on zero hits over five innings, striking out 13.

Brynne Johnson took the loss for Hamilton/Darby BRONCS Varsity. The pitcher went four and a third innings, allowing 21 runs on 21 hits and striking out one.

Polson tallied four home runs on the day. Caye had a long ball in the first inning. Starr had a four bagger in the fifth inning. Turquouise Pierre had a dinger in the fourth and fifth innings.

Polson totaled 23 hits. Orien, S Carpenter, Pierce, K Smith, A Vert, Hanson, Caye, Starr, and Druyvestein each managed multiple hits for Polson. Polson was sure-handed and didn't commit a single error. Orien made the most plays with 14.

The Lady Pirates improved to 3 - 0 on the season.

Polson     4 2 2 5 11 - 24
Hamilton  0 0 0 0  0 -   0

W: K Druyvestein (3-0) L: Brynne Johnson

POLSON - Caye 2-5, Druyvestein 4-4, Smith 3-3, Orien 3-4, Carpentier 4-4, Hanson 2-4, Starr 2-4, Stinger 1-1, Pierre 3-4, Bad Bear 0-1, Vert 2-4

2B: K Smith, L Orien, S Carpenter 2, A Vert
3B: K Smith, A Vert
HR: J Caye, A. Starr, T Pierce 2
TB: J Caye 5, K Druyvestein 2, K Smith 6, L Orien 4, S Carpenter 5, M Hanson 2, A. Starr 5, T Pierce 9, A Vert 5, R Stinger
RBI: J Caye, K Smith, L Orien 4, S Carpenter 2, M Hanson, A. Starr 5, T Pierce 4, A Vert, R Stinger
ROE: M Hanson, A. Starr
FC: K Druyvestein
HBP: K Smith, S Carpenter
SB: K Druyvestein, K Smith, S Carpenter 2, A. Starr, T Pierce
CS: A. Starr

HAMILTON - Johnson 0-1, Ringer 0-1, Cole 0-2, Howard 0-2, Alexander 0-2, Shepherd 0-1, Beck 0-2, Ward 0-2, Ward 0-2, Johonson 0-1

Saturday, April 17, 2021

Pirates topple Loggers in conference opener

by John Heglie
 
At Libby, Lady Pirate softballers were itching to get back in the swing of things against live competition after an extended lull impacted by an originally scheduled conference match cancellation. The time off didn't seem to slow down Polson bats nor base speed as Polson ten run ruled their hosts with hurler Katelyne Druyvestein throwing a one-hitter.

The Lady Pirates smacked seven strokes that stretched for extra bases. Leadoff Josie Caye opened the contest with a bonafide triple deep to right-center. Middle-of-the-order batter Mckenna Hanson plated a pair on a two RBI double later in the inning and followed that up with another run scoring double in the third. Druyvestein led off the top half of the fourth inning with a double. Kobbey Smith, SaVanna Carpentier and Mossy Kauley contributed functional doubles when all three singled during the course of the contest, then advanced to second on overthrows or fielding flubs. Hanson wielded the wickedest wand that conjured up five RBIs. Lexy Orien singled thrice, while her courtesy runner Jaivin BadBear plated each occasion during subsequent at-bats.

The Lady Pirates will see plenty of action this upcoming week as Polson hosts a JV Jamboree with Columbia Falls, Mission and Ronan on Monday, face the Maidens in Ronan on Tuesday, travel to Columbia Falls on Friday, followed by hosting a visit from Browning on Saturday.
 
Polson 12, Libby 0

Polson (1-0, 4-0), Libby (1-2, 3-4)

Polson  313 50  – 12 12  2*
Libby    000 00  –   0   1  4

W – Druyvestein (4-0). L – Foss.

MacKenzie Foss (4K,6H,1W), (3) Taylor Munro (3K,1W) and Kinzie Boehmler. Katelyne Druyvestein (10K,1W) and Lexy Orien.

POLSON – Josie Caye 2-4, Druyvestein 1-4, Kobbey Smith 2-4, Orien 3-4, SaVanna Carpentier 1-2, Mckenna Hanson 2-3, Mossy Kauley 1-3, Turquoise Pierre 0-1, Anna Vert 0-3, (cr) Jaivin BadBear.

LIBBY – Courtney Benson 1-3, Paislee McDonald 0-2, Foss 0-1, Aren James 0-1, Munro 0-2, Destiny Crawford 0-2, Kinzie Boehmler 0-1, Lyndee McElmurry 0-2, Jossayn White 0-2 Sidney Rusdal 0-2.

3B – Caye. *2B – Druyvestein, Hanson *2. RBIs – Caye, Carpentier, Hanson 5, Kauley, Pierre. SF – Pierre. BB – Pierre, Carpentier; Boehmler. *ROE – Carpentier, Hanson; Rusdal, Boehmler. *SB – Caye, BadBear. Runs – Caye, Druyvestein, Ko.Smith, BadBear 3, Carpentier 3, Hanson 2, Pierre.

(Sa17Apr21) venue: Remp Field

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternate data exists - LibGC(P8H,5rbi/L7E), PiScore(P12H,9rbi/L4E): Caye 1H(t2- LibGC:3B,roE+0rbi, PiScore:3B,1B+1rbi), Druyvestein 0H (t4- LibGC:roE, PiScore:2B), Ko.Smith 1H(t5- LibGC:roE, PiScore:1B+E7), Carpentier (LibGC:2B,2SB; PiScore:1B+ot5,PB+E), Hanson 1H(LibGC:2B,2roE+2SB,2rbi; PiScore:2B,2BroE+2PB,5rbi), Kauley (LibGC:2B, PiScore:1B+ot7), Pierre (LibGC:SB, PiScore:WP); C.Benson (LibGC:SB, PiScore:PB).

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

Pirates prevail in Rez rivalry wrangle round with Ronan

by John Heglie

At Ronan in the first round of the annual cross county conference confrontation between the Maidens and the Polson Lady Pirates, the contest started off with some offensive fireworks. The visiting Lady Pirates opened with a pair of doubles by Josie Caye and Lexy Orien. Both runners would score as the visitors staked themselves to a 2-0 lead.

The host Maidens countered when their leadoff Kaleigh Benson drew a walk, then LouRasia Weatherwax bunted safely to place two runners on board. But the Polson defense would turn a double play by forcing the middle runner at second, then nailing the runner trying to score at the plate to snuff the threat. The Maidens would cut the lead in half in the second inning when middle-of-the-order batter Kiara Sherman hit a solo home run, her fourth extra base hit over the course of the past three games.

Polson would tack on another tandem during the top half of the third. Kobbey Smith would reach base on an error when her high fly ball got lost in the sun. Cleanup batter Orien would park a pitch on the other side of the outfield fence for a 4-1 Polson advantage. The Maidens countered in the bottom half of the third when bottom-of-the-order batter hammerin Haylie Webster smacked a solo shot into the stratospher and over the fence for her first varsity career home run, trimming the deficit 4-2.

With two out in the top half of the fourth, the Lady Pirates would score thrice, capped by the second home run by Orien, 7-2. The Maidens would succeed in getting a batter on the basepath in their half of the fourth, but the Polson defense would leave her stranded.

In the top half of the fifth, Mckenna Hanson would advance into scoring position by opening the inning with a double. She would plate on a deep warning track sacrifice fly from Mossy Kauley. With two out, a fielding flub would allow the bottom-of-the-order batter to reach base safely. Thereafter, the Lady Pirates would send their entire order to the plate to put the contest out of reach. When Lexy Orien came to the plate for her fourth opportunity of the contest, the Maidens elected to intentionally walk her to take the bat out of her hands, thereby eliminating any prospect of a fourth hit for extra bases. To the best recollection of this statistician, no Lady Pirate has ever hit three home runs in a single game. Lady Pirate home run queen Sarah Newton (2006-09, career27HR) holds the honor of having hit two home runs in a single inning at the 2007 State A Tournament during the sixth inning against Butte Central (Fr25May07).

Polson will play two more NWA conference contests this week when they travel to Columbia Falls, then host Browning on Saturday, April 24.

Polson (2-0, 5-0), Ronan (1-2, 2-6)

Polson 15, Ronan 2

Polson  202 38 – 15 14  2
Ronan   011 00 –   2   4  4

PITCHING: Macao Jackson (7K,3W,1A) and Maddy Miller. Katelyne Druyvestein (6K,3W,1A) and Lexy Orien. W – Druyvestein (5-0). L – Jackson (2-4).

POLSON – Josie Caye 2-4, Druyvestein 1-4, Kobbey Smith 2-4, Orien 3-3, SaVanna Carpentier 1-2, Mckenna Hanson 2-4, Mossy Kauley 1-3, Turquoise Pierre 0-4, Anna Vert 2-3, (cr) Jaivin BadBear, (cr) Alexis Johnson.

RONAN – Kaleigh Benson 0-2, LouRasia Weatherwax *1-2, Jackson 1-3, Ally Mock  0-2, Kiara Sherman 1-2, Ashlie Welker 0-2, Miller 0-1, Mira Corum 0-2, Haylie Webster 1-2, (flex) Lexi Wirz, (cr) Brogan Youngren.

HR – Orien 2; Sherman, H.Webster.
2B – Caye, Orien, Ko.Smith, Hanson.
RBIs – Druyvestein, Ko.Smith 3, Orien 5, Carpentier, Hanson 2, Kauley 3; Sherman, H.Webster.
SF – Kauley. SH – Hanson.
BB – Orien, Carpentier 2; Benson, Weatherwax, Miller.
ROE – Ko.Smith, Hanson 2, Vert; Jackson.
SB – Caye, L.Johnson, Hanson, Vert.
CS – Carpentier.
Runs – Caye 2, L.Johnson, Ko.Smith 3, Orien 2, BadBear 2, Carpentier, Hanson 2, Vert 2; Sherman, H.Webster.

Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternate data exists - P(Rbk:14rbi, Pbk:15rbi), R(Rbk:4H4E, Pbk:3H5E): Hanson (t3- Rbk:roE=1ab, Pbk:SH+roE=0ab; t5b- Rbk:sb, Pbk:di), Kauley (t5a- Rbk:fo, Pbk:SF7+1rbi), Caye (Rbk:sb, Pbk:di), (cr) Johnson (Rbk:0sb, Pbk:di, JH:sb); Weatherwax (Rbk:bunt=H, Pbk:SH+E=0ab).

Friday, April 23, 2021

Pirates claw Kats in key conference clash

by John Heglie
 
At Columbia Falls, the visiting Pirates scored first, but after one trailed by a run when WildKat Alyssa Blankenship homered with one aboard. Although the Pirates would have base runners over the course of the next two innings, the score remained unchanged through three frames.

Polson reacquired the lead during fourth inning action as Mossy Kauley opened the Lady Pirate half of the frame with a single, then stole second base to place the tying run in scoring position. Bottom-of-the-order batter Anna Vert followed that lead by lacing a liner into right-center that plated Kauley for a game tying RBI, turning on the afterburners for a triple. A RBI groundout by leadoff batter Josie Caye would plate Vert and swing the lead back in Polson's favor, 3-2. Back-to-back grounder doubles by the top third of the order would secure another run for a 4-2 advantage.

Thereafter, the visitors would break the game open. The Lady Pirates would load the bases twice during the top half of the fifth as they plated four runs, turning a previously tight one run contest into a foregone conclusion. A pair of insurance runs would be added in the sixth.
 
Polson 10, Columbia Falls 2

Polson (3-0, 6-0), C-Falls (1-3, 5-7)

Polson   100 342 0 – 10  9   1*

C-Falls   200 000 0 –   2  5   5*

Sydney Mann (4⅓IP:7K,7H,6W), (5) Maddie Moultray (2⅔IP:1K,3H,1W) and Abbie Darsow. Katelyne Druyvestein (6K,3W) and Lexy Orien.

POLSON – Josie Caye 1-4, Druyvestein 1-4, Kobbey Smith 1-2, Orien *0-4, SaVanna Carpentier 1-3, Mckenna Hanson 2-4, Mossy Kauley 1-4, Turquoise Pierre 1-3, Anna Vert 1-3, (cr) Jaivin BadBear, (cr) Alexis Johnson.

COLUMBIA FALLS – Mann 0-2, Abbey Underdahl *1-4, Alyssa Blankenship 1-3, McKenna Rensel 2-3, Aspen Dawson 0-3, Darsow *0-3,  Aletheia Fisher 0-3, Haylee Lawrence 1-2, Hanna Tyler 0-1, Izzy Johnson 0-3, (flex) Hayden Peters, (cr) Demye Rensel.

HR – Blankenship. 3B – Vert. 2B – Druyvestein, Ko.Smith. RBIs – Caye, Ko.Smith, Hanson, Pierre, Vert; Blankenship 2. BB – Caye, Druyvestein, Ko.Smith 2, Carpentier, Pierre, Vert; Mann 2, Blankenship. ROE – *Orien, Carpentier, Kauley. FC – Carpentier. *SB – Caye, BadBear 2, *Carpentier, Hanson *2, Kauley, *Pierre, *Vert; *. (Fr23Apr21)
Asterisk (*) denotes stat variant(s) where alternate data exists - P(CFGC:10H0E, PiScore:9H1E), CF(CFGC:7H3E, PiScore:5H5E): Orien (CFGC:1H, PiScore:ROE6), Carpentier (CFGC:2sb, PiScore:1sb+wp), Hanson (CFGC:5sb, PiScore:2sb+pb+E), Pierre (CFGC:2sb, PiScore1sb+pb), Vert (CFGC:2sb, PiScore:1sb+pb); Underdahl (b7- GFGC:H, PiScore:ROE1), Darsow (CFGC:1B, PiScore:FC), D.Rensel (CFGC:2sb, PiScore:pb+wp).

