Peterson, Duford shine for Polson

| April 5, 2009 1:00 AM

The Daily Inter Lake

POLSON - Veteran pitcher Dakota Peterson threw a no-hitter and sophomore catcher Kayla Duford, making her first varsity start, went 4-for-4 and drove in nine runs as Polson swept Browning in Class A softball doubleheader play on Saturday.

Peterson struck out eight batters and Polson ripped 13 hits in winning the opener 10-0.

Duford, 1-for-1 and four RBIs in the first game, went 3-for-3 and drove in five runs in the second game as Polson triumphed 11-0.

Both contests ended after five innings on the 10-run mercy rule.

"She had a tremendous day and did extremely well behind the plate," Polson coach Larry Smith said of Duford.

"I worked with her last summer. I knew she had the potential to be a great one.

"We've had some excellent catchers throughout the history of the program here," Smith added. "She's carrying that out. She's a very smart, solid kid."

Duford also stole three bases on the day, and doubled and tripled in the second game.

Charlee Jenson threw a 1-hitter for Polson in the nightcap. She gave up a single to Browning's Milynn Lazyboy in the fifth inning.

Jenson struck out seven and walked four.

Peterson, in the first game, walked the second batter and hit a batter in the fourth inning. She struck out the side in the second inning.

It was the season opener for both teams.

"This is the best Browning team I've seen in years," Smith said.

"And I've seen a lot of Browning teams. Defensively, they did very, very well."

The Indians had just two errors on the day.

Polson is back in action Tuesday, 3 p.m, at Hamilton.

Browning 000 00 - 0 0 1

Polson 130 33 - 10 13 0

Alyssa Hodson and Sarah Horn; Dakota Peterson and Kayla Duford. W - Peterson (0 hits, 8 strikeouts, 1 walks, 1 hit batter). L - Hodson.

BROWNING - Kaylee Kennerly 0-2, Bristen Belcourt 0-2, Ashlyn Fish 0-2, Kenzie Wellman 0-1, Horn 0-2, Hodson 0-2, Milynn Lazyboy 0-2, Destini Lell 0-2, Ashton Smith 0-1.

POLSON - Staci Benson 3-3, SuSan Perez-Tenas 1-3, Sarah Newton 2-3, Rochelle Woods 1-3, Sallie Sams 1-3, Peterson 2-3, Liz Simshaw 0-2, Riley Kenney 1-1, Kodi Woods 1-1, Duford 1-1.

2B-Benson (2), Newton, Woods; 3B-Newton; RBIs-Benson (3), Perez-Tenas, Woods, Duford (4).

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Browning 000 00 - 0 1 1

Polson 720 2x - 11 14 0

Hodson and Horn; Charlee Jenson and Duford. W - Jenson (1 hit, 7 strikeouts, 4 walks). L - Hodson.

BROWNING - Kennerly 0-3, Belcourt 0-2, Fish 0-2, Wellman 0-2, Horn 0-2, Hodson 0-2, Lazyboy 1-2, Lell 0-2, Smith 0-2.

POLSON - Benson 1-3, Perez-Tenas 1-3, Newton 2-3, Woods 1-3, Jenson 3-3, Kenney 2-3, Duford 3-3, MacKenzie Fortin 1-3, Cecilly Grant 0-2.

2B-Duford; 3B-Benson, Jenson, Duford; RBIs-Perez-Tenas, Jenson (20, Kenney (2), Duford (5), Fortin.

Libby gains split in nonconference play

LIBBY - In a rematch of last year's Class A championship game, Frenchtown downed Libby 9-5 on Saturday in nonconference softball play and spoiled the home opener for the Loggers.

Shelby Russ checked Libby on six hits, struck out 12 and walked two. She also sparked the Broncs offense, going 3-for-5, which included a double and a two-run homer. She had four RBIs in the contest.

Libby defeated Frenchtown 6-5 last year in the state title game.

Libby salvaged the day, however, rallying for five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to spill Timberlake High School from Spirit Lake, Idaho, 11-10. Amber Grubham doubled to left centerfield with one out to drive in Lexi Hageness and Taylor Barton for the tying and game-winning runs.

Libby, 2-1, banged out 16 hit. Grubham and Candace Hendrickson both went 3-for-4.

Libby sent seven batters to the plate in the seventh inning and pounded out five hits.

"All of a sudden we got on it," Libby coach Dean Thompson said.

"Got one person on and kept rolling."

Libby's JV host Eureka's varsity of Tuesday for two games, 4/6 p.m., and then entertain Flathead on Thursday, 6 p.m.

Frenchtown 130 301 1 - 9 13 2

Libby 102 110 0 - 5 6 2

Shelby Russ and Kristy Kees; Taylor Armstrong and Kat Wilson. W - Russ 1-0, (6 hits, 12 strikeouts, 2 walks). L - Armstrong, 1-1.

FRENCHTOWN - Erin Maxted 4-5, Russ 3-5, Kees 2-4, Stephanie Klucewich 0-4, Aimee Duncan 0-2, Megan Farmer 3-3, Kelsey Indreland 0-3, Kayla Bordner 0-1, Mariel Maxted 1-3, Shelby Jutila 0-4.

LIBBY - Nickole Lapka 0-4, Amber Grubham 0-3, Alysha Martin 2-4, Jordan Refsland 1-3, Candace Hendrickson 1-3, Jaime Gillen 0-2, Brittney Speele 0-1, Taylor Barton 1-2, Wilson 0-3, LaRona Luscher 1-3.

2B-Russ, Kees, Farmer (2); Martin; 3B-Barton; HRs-Russ; RBIs-Russ (4), Kees, Farmer; Martin, Hendrickson (2), Wilson.

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Timberlake 240 300 1 - 10 9 0

Libby 103 011 5 - 11 16 3

Allred and Palmer; Sarah Orr, Armstrong (4) and Wilson, Lexi Hageness (4). W - Armstrong 2-1 (4 hits, 1 strikeout, 2 walks). L - Allred.

TIMBERLAKE - Amende 0-2, Hill 3-4, Allred 2-4, Palmer 0-4, Tomason 1-4, Jerome 1-4, Muhlhauser 0-3, Goