Polson hit parade sinks Whitefish
By GREG SCHINDLER
The Daily Inter Lake
WHITEFISH - Whitefish softball coach David Dachs wasn't disappointed with the Bulldogs' performance Tuesday. He did have one desire for the next time they face the Polson Pirates, though.
"I wish I could have six outfielders so we could cover them all the way," he said. "But they're trained hitters and they know where to hit the gaps. They're an awesome team that way."
Polson used a colossal final inning to hammer Whitefish 19-1 in Tuesday's Western A game. The Bulldogs hung with the first-place Pirates for four innings before they erupted for 15 runs on 14 hits in the fifth inning.
Whitefish, which dropped to 4-7 in conference play and 4-17 overall, trailed just 1-0 after two innings and 4-0 after four. But Polson (18-2, 10-0) could do little wrong in the fifth.
"The thing is, we're just a really solid team," Polson senior Dylen Zetterberg said. "We started off a little slow, but as soon as we get a hold of it there's not really any going back for us."
Zetterberg pitched four innings of two-hit ball to earn the win. She also went 3-for-4 at the plate, driving in two runs.
Every player in Polson's lineup had at least one hit. Seven Pirates notched multi-hit games, including Zetterberg, Kyla McDonald, Lindsey Rafter and Amanda James, who had three hits apiece.
James drove in four runs while Jaelin Vandeberg and freshman left fielder Staci Benson - Polson's No. 9 hitter - drove home three each.
Polson coach Larry Smith said the Pirates' massive scoring outbursts don't surprise him.
"Not with the fire-power we've got," he said.
"From one through nine they can all hit the ball and hit it well."
Whitefish pitcher Torey Ost allowed no earned runs through two innings and three earned runs through four. The Bulldog defense was solid as well, committing just on error before the final frame.
"It's nothing bad we did, it's just that Polson's a great team," Dachs said.
"I mean, holy smokes, you know you might be able to get a couple runs on Polson and get it tight, but they start bombing those things in there and there's no defense against hits."
Whitefish managed a small victory, scratching out a run in the bottom of the fifth. Center fielder Robin Cross led off with a single, advanced to second on Maude Gwiazdon's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Kilani Morris' base hit.
Cross, Morris, Shannon Holmes and Shaundra Savage each singled for Whitefish. But while the Bulldogs labored to manufacture one run, the Pirates simply scored.
"I have fun waiving them in," Smith said. "I do enjoy that. This year I've had many games that way, where I've just kind of sat back and let them do what they want to do up there."
Polson visits Eureka on Thursday before hosting Libby on Friday to conclude conference play.
"We definitely want to take it 12-0," Zetterberg. "It's a big upper for us going into state, knowing that we can do it."
Whitefish visits Libby on Thursday, hoping another sound effort will yield better results against the Loggers.
"The girls were really happy and I was very proud of them hanging with Polson for four innings," Dachs said. "And then, unfortunately, we hit a bump in the road. And that's all it is. Polson's a great team - you've got to hand it to 'em."
Polson 103 0(15) - 19 20 0
Whitefish 000 00 - 0 4 4
Dylen Zetterberg, Sarah Newton and Brittany Jones. Torey Ost, Kilani Morris, Carolyn Sharp and Desiree Clarke. W - Zetterberg. L - Ost.
POLSON (18-2, 10-0) - Kyla McDonald 3-5, Zetterberg 3-4, Lindsey Rafter 3-4, Jaelin Vandeberg 2-4, Amanda James 3-3, Kendra Woldstad 1-4, Newton 2-3, Jones 1-3, Staci Benson 2-4.
WHITEFISH (4-17, 4-7) - Maude Gwiazdon 0-2, Morris 1-3, Shannon Holmes 1-2, Devyn Ost 0-2, Shaundra Savage 1-2, Clarke 0-1, Camille Williams 0-2, Robin Cross 1-2, Lexi Day 0-2.
RBIs - Pol. 16 (James 4, Benson 3, Vandeberg 3, Zetterberg 2, Newton 2, McDonald, Rafter), WF 1 (Morris). 3B - Pol. 3 (McDonald, Vandeberg, Zetterberg), WF 0. 2B - Pol. 2 (McDonald, Rafter), WF 0. SB - Pol. 2 (Rafter, Vandeberg), WF 0. SAC - Pol. 1 (James), WF 1 (Gwiazdon).