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Pirates pluck Browning in conference clash

by John Heglie
 
At the Polson Softball Complex, the host Lady Pirates culminated the first half of their NWA conference slate with a convincing shutout over the visiting Lady Indians of Browning. Katelyne Druyvestein started in the circle for her seventh victory, while Turquoise Pierre closed out the contest. Kobbey Smith and Lexy Orien accounted for the extra base hittage with a double and a home run each, combining for a cumulative 15 RBIs with their other plate appearances. Orien hit a two bag tater in the second inning, while clobberin Kobb clouted a grand slam in the third. Both dingers dimple dented the hoods of vehicles parked on the other side of the fence once they descended back to earth.
The Lady Pirates will host perennial SWA contender Frenchtown on Tuesday, April 27, then will play on the road at the Frenchtown Invitational over the course of the weekend.
 
Polson 34, Browning 0

Polson (4-0, 7-0), Browning (0-3, 0-8)

Browning  0    0    0  0 0 –    0   0  5

Polson       9  13  12  0 x –  34 16  0

Katelyne Druvestein (2IP:5K,0W), (3) Turquoise Pierre (6K,1W) and Lexy Orien, (4) Mckenna Hanson. Susan Connelly, (3) Brooke Blue and Kelcie Connelly. W – Druyvestein (7-0). Sv – Pierre.

BROWNING – Katelyn Evans, Emily Williams 0-2, Hailie Higgins 0-1, Gianna Vickers 0-2, Grace Head 0-1, Alyssa LaRoque 0-1 Breanna Polk 0-1, Larissa Lahr 0-1, S.Connelly 0-1, Blue 0-1, K.Connelly 0-1, Paris Vaile 0-0, MaggieJo Matt 0-1.

POLSON – Josie Caye 3-3, Druyvestein 1-4, Kobbey Smith 5-5, Jaivin BadBear 1-1, Orien 3-5, Reegan Stinger 0-0, SaVanna Carpentier 2-3, Nikki Kendall 0-0, Mckenna Hanson 0-2, Mossy Kauley 1-2, Avery Starr 0-1, Turquoise Pierre 0-1, Anna Vert 0-2, Alexis Johnson 0-0.
HR – Orien, Ko.Smith (gs). 2B – Orien, Ko.Smith. RBIs – Caye 4, Druyvestein 3, Ko.Smith 10, BadBear, Orien 5, Stinger, Carpentier, Kendall, Hanson, Kauley, Pierre 3, Vert 2. BB – Vaile; Stinger, Caye, Druyvestein 2, Vert 2, Hanson 3, Pierre 4, Kendall, Carpentier 2, Johnson. HB – Caye 2, Vert, Kauley 3, Hanson, Pierre. ROE – Druyvestein 2, Orien, Pierre, Starr. SB – Caye, Kaulley, Hanson, Kendall. Runs – Caye 6, Druyvestein 2, Ko.Smith 3, Orien 2, Carpentier 2, Kendall 4, Hanson 3, Kauley 4, Starr, Pierre 4, Vert 2, Johnson. (Sa24Apr21)

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Lady Bucs bounce Broncs

by John Heglie
 
At the Polson Softball Complex, the host Lady Pirates and the visiting Frenchtown Lady Broncs matched whits and criss-crossed bats in another page to their historical rivalry that has included a half dozen final four showdowns in the State A tournament over the past decade alone with another quintet of earlier round faceoffs.

Both teams advanced runners into scoring position during first inning action, but wriggled off the hook as the game remained scoreless through one. Polson bats erupted in the bottom half of the second as the Lady Pirates sent their entire batting order to the plate as they scored six runs.

The Lady Broncs threatened to counter with two runners on base during the top half of the third with two outs, but Polson hurler Katelyne Druyvestein left them stranded with a strikeout.

During the bottom half of the third, leadoff batter Josie Caye singled, followed by Druyvestein reaching on an error. After the second out, cleanup batter Lexy Orien bludgeoned the ball with her bat as she sent it careening over the centerfield fence just left of the scoreboard for a three bag tater and a 9-0 lead.

Frenchtown again threatened in the top half of the fourth with two runners on base and nobody out, but Druyvestein stripped away any hope of carving into the deficit with three sequential strikeouts.
In the bottom half of the fourth, the Lady Pirates would again run through their entire lineup as they scored four more runs on four hits.

The contest featured atypical fielding and throwing hiccups by the visitors that expanded the point spread from what ordinarily would have played out as a full fledged seven inning contest by reducing it to an abbreviated teen run ruling after five.

The Lady Pirates will play four games at the Frenchtown Invitational this coming weekend against Corvallis, Fergus, Stevensville and Mission-Arlee-Charlo. They then travel to Kalispell to face the AA Glacier Lady Wolfpack on Tuesday, May 4, followed by a home stand against the AA Kalispell Flathead Bravettes in Polson on Thursday, May 6.
 
Polson 13, Frenchtown 0

NWA Polson (8-0), SWA Frenchtown (6-2)

Frenchtown  000 00 –  0   2  6
Polson          063 4x – 13 13  0

Katelyne Druyvestein (11K,2W,HB) and Lexy Orien. Sadie Smith (1K,4W), (4) Kendra Jacobs (4H,HB) and Toni Beatty. W – Druyvestein (8-0).

FRENCHTOWN – Cassidy Bagnell 0-2, S.Smith 2-3, Madelyn Eggers 0-2, Shelby Miotke 0-1, Khasidy Hodge 0-1, Juna Ashby 0-2, Beatty 0-2, Faulhaber 0-2, Chloe Long 0-2, (flex) Delaney Jarrett, (cr): Olivia Campbell, Dakota Fortney.

POLSON – Josie Caye 1-3, Druyvestein 3-4, Kobbey Smith 2-4, Orien 2-3, SaVanna Carpentier 1-3, Mckenna Hanson 1-2, Mossy Kauley 3-3, Turquoise Pierre 0-1, Anna Vert 0-3, (cr): Jaivin BadBear, Nikki Kendall.

HR – Orien. 2B – S.Smith. RBIs – Caye 2, Ko.Smith 2, Orien 3, Carpentier, Kauley 2, Vert. SH – Pierre.
BB – Hodge, Miotke; Caye, Orien, Hanson, Carpentier. HB – Cass.Bagnell; Pierre. Runs  – Caye 3, Kendall 2, Ko.Smith, Orien, BadBear, Carpentier, Hanson, Kauley 2, Pierre.

