Polson battles back; Libby eliminated
POLSON - Deja vu?
That's what the Polson Pirate softball team is hoping.
The Pirates lost their first game of the Class A state softball tournament Friday morning to Frenchtown, but bounced back to defeat Billings Central, Butte Central and finally, the Libby Loggers.
The Pirates lost 9-1 to Frenchtown, but beat Billings Central 11-0, Butte Central 14-2 and Libby 13-5.
Friday's action brings up memories of 2001 and 2002, when the Pirates twice came all the way through the consolation bracket to claim back-to-back state championships.
Pirate coach Larry Smith is hoping these Pirates can channel the Pirates of 2001.
Polson won its first game of the state tournament that year, then lost the second game and had to win seven straight games to claim the title.
"Tough way to do it," he acknowledged.
"We have the depth. We've showed that."
He sent the parents of the 2007 Pirates home with a directive - ice the bumps and bruises, then get their daughters into bed.
"They're ready to hit the hay, I think," he smiled. "I don't know if I'll sleep much."
Today begins at 9 a.m. for the Pirates as they take on Corvallis.
A win there would mean an 11 a.m. contest against the loser of the two teams left in the championship bracket - Hamilton and Frenchtown. Should the Pirates prevail, they'd meet the winner of that game - and would have to beat that team twice.
"I've got a lot of faith," Smith said. "If they just get off to a good start. Once they get to rolling, they're hard to stop."
The Pirates showed that Friday.
They had a rough time in their opener - they led 1-0 early, but gave up seven runs in the fifth inning.
"It was our first game of the tournament," he said of that game.
Smith pointed out the Pirates waited around all day Thursday for a game that never happened, then had to rise early Friday to play a team that already had one win under its belt.
"I just don't think they were quite ready for it," he said.
Frenchtown was ready - to hit the ball.
The Broncs hit several little single bloopers - seeing eye singles.
"They got a couple of those, then somebody would get a good solid hit," Smith said.
Frenchtown went up 2-1 in the fourth, then put the game away in the fifth.
"We made a lot of errors - and they definitely can hit the ball," said Pirate senior pitcher Dylen Zetterberg.
According to Zetterberg, that loss served as a wake-up call for Polson.
"We realized how much we want it and we realized we can be beat. I think it did us some good," she said.
The three games after that "we were a little more focused," she said.
"It's nice knowing we can bounce back," she added.
"This is our time to shine and we're going to do our best," Zetterberg said.
They bounced back all right. Smith told the Pirates after that loss from that
moment forward they had to play perfect softball. They took his words to heart.
Polson took just five innings to put Billings Central out of the tournament, then turned on the big bats to blast Butte Central, 14-2.
"That's a scary little team," Smith said of the Maroons.
"They chink away at you. They play a little small ball and they got quickness … but our big bats got going."
The Maroons may have been a bit tired - they lost a 12-inning contest to Corvallis to begin the day, then beat Sidney in loser-out play before facing the Pirates.
The teams traded runs in the first inning, and again in the fourth.
Polson took a 3-2 lead in the fifth when freshman Staci Benson led off with a solo home run to left center field.
But the ice was really broken in the sixth.
Three singles followed by a grand slam by sophomore Sarah Newton broke the game wide open.
Polson wound up with 11 runs in the inning - and Newton had two homers. In addition to the slam, she hit a three-run shot on her second time through.
That win meant the Pirates would face the Libby Loggers in loser-go-home contest.
By that time, the Pirates were pumped - and the Loggers were mourning a 5-3 loss to Hamilton.
Polson started with a 3-run first inning, then added six more in the second.
Except for a 2-out rally the Loggers staged in the bottom of the seventh, the game was all Pirates.
"We had a few errors," Loggers coach Dean Thompson said of the second inning. "But I tell you what, Polson is a great team."
And Thompson is proud of the show his youngsters put on.
"(Thursday) was a great team effort. It was good for the program. We played so well yesterday."
The Loggers played pretty good softball Friday, too. They pushed the favored Broncs to the limit.
"We put the bat on the ball. We had seven hits. We had our opportunities to win that game."
The only problem for the Loggers was a four-run second inning the Broncs enjoyed.
"But we came back and we hit. We just didn't make the plays we needed to make when we needed them," the coach said.
"I wish Polson all the luck (today)," he added.
Friday
At Polson
Game 5
Columbia Falls 100 002 0 - 3 5 2
Hamilton 412 212 x - 12 16 1
Battery not available
Columbia Falls - Amanda Milliard 2-4, Lindsey Nelson 1-4, Vanesha Riley 0-3, Amber James 1-3, Drew Walter 0-2, Kayla Stinger 0-2, Brittany White 1-3, Sam Venezio 0-1, Cedar Smith 0-2.
Hamilton - T. Bryan 1-4, C. Krueger 1-3, J. Huseby 2-3, R. Wood 4-4, S. Callaghan 3-4, N. Koning 1-4, K. Lokken 1-4, A. Hood 3-3, C. Smith 0-3.
2B-Riley, James; Huseby, Wood, Callaghan (2), Koning, Lokken; RBIs-Riley, James; Bryan, Krueger, Wood, Callaghan (4), Koning, Lokken.
Game 7
Butte Central 000 000 000 000 - 0 6 1
Corvallis 000 000 000 001 - 1 8 0
Battery not available
Butte Central - Brooke Pokorny 1-5, Kylie Orizotti 1-5, Kelci Thatcher 1-5, Amber Orizotti 1-5, Kelly O'Leary 1-5, Kacey Daily 1-5, Saidee Johnston 0-5, Julie Lally 0-5, Hannah Manion 0-4.
Corvallis - Briana Brawley 0-6, Jess Adair 1-6, Sam Nelson 0-6, Kasie Condor 1-6, Megan Auch 1-6, Markie Gurley 0-6, Amber Bradshaw 3-6, Angie Henderson 2-5, Kylynn Pellcey 0-5.
2B-Auch; RBI-Bradshaw.
Game 8
Frenchtown 000 270 0 - 9 13 3
Polson 100 000 0 - 1 1 1
Mandy Holloron and Kelly Engwall; Dylen Zetterberg, Sarah Newton (5) and Brittany Jones.
Frenchtown - Alex Duncan 1-4, Holloron 2-4, Noelle Lebsock 2-4, Shelby Russ 2-4, Engwall 2-4, Jennifer Chapman 2-4, Lauren Lofts 2-4, Kelly Reed 0-3, Kali Bennett 0-3.
Polson - Kyla McDonald 1-3, Zetterberg 0-3, Lindsey Rafter 0-2, Jaelin Vandeberg 0-3, Amanda James 0-3, Kendra Woldstad 0-3, Newton 0-3, Jones 0-1, Staci Benson 0-0.
2B-Chapman, Lofts; HRs-Russ, Lofts; RBIs-Lebsock, Russ (2), Engwall (2), Lofts (3); Zetterberg.
Game 9
Belgrade 014 504 3 - 17 23 0
Columbia Falls 005 021 6 - 14 22 5
Battery not available
Belgrade - Kelsey Foster 3-5, Lauren Torres 0-1, Megan Bell 3-5, Krista Howard 2-4, Stephanie Livermore 2-5, Brittany Markham 4-5, Carrissa Erickson 2-3, Jillian Gue 3-3, Brittany Larsen 1-4, Amy Langendorf 2-4, Sarah Hultman 1-1.
Columbia Falls - Amanda Milliard 2-5, Lindsey Nelson 2-5, Vanesha Riley 1-5, Amber James 3-5, Drew Walters 2-2, Kayla Stinger 2-3, Brittany White 1-4, Sami Venezio 1-1, Jennie Johnson 4-4, Cedar Smith 4-5.
2B-Bell, Markham, Erickson, Gue (2); Milliard (2), Nelson, Riley, James, Johnson (2); 3B-Gue; HRs-Foster, Bell, Howard, Markham, Larsen; RBIs-Foster, Bell (2), Howard (2), Markham (4), Gue (4), Larsen (3), Langendorf; Milliard (2), Riley, James, Stinger, White (3), Johnson.