Friday, April 30, 2021

Polson 14 Corvallis 2

Corvallis  100 01 - 2  
Polson     338 0x - 14

Katelyne Druyvestein (3IP:6K,1H,1PO), Turquoise Pierre (2IP:1K,4H,1A) and Lexy Orien. Gabby Krueger, (2) Macee Greenwood, (3a) Krueger, (3b) M.Greenwood, (3c) Krueger and Sami Knapp. W – Druyvestein (9-0). L – Krueger. Sv – Pierre.

CORVALLIS – M.Greenwood 1-2, Emma Cashell 0-3, Katelyn Behner 0-2, Knapp 1-2, Krueger 0-2, Kaitlin McCartny 0-2, Syndey Wolsky 1-2, Jessica Saturday 1-2, Jadyn Greenwood 1-2.

POLSON – Josie Caye 3-4, Druyvestein 3-4, Kobbey Smith 0-3, Orien 1-2, SaVanna Carpentier 1-2, Mckenna Hanson 0-1, Mossy Kauley 0-3, Turquoise Pierre 0-3, Anna Vert 1-1, (cr): Jaivin BadBear, Nikki Kendall.

HR – M.Greenwood. 3B – Druyvestein. 2B – Caye, Orien, Druyvestein. RBIs – M.Greenwood 2; Caye 3, Druyvestein, Ko.Smith, Orien 3, Carpentier, Hanson, Pierre, Vert. SF – M.Greenwood; Vert. BB – Orien, Vert, Kauley, Hanson, Carpentier.

Golden Eagles lose lead early In defeat

Golden Eagles Varsity fell behind early and couldn't come back in an 18-6 loss to Polson on Friday. Polson scored on a home run by Josie Caye and a home run by Lexi Orien in the first inning.

Despite the loss, Fergus did collect eight hits in the high-scoring affair. Polson had 17 hits on the way to victory.

Polson fired up the offense in the first inning. Josie Caye led off with a solo homer.

Fergus tallied three runs in the fifth inning. Lewistown scored its runs on a single by Shelby Sannar.

Polson scored eight runs in the third inning. The offensive onslaught by Polson was led by Katelyne Druyvestein, Kobbie Smith, Mckenna Hanson, Anna Vert, and JosiebCaye, who all drove in runs.

Katelyne Druyvestein got the win for Polson. The bulldog went five innings, allowing six runs on eight hits, striking out six and walking zero.

Karolyne Southworth took the loss for the Golden Eagles. The righty surrendered 18 runs on 17 hits over five innings, striking out one.

Fergus socked one home run on the day. Haily Welsh went deep in the fourth inning. Sannar went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead Golden Eagles in hits. Polson had 17 hits in the game. Orien, Caye, Druyvestein, and Carpenter all collected multiple hits for Polson.

Polson 18, Fergus 6

Polson 438 120 – 18 18 4

Fergus 001 23x –   6   8 3

Katelyne Druyvestein (2IP:5K,1H,0W), (3) Turquoise Pierre (3IP:1K,7H,0W,1PO,1A) and Lexy Orien. Karolyne Southworth and Madison Affolder. W – Druvestein (10-0). L – K.Southworth. Sv – Pierre.

POLSON – Josie Caye 4-5, Druyvestein 1-4, Jaivin BadBear 1-1, Kobbey Smith 2-5, Orien 3-3, Nikki Kendall 1-2, SaVanna Carpentier 1-2, Reegan Stinger 1-2, Mckenna Hanson 1-3, Mossy Kauley 1-2, Avery Starr 0-1, Turquoise Pierre 0-4, Anna Vert 1-2, Lexi Johnson 1-1.

FERGUS – Affolder 1-3, Jessica Morgan 1-3, Chelsea Jensen 0-3, Eliazar Southard 1-3, Shelby Sanner 2-3, Hailey Welsh 1-3, Madeline Denton 1-2, Anna Gremaux 1-2, Southworth 0-2.

HR – Caye, Orien, Kendall; Welsh. 2B – Caye, BadBear, Hanson, Carpentier. RBIs – Caye 3, Druyvestein 2, BadBear 2, Ko.Smith 2, Orien 3, Kendall, Carpentier 2, Hanson 2, Vert; Morgan, Welsh 2, Sannar. BB – Kauley, Hanson, Carpentier. HB – Vert, Hanson.

Saturday, May 1, 2021

Polson 15,  Stevensville  2

Polson 027 33x - 15
Stevi    010 00x -   1 

Jessie Newman, (4) Lily Brushia and Sophia Berning. Katelyne Druyvestein (3IP:3K,3H,0W), (4) Nikki Kendall (2IP:5K,0H,0W,1HB) and Lexy Orien. W – Druyvestein (11-0). L – J.Newman. Sv – Kendall.

POLSON – Josie Caye 1-3, Druyvestein 1-3, Kendall 1-1, Kobbey Smith 2-4, Orien 3-3, SaVanna Carpentier 1-3, Mckenna Hanson 0-2, Mossy Kauley 2-4, Turquoise Pierre 2-2, Jaivin BadBear 0-1, Anna Vert 2-3, (cr) Lexi Johnson.

STEVENSVILLE – Maddie Sims 1-2, Lily Brushia 0-2, Olivia Gray 1-2, J.Newman 0-1, C.Smith 0-1, Berning 1-2, Alivia McCormick 0-2, Claire Moody 0-2, Virginia Brown 0-2, Emmy Kopsa 0-2.

HR – Kendall, Berning. 2B – Caye, Vert, Pierre, Carpentier. RBIs – Caye 2, Kendall, Ko.Smith,. Kauley 3, Pierre 3, Vert 2; Berning. BB - Orien, Carpentier. HB – Caye, Hanson 2, Pierre.

Lady Pirates, MAC battle to tie

The Polson Lady Pirates faced their toughest challenge thus far this season when they ran into Lake County foe Mission-Arlee-Charlo on Saturday at the Frenchtown Invitational.

Polson (11-0-1) had won by 10-run ruling in each of their preceding games against Class A competition, but the clash with Class B/C M-A-C (13-2-1) stretched into extra innings and ended in a 2-2 tie when time ran out.

M-A-C starter Kooper Page fanned a dozen Lady Pirate batters, while Katelyne Druyvestein struck out a half dozen Bulldog batters and induced six groundouts and nine flyouts.

Both teams advanced runners into scoring position in the opening frame, but failed to score. In the top half of the third, the Lady Bulldogs scored twice off doubles by Liev Smith and Hayleigh Smith to take a 2-0 lead. In the bottom half of the same inning, the Lady Pirates responded by advancing two runners into scoring position with nobody out. But M-A-C turned a double play, and a strikeout snuffed the threat.

In the bottom half of the sixth, Druvestein helped her own cause when she reached base safely off a well placed bunt. Lexy Orien evened things with a one-out, two-run homer.

Prior to their brawl with the Bulldogs, the Lady Pirates had outscored their trio of tournament opponents by fivefold, 47-9. Leadoff Josie Caye and cleanup batter Orien both parked pitches on the other side of the outfield fence during first inning action against Fergus, while freshman pinch hitter Nikki Kendall hit her first varsity career home run several innings later. Kendall enjoyed her inaugural varsity tater so much that she hit another homer the following game.

Polson 2, Mission-Arlee-Charlo 2

MAC     002 000 00 – 2 7 4

Polson  000 002 00 – 2 6 3

Katelyne Druyvestein (6K,1W,1A) and Lexy Orien. Kooper Page (12K,2W,1A) and Jerny Crawford.

Druyvestein (11-0-1), Ko.Page (8-1-1).

MISSION-ARLEE-CHARLO – Jerny Crawford 2-4, L.Smith 1-4, Hayleigh Smith 2-4, Izzy Evans 2-4, Ko.Page 0-3, Rheid Crawford 0-4, Bennan Andersen 0-3, Payton Smith 0-3, Young 0-3, (flex) Lettie Umphrey.

POLSON – Josie Caye 1-4, Druyvestein 2-4, Kobbey Smith 0-4, Orien 1-3, SaVanna Carpentier 0-3, Mckenna Hanson 2-4, Mossy Kauley 0-2, Turquoise Pierre 0-3, Anna Vert 0-3, (cr) Nikki Kendall.

HR – Orien. 2B – J.Crawford, H.Smith, L.Smith, Druyvestein. RBIs – L.Smith, H.Smith; Orien 2. SH – Carpentier. BB – Ko.Page, Orien, Kauley. ROE – J.Crawford 2, P.Smith; Caye, Vert. FC – L.Smith. SB – Kendall. CS – Evans. Runs – J.Crawford, L.Smith; Orien, Kendall.

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

AA Wolfpack holds off A power Polson

By Daily Inter Lake

Kynzie Mohl and Sammie Labrum each had two hits and three runs batted in Tuesday as Glacier handed Polson its first loss, 8-7, in a matchup between top softball teams in Class AA and Class A.

Labrum hit RBI doubles in the first and second innings, and her third RBI came on a sac fly to cap a three-run fourth that put the Wolfpack (14-2) up 8-3.

Mohl had a two-run double in the second inning and an RBI single in the fourth.

Kenna Vanorny added an RBI single and scored three runs, and Teagan Powell scored twice for the Pack.

For Polson, Mckenna Hanson singled and scored in Polson’s three-run second inning, then hit a grand slam in the seventh to bring the Pirates (11-1-1) to within one run.

Ella Farrell then fanned Mossy Kauley to end the game — her 11th strikeout in five-plus innings of relief. Farrell got the win.

Glacier tagged Katelyne Druyvestein with all eight of their runs. She allowed six hits and five walks in four innings, striking out five.

Polson 030 000 4 - 7 8 2

Glacier 140 300 x - 8 6 2

Katelynne Druyvestein, Turquoise Pierre (5) and Lexie Orien. Kynzie Mohl, Ella Farrell (2) and Halle Schroeder, Mohl (2).

POLSON — Josie Caye 1-4, Druyvestein 1-3, Kobbey Smith 1-4, Orien 0-4, SaVanna Carpentier 0-3, Mckenna Hanson 3-4, Mossy Kauley 0-4, Pierre 1-3, Anna Vert 1-1.

GLACIER — Kenna Vanorny 1-3, Mohl 2-4, Sammie Labrum 2-3, Kenadie Goudette 0-4, Farrell 0-3, Schroeder 0-1, Emma Cooke 0-2, Teagan Powell 0-0, Z Allen 0-1, Ally Kernan 1-3.

2B — Hanson, Labrum 2, Mohl. HR — Hanson. RBI — Hanson 4, Caye, Vert, Mohl 3, Labrum 3, Vanorny.

Thursday, May 6, 2021

Bravettes fall to Class A Polson

By Daily Inter Lake

POLSON — Polson’s Lexie Orien had three hits, including a home run that ended the game under the mercy rule, and the Pirates beat Flathead 10-0 in non-conference softball Thursday.

The Northwest A Pirates (12-1-1) jumped in front with a six-run first inning, and ended the game in the bottom of the fifth with Orien’s two-run homer.

McKenna Henson and Jaevin Bad Bear each had two hits and two RBI for Polson, and Katelynn Druyvestein backed her own pitching with two hits and two runs scored.

Druyvestein threw five innings, allowing one hit and one walk and striking out eight.

Ilyssa Centner had the lone hit for the Western AA Bravettes (3-11). Their next action is a doubleheader Saturday at league foe Missoula Hellgate, at noon on the Rattlesnake Fields.

Flathead 000 00 -   0   1 3

Polson    620 02 - 10 11 0

Katelynn Druyvestein (W), Karissa Comer (L)  

FLATHEAD — Macy Craver 0-2, Vesser 0-2, Alyssa Cadwalader 0-2, Brianna Morales 0-2, Ilyssa Centner 1-2, Comer 0-1, Kaidyn Lake 0-2, Kyrah Farrington 0-2, Alyssa Poe-Hatten 0-1.

POLSON — Josie Caye 1-4, Druyvestein 2-4, Kobbey Smith 0-3, Orien 3-4, Mckenna Hanson 2-3, Mossey Kaulley 1-3, Turquoise Pierre 0-2, Javin Bad Bear 2-3, Nikki Kendall 0-1, Lexi Johnson 0-0.

HR — Orien. RBI — Orien 3, Pierre 2, Bad Bear 2, Caye 2, Smith.

Friday, May 7, 2021

Polson 16, Browning 0

no other info available at this time

Friday, May 14, 2021

Laverne Combo Tourney - Butte

Polson wins twice at Butte’s Laverne Combo tourney

By Daily Inter Lake

BUTTE — Kobbey Smith homered and scored four runs and Katelynne Druyvestein and Nikki Kendall combined on a four-inning no-hitter Friday as Polson beat Hamilton at the Laverne Combo Tournament.

Polson went 2-0 at the tournament Friday, beating Polson 23-4 in its second matchup.

In other games Butte Central beat Ronan 3-1, Corvallis beat Libby 11-0 and Hamilton outscored Browning 22-7.

Ronan and Browning played late Friday, as did Libby and Stevensville.

The tournament concludes Saturday.

Polson 16, Hamilton 0

Smith’s first-inning, 2-run home run gave the Pirates all the runs they needed. Josie Caye, who’d walked, scored; Caye ended up 3-for-3 with three runs and three runs batted in.

SaVanna Carpentier had a double among her two hits and McKenna Hanson also had a double. Avery Starr’s 2-run single with two outs in the fourth ended the game under the mercy rule.

Druyvestein walked 1 and struck out five in her three innings; Kendall came on in the fourth and struck out the side.

Hamilton 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 6

Polson 2 5 7 2 - 16 12 2

Katelyn Shephard and Madison Johnson. Katelynne Druyvestein, Nikki Kendall and Lexie Orien.

HAMILTON — Madison Johnson 0-2, Maggie Ringer 0-2, Phoebe Howard 0-2, Brooke Alexander 0-1, Isabel Sommer 0-1, Cierra Cole 0-1, Delilah Beck 0-1, Brynne Johnson 0-1, Alyson Broad 0-1, Madison Fischer 0-1.

POLSON — Josie Caye 3-3, Druyvestein 0-2, Kobbey Smith 2-3, Orien 1-4, SaVanna Carpentier 2-4, Mckenna Hanson 1-2, Reegan Stinger 0-0, Mossey Kaulley 1-1, Avery Starr 1-1, Turquoise Pierre 0-1, Jaevin Bad Bear 0-2, Anna Vert 1-2, Lexi Johnson 0-0.

2B — Hanson, Carpentier. HR — Smith. RBI — Caye 3, Carpentier 2, Starr 2, Smith 2, Druyvestein, Kaulley.

Polson 23, Corvallis 4

SaVanna Carpentier, Turquoise Pierre and Lexie Orien hit homers and Josie Caye had a 4-for-5 performance at the plate for Polson.

The Pirates scored 13 runs in the second inning and eight more in the fourth to make short work of the Blue Devils.

Carpentier hit a 2-run homer in the second inning, Orien hit a 2-run shot in the third and Pierre had a 3-run plast in the fourth. Orien drove in four runs. McKenna Hanson, Kobbey Smith, Carpentier, Pierre and Mossey Kaulley each scored three runs. Kaulley hit two doubles.

Katelynne Druvyestein gave up all four Corvallis hits and runs, before Nikki Kendall again finished up. They combined for six strikeouts, two by Kendall.

Corvallis 0 1 3 0 0 - 4 4 1

Polson 0 (13) 2 8 x - 23 23 1

G Krueger, M Greenwood (3), S Wolsky (4) and S Knapp. Druyvestein, Kendall (5) and Orien.

CORVALLIS — Greenwood 0-2, E Cashell 1-2, Knapp 0-2, K McCartney 1-2, Krueger 0-3, K Bebner 1-1, Wolsky 1-1, J Saturday 0-1, J Greenwood 0-2.

POLSON — Caye 4-5, Druyvestein 3-5, Smith 3-5, Orien 3-4, Orien 3-4, Carpentier 2-3, Hanson 3-3, Kaulley 3-4, Pierre 1-2, Vert 0-2, Ashley Depoe 1-1, Bad Bear 0-0, Kendall 0-0.

2B — Kaulley 2, Hanson, McCartney, Pierre, Carpentier. HR — Carpentier. RBI — McCartney, Bebner, Wolsky, Saturday, Orien 4, Caye 3, Carpentier 3, Kaulley 3, Pierre 3, Druyvestein 2, Smith 2, Hanson 2.

Saturday, May 15, 2021

Polson wins big

By Daily Inter Lake

BUTTE — Lexie Orien homered twice and drove in five runs and the Polson Pirates brushed aside another foe at the Laverne Combo tournament Saturday, beating Stevensville 10-0.

In other tournament games Saturday, Butte Central beat Libby 12-9 and Ronan outscored Stevensville 11-6.

Polson 10, Stevensville 0

Orien hit 2-run shots in the second and fourth innings for the Pirates, who ended the game after five innings under the mercy rule. She also had a sacrifice fly in the first.

Leadoff hitter Josie Caye went 4-for-4, including a 2-run single in Polson’s 6-run second inning, and scored three times.

Katelynne Druyvestein went the distance on the hill, surrendering two hits and one walk and striking out 10.

Polson 2 6 0 2 0 - 10 12 0

Stevi 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 2 0

Katelynne Druyvestein and Lexie Orien. K Moore, L Brishia (3) and xxxxxx.

POLSON — Josie Caye 4-4, Druyvestein 1-4, Kobbey Smith 0-1, Orien 2-2, SaVanna Carpentier 1-3, Mckenna Hanson 1-3, Mossey Kaulley 0-2, Avery Starr 0-1, Turquoise Pierre 2-2, Ashlyn Depoe 0-0, Anna Vert 1-2, Lexi Johnston 0-1, Nikke Kendall 0-0.

STEVENSVILLE — M. Smis 1-2, O Gray 0-2, J Newman 0-1, S Berning 0-2, Moore 0-1, C Smith 0-1, L McCormick 1-2, Brishia 0-2, E Kapsa 0-2, H Thomas 0-1.

2B — Caye 2, McCormick. 3B — Pierre. HR — Orien 2. RBI — Orien 5, Caye 2, Smith 2.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Smith walk off grand slam mercy rules Ronan

Kobbey Smith smacked a walk-off grand slam home run in the bottom of the 5th inning to put Polson up 10-0 and send Ronan home.

W- Druyvestine, L-Jackson

no other info available

Thursday, May 20, 2021

Polson clinches NWA conference Championship

Columbia Falls effort to come back from down four runs in the fifth inning came up just short, as they fell 6-5 to Polson on Thursday. The Wildcats  managed three runs in the failed comeback.

Aspen Dawson and McKenna Rensel powered the rally with RBIs.

Columbia Falls lost despite out-hitting Polson ten to eight.

Polson got things moving in the second inning. Turquoise Pierre doubled on a 3-2 count, scoring one run.

The Lady Pirates pulled away for good with four runs in the third inning. In the third Kobbey Smith reached on a dropped third strike and Mckenna Hanson homered on a 0-1 count, scoring three runs.

Katelyne Driyvestein led things off in the circle for Polson. The fireballer lasted seven innings, allowing ten hits and five runs while striking out seven and walking one.

Sydney Mann started on the rubber for Columbia Falls Wildcats . The righthander went five innings, allowing six runs on seven hits, striking out three and walking one. Maddie Moultray threw one inning in relief.

The Wildkats smacked two home runs on the day. Dawson went for the long ball in the sixth inning. Alyssa Blankenship had a homer in the third inning.

Columbia Falls totaled ten hits in the game. Blankenship, Abbey Underdahl, and Dawson all managed multiple hits for Columbia Falls Wildcats . Dawson, Underdahl, and Blankenship each collected two hits to lead Columbia Falls Wildcats .

Polson tallied eight hits in the game. Smith and A Vert each had multiple hits for Polson.

               1    2    3    4    5    6    7    R    H    E
CFalls     0    0    1    1    0    1    2    5    10    2
Polson    0    1    4    0    1    0    X    6      8    1

W-Druyvestein, L-Mann

Saturday, May 22, 2021

Polson NWA Conference Champions

Lady Pirates pillage Loggers 16-2

By Daily Inter Lake

POLSON — Josie Caye and Kobbey Smith hit home runs in a 6-run first inning and the Polson Pirates cruised to a Northwest A softball win over Libby Saturday, 16-2.

Caye, who went 3-for-3 and scored three runs, led off the game with a solo shot. Katelynn Druyvestein followed with a double and came home on Smith’s homer.

Smith added a sacrifice fly in the third and an RBI single in the fourth as the Pirates (19-1, 8-0 in league) ended the game early under the 10-run mercy rule.

Lexie Orion drove in three runs, two with a fourth-inning single.

Druyvestein got the win on the hill, giving up five hits and no walks. She struck out five.

Sidney Rusdal singled and scored in the third inning for the Loggers. Taylor Munro scored the second run for Libby (9-10, 5-3 in league), hitting a single to lead off the fourth. She came around on Jossalyn White’s RBI base hit.

The teams’ next action is the State A tournament that begins Thursday at Stodden Park in Butte.

Libby    001 10 - 2 5 3
Polson 605 5x - 16 14 3

Paisley MacDonald, Taylor Munro (4) and Destinee Crawford. Katelynn Druyvestein and Lexie Orien.

LIBBY — Courtney Benson 0-2, Bethany Thomas 0-3, Crawford 0-3, Munro 1-3, MacDonald 2-2, Kinzee Boehmer 0-2, Jossalyn White 1-2, Aren James 0-2, Sidney Rusdal 1-2.

POLSON — Josie Caye 3-3, Druyvestein 1-3, Kobbey Smith 2-3, Orien 3-4, SaVanna Carpentier 1-4, Mckenna Hanson 2-4, Mossey Kaulley 0-1, Turquoise Pierre 1-3, Anna Vert 1-3, Jaevin Bad Bear 0-0, Nikki Kendall 0-0.

2B — Druyvestein, Hanson. HR — Caye, Smith. RBI—White, Smith 4, Orien 3, Kaye 2, Hanson 2, Druyvestein, Kaulley, Carpentier, Vert.

Saturday, May 29, 2021

Druyvestein, Pirates take home 8th title

By Daily Inter Lake

BUTTE — Junior pitcher Katelynne Druyvestein dominated and the Polson Pirates are again State A softball champions, with a 9-3 victory over Frenchtown Saturday at Stodden Park.

The title-game win over the Broncs came after a nail-biter in the 9 a.m. unbeaten semifinal: Polson needed nine innings to beat Laurel 1-0, which was the Locomotives’ first loss.

Frenchtown then beat Laurel 10-6 — avenging a 5-2 loss on Friday — to reach the championship. The Broncs needed to beat Polson twice to win the title, and instead fell to 0-2 against the Pirates this season.

It’s Polson’s eighth state softball title and first since 2012, to go with two runner-up finishes. The Pirates lost the 2019 State A championship to Belgrade.

Polson 9, Frenchtown 3

Druyvestein held the Broncs to four hits, completing an excellent tournament in which she threw every inning for Polson, 30 in all. She allowed just 17 hits, four walks, 9 runs (three earned) and struck out 49.

She fanned six against Frenchtown, and only one of the Broncs’ runs was earned.

Offensively Josie Caye led off the game with a home run, had three hits — including an RBI single in Polson’s 4-run sixth inning — and scored three runs for the Pirates (23-1).

Turquoise Pierre drove in a run with a single and Anna Vert added a sacrifice fly in the second inning as Polson built a 3-0 lead; Mckenna Hanson singled and scored on Pierre’s sac fly in the fourth.

Up 5-2, Polson put the game away in the sixth starting with Mossy Kauley’s one-out solo homer. Pierre and Vert followed with singles; both scored.

Caye added her RBI single and came around on a couple wild pitches and Druyvestein’s groundout to make it 9-2.

Kendra Jacobs went most of the way in relief for Frenchtown, and gave up 11 hits.

The Broncs (22-7) had Abby Faulhaber’s RBI double in the third, and Khasidy Hodge singled in a run in the sixth. Frenchtown’s third run scored when Cassidy Bagnell’s fly to left was dropped for an error and Faulhaber, who’d also reached on an error, scored.

Frenchtown 001 001 1 - 3 4 1
Polson            120 114 x - 9 12 3

Sadie Smith, Olivia Campbell (1), Kendra Jacobs (1) and Tony Beatty. Katelynn Druyvestein and Lexie Orien.

FRENCHTOWN — Cassidy Bagnell 0-3, Smith 1-4, Maddy Reggers 0-3, Shelby Miotke 0-3, Dakota Fortney 0-0, Juna Ashby 0-3, Khasidy Hodge 1-2, Chloe Long 0-3, Beatty 1-3, Abby Faulhaber 1-3, Alexis Godin 0-0.

POLSON — Josie Caye 3-4, Druyvestein 1-4, Kobbey Smith 0-3, Orien 2-4, SaVanna Carpentier 1-3, Mckenna Hanson 1-3, Mossy Kauley 1-3, Turquoise Pierre 2-2, Anna Vert 1-2.

2B — Faulhaber. HR — Caye, Kauley. RBI — Bagnell, Hodge, Faulhaber, Caye 2, Pierre 2, Druyvestein, Orien, Kauley, Vert.

Polson downs previously undefeated Laurel

Polson 1, Laurel 0

Druyvestein was again masterful, scattering six hits and no walks in nine innings, and striking out 16.

Nearly matching her was Laurel’s Ella Crookston, who allowed seven hits, walked none and fanned 13.

Kauley’s double that drove in Mckenna Henson provided the game-winner in the ninth. Laurel then lost to Frenchtown to end its season 19-2.

Polson 000 000 001 - 1 7 1
Laurel  000 000 000 - 0 6 2

Druyvestein and Orien. Ella Crookston and

POLSON — Caye 1-4, Druyvestein 2-4, Smith 0-3, Orien 2-4, Carpentier 0-4, Hanson 1-4, Kauley 1-4, Pierre 0-4, Vert 0-3.

LAUREL — Josie Benson 0-4, Taylor Feller 1-4, Cora Styles 1-4, Lexie Stahlman 1-4, Bailey Chapman 0-4, Shelby Block 1-4, Taylor Strecker 1-4, Mikayla Moorman 1-3, Anderson 0-3.

2B — Kaulley, Moorman. RBI — Kauley.

Friday, May 28, 2021

Polson now one win away from state title berth

BUTTE — When Mckenna Hanson’s sixth inning three-run homer cleared the fence and temporarily broke the game open, there was a feeling of, “Is it really going to be this easy?”

In short, the answer was no, but the Polson Pirates did go on to defeat the Lewistown Golden Eagles 5-4 Friday at Stodden Park.

Trailing 5-0 with one out in the bottom of the sixth, Lewistown’s Maddison Affolder got to second base thanks to a throwing error to first base on a grounder to third. Eagles starting pitcher Jessica Morgan smacked a double in the left-centerfield gap to put runners on second and third. Both of those runners scored on another infield throwing error by Polson. The error was once again followed by a double, this time by Eliazar Southard, to put runners at second and third again.

Polson ace Katelyne Druyvestein struck out the next batter. Riley Anderson then bunted for a hit, scoring Chelsea Jensen from third. Polson coach Jami Hanson insisted that Anderson ran too far inside the baseline on her way to first, but the umpires said play on.

With runners on first and third and one out, Southard scored on a wonderfully executed double steal. Druyvestein fanned the next batter to end the frame.

After the Pirates went quietly in the top of the seventh, Druyvestein trotted back out to the circle with ice water in her veins.

“I knew I didn’t need to get riled up because we had some things going on with the (umpires) in the sixth inning,” she said. “And so I knew we had to come back calm and cool, just like we were in the beginning of the game.”

The left-handed junior struck out the first two batters on seven pitches. A pair of Golden Eagles managed to reach base with two outs, but Druyvestein sat down the final batter on strikes to end the game.

Druyvestein struck out 14, walked one and scattered five hits over seven innings with 125 pitches.

Morgan, her counterpart was also impressive. She struck out 10 over seven innings, gave up seven hits and walked one on 107 pitches.

Morgan’s one mistake, however, she paid for.

With two on and one out, Hanson stepped up to bat. The stiff breeze that was blowing straight in from right field had shifted. Now it was blowing right to left, looking at the field from behind home plate.

“I was super nervous. I wasn’t even thinking about what she was throwing me,” Hanson said. “I was just like, ‘I just want to hit it.’ And she threw one right down the middle and a little bit inside, and those are my favorite.”

The freshman launched one to deep right field, right down the foul line.

“I thought it was going foul,” she said. “It was definitely curving but I think the wind brought it back.”

Kobbey Smith went 2-for-3 with a run scored for Polson. Southard paced the Eagles offense, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Polson plays Laurel at 9 a.m. Saturday with a trip to the state championship on the line.

Polson to face Laurel, Columbia Falls run ends

Daily Interlake

BUTTE — Polson got within one win of the title game and Columbia Falls made a run through the loser’s bracket to highlight Friday’s action at the State A softball tournament at Stodden Park.

The Pirates held off Lewistown 5-4 in the winner’s bracket, leaving Lewistown to face Columbia Falls — which won twice earlier Friday — to stay alive.

The Eagles ousted the Wildkats 8-4. Columbia Falls began the day with a 14-4 win over Havre and a 9-2 thumping of Billings Central.

The Pirates (21-1) take on Laurel (19-0) at 9 a.m. Saturday in the winner’s bracket semifinal.

Lewistown (17-6) and Frenchtown (20-6) square off at the same time, with the loser taking fourth.

The championship is set for 1 p.m.

In early loser-out play, Corvallis beat Libby 11-1.

Polson 5, Lewistown 4

McKenna Hanson’s 3-run homer in the sixth put Polson ahead 5-0, and then the Pirates had to withstand Lewistown’s sixth-inning rally.

Three errors in the frame helped the Eagles, who also had doubles from Jessica Morgan and Eliazar Southard. Eventually Katelynne Druyvenstein got a strike out — her 11th out of 14 in the game — to end the threat.

She fanned three more Eagles, sandwiched around two walks, to close out the seventh inning.

Mossey Kaulley’s RBI grounder scored one of Polson’s two runs in the fourth.

Morgan fanned 10 pirates, and one her five runs allowed were earned.

Polson         000 203 0 - 5 5 4
Lewistown 000 004 0 - 4 4 4

Katelynne Druyvestein and Lexie Orien. J Morgan and

POLSON — Josie Caye 1-4, Druyvestein 0-4, Kobbey Smith 2-3, Orien 0-4, SaVanna Carpentier 1-3, Mckenna Hanson 1-3, Mossy Kauley 0-3, Turquoise Pierre 0-3, Anna Vert 0-3, Jaevin Bad Bear 0-0.

LEWISTOWN — M Affolder 1-4, Morgan 1-3, C Jensen 0-4, E Southamd 2-3, H Welsh 0-3, B Andeson 0-3, A Gremaux 0-3, S Talkington 0-3, M Denton 0-1, K Southworth 0-2, Josie Dubbs 0-0.

HR — Hanson. RBI — Hanson 3, Kauley, Jensen, Anderson.

Thursday, May 27, 2021

A workman-like victory for Polson as Pirates rout Corvallis

Nothing flashy, just a few timely hits and limited mistakes helped the No. 1 seed Polson Pirates cruise by the Corvallis Blue Devils 9-2.

"That's been us all year," said Pirates coach Jami Hanson. "We just go out, take care of business and then it's onto the next."

Katelyne Druyvestein went 2-for-3 with a triple, a walk and two runs scored. She also pitched a complete-game gem and located all of her pitches masterfully, striking out 12 Blue Devils.

Kobbey Smith added a pair of singles and Josie Caye had a two-run single for the Pirates, who are one of the favorites to win this tournament.

The Corvallis offense did not get much going until the final frame, when Sydney Wolsky hit a solo home run on the first pitch she saw to get the Polson lead to 9-2. Macee Greenwood hit a double to the centerfield fence, but that would be all the Blue Devils mustered.

Polson advances to play Lewistown on Friday at 1 p.m.

From the Daily Interlake

BUTTE — Mckenna Hanson’s 2-run single keyed a 4-run third inning for Polson, and the Pirates subdued Corvallis to move on in the State B softball tournament at Stodden Park Thursday.

Katelynn Druyvestein backed her own pitching with an RBI triple in the first, and she singled and scored on Kobbey Smith’s ground in the fourth to put the Pirates up 7-1.

She also threw a three-hitter in the circle, allowing three walks and striking out 13.

Sydney Wolsky had an RBI sac bunt in the second inning and a solo homer in the seventh for the Blue Devils.

Corvallis 010 000 1 - 2 3 5
Polson   204  120 x - 9 10 2

S. Krueger, M. Greenwood (4) and S. Knapp. Katelynne Druyvestein and Lexie Orien.

CORVALLIS — Greenwood 2-3, E Cashell 0-3, J McConnell 0-1, Knapp 0-3, K McCartney 0-2, Krueger 0-2, K Bebner 0-2, S Walsky 1-2, J Saturday 0-3, J Greenwood 0-2, E Dowd 0-1.

POLSON — Josie Caye 1-2, Druyvestein 2-3, Kobbey Smith 2-3, Orien 1-4, SaVanna Carpentier 1-3, Mckenna Hanson 1-3, Mossy Kauley 0-2, Turquoise Pierre 1-3, Anna Vert 1-3, Jaevin Bad Bear 0-0, Nikki Kendall 0-0.

2B — Greenwood. 3B — Druyvestein. HR — Wolsky. RBI — Wolsky 2, Caye 2, Smith 2, Hanson 2, Kauley, Druyvestein.