Game 10
Havre 100 10 - 2 5 0
Laurel 13(17) 2x - 23 26 0
Battery not available
Havre - Holly Cartwright 1-2, Samantha Mach 0-1, Katie McLeod 2-2, Steph Stremcha 1-2, Erika Briese 0-1, Danika Patterson 0-2, Stacy Sheppard 0-1, Jessica Obrecht 0-2, Tabby Myers 0-2, Abby Ita 0-0, Keli Kelsey 0-1, Tori Beck 0-2, Tyreyz Suraleer 0-1, Karly Evans 0-1, Natalee Kato 1-1, Tiffany Ranes 0-1.
Laurel - Sam Ewalt 3-4, Katie Michunovich 2-2, Tiff Thomas 3-4, Brittney Ceaser 2-2, Kirby Myers 0-3, Caitlin Bummer 3-3, Caitlyn Caron 3-3, Jenna Riesinger 3-4, Brittany Sterna 3-4, Olivia Heidinger 1-1, Katie Wood 1-1, Sara Parks 1-1, Jesse Engen 1-1, Liz Maybee 0-0, Jenna Griffin 0-0, Maddie Cebuhar 0-0.
2B-McLeod; Michunovich, Ceaser (2), Bummer (2), Coras (2), Riesinger, Sterna; 3B-Thomas; RBIs-Stremcha, Ita; Ewalt, Michunovich, Thomas (3), Ceasar (4), Bummer (3), Coras (3), Riesinger, Sterna (2), Parks, Engen.
Game 11
Butte Central 001 020 0 - 3 6 0
Sidney 010 001 0 - 2 9 1
Battery not available
Butte Central - Brooke Pokorny 2-3, Kylie Orizotti 0-3, Kelci Thatcher 0-3, Amber Orizotti 1-3, Kelly O'Leary 0-3, Kacey Daily 1-3, Saidee Johnston 1-3, Julie Lally 1-3, Hannah Manion 0-3.
Sidney - Kayla Fritz 1-4, Amanda Lorenz 0-4, Lexie Buxbaun 2-4, Natalie Robins 0-4, Jen Nelson 1-4, Kristy Obergfell 0-4, Sherron Lorenz 2-3, Meghan Fehlauer 1-3, Amanda Vanevery 2-3.
2B-Lorenz; RBIs-Fehlauer, Vanevery.
Game 12
Polson 040 16 - 11
Billings Central 000 00 - 0
Polson - Kyla McDonald 3-4, Dylen Zetterberg 4-4, Lindsey Rafter 1-3, Jaelin Vandeberg 1-4, Amanda James 1-3, Kendra Woldstad 1-2, Sarah Newton 3-3, Brittany Jones 2-3, Staci Benson 3-3.
Billings Central - Banielle Martinson 0-2, Brynn Burke 0-2, Brianne Rummel 2-2, Ashley Corcoran 0-3, Megan Smith 0-2, Beth Vogl 0-2, Shae Chilton 0-2, Amber Uzelac 0-2, Austin Hansen 0-2.
2B-Vandeberg, James, Benson; 3B-Woldstad; HRs-Newton; RBIs-Zetterberg (2), Rafter, Vandeberg (2), Newton, Benson (4).
Game 13
Libby 000 030 0 - 3 7 2
Hamilton 040 001 x - 5 5 0
Brooke Hageness and Shelby Barton; N. Koning and S. Callaghan. W - Koning. L - Hageness.
Libby - Hageness 1-3, Nickole Lapka 1-3, Barton 1-3, Laice Dedrick 1-3, Megan Wedel 0-3, McKenzi Grotjohn 1-3, Sami Freebury 0-3, Christina Shilling 1-3, Holly Cirian 1-3.
Hamilton - T. Bryan 1-3, C. Krueger 0-3, J. Huseby 0-3, R. Wood 0-2, S. Callaghan 2-3, N. Koning 0-3, K. Lokken 2-3, A. Hood 0-3, C. Smith 0-1.
2B-Lapka; Lokken; RBIs-Callaghan, Lokken (3), Smith.
Game 14
Frenchtown 000 010 0 - 1 4 1
Corvallis 000 000 0 - 0 8 1
Battery not available
Corvallis - Briana Brawley 0-3, Jess Adair 0-3, Sam Nelson 2-3, Kasie Conder 2-3, Markie Gurley 1-3, Megan Auch 2-3, Amber Bradshaw 0-3, Angie Henderson 1-3, Kylynn Pellcey 0-3.
Frenchtown - Alex Duncan 0-4, Mandy Holloron 0-3, Nichole Lebsock 0-3, Shelby Russ 0-1, Kelly Engwall 2-3, Jennifer Chapman 0-3, Lauren Lofts 1-3, Kelly Reed 1-3, Kali Bennett 0-3.
2B-Duncan; HRs-Bennett; RBIs-Bennett.
Game 15
Belgrade 001 000 0 - 1 7 0
Laurel 430 211 - 11 13 3
Battery not available
Belgrade - K. Foster 2-3, L. Torres 0-2, Bell 0-3, K. Howard 2-3, Livermore 1-3, Markham 1-3, Erickson 0-2, J. Gue 0-3, B. Larsen 1-2.
Laurel - Sam Ewalt 3-4, Katie Michunovich 1-3, Tiff Thomas 1-4, Brittney Ceaser 2-4, Kirby Myers 2-2, Caitlin Bummer 1-3, Caitlyn Caron 1-3, Jenna Riesinger 1-3, Brittany Sterna 1-3.
2B-Ewalt, Myers, Sterna; HRs-Thomas, Ceaser; RBIs-Torres.
Game 16
Polson 101 11(11) - 14 5 1
Butte Central 101 100 - 2 3 5
Battery not available
Polson - Kyla McDonald 0-4, Dylen Zetterberg 0-4, Lindsey Rafter 1-4, Jaelin Vandeberg 1-4, Amanda James 1-4, Kendra Woldstad 1-4, Sarah Newton 0-4, Brittany Jones 0-4, Staci Benson 1-3.
Butte Central - Brooke Pokorny 1-3, Kylie Orizotti 0-3, Kelci Thatcher 1-3, Amber Orizotti 1-3, Kelly O'Leary 0-3, Kacey Daily 0-3, Saidee Johnston 0-2, Julie Lally 0-3, Hannah Manion 0-2.
2B-McDonald, Rafter, Vandeberg, James, Woldstad; A. Orizotti; 3B-Zetterberg; HRs-Newton, Jones, Benson; RBIs-McDonald (2), Zetterberg, Vandeberg, Woldstad (2), Newton (7), Benson; A. Orizotti.
Game 17
Laurel 000 001 0 - 1 5 0
Corvallis 202 020 x - 6 11 0
Battery not available
Laurel - S. Everett 2-3, Katie Michunovich 0-2, Tiff Thomas 1-3, Brittney Ceaser 1-3, Kirby Myers 0-3, Caitlin Bummer 0-3, Caitlyn Caron 0-3, Jenna Riesinger 1-3, Brittany Sterna 0-2.
Corvallis - Briana Brawley 2-4, Jess Adair 0-4, Sam Nelson 1-4, Kasie Condor 1-4, Megan Auch 2-2, Markie Gurley 2-3, Amber Bradshaw 1-3, Angie Henderson 2-3, Kylynn Pellcey 0-1.
2B-Auch; Brawley, Gurley, Auch, Henderson; RBIs-Bradshaw; Condor, Auch, Bradshaw, Henderson (2), Pellcey.
Game 18
Libby 100 000 4 - 5 6 3
Polson 360 100 3 - 13 10 3
Battery not available
Libby - Brooke Hageness 1-4, Nickole Lapka 1-4, Shelby Barton 1-4, Laice Dedrick 0-4, Megan Wedel 1-4, McKenzi Grotjohn 1-4, Sami Freebury 1-3, Christina Shilling 0-3, Holly Cirian 0-3.
Polson - Kyla McDonald 24, Dylen Zetterberg 1-4, Lindsey Rafter 2-4, Jaelin Vandeberg 0-4, Amanda James 1-4, Kendra Woldstad 0-2, Sarah Newton 0-4, Staci Benson 3-4, Maggie Gordon 0-4.
2B-Barton, Dedrick; Zetterberg, Rafter; 3B-Vandeberg; HRs-Newton; RBIs-Lapka, Dedrick (3); Zetterberg (2), Rafter, Vandeberg (2), James (2), Newton (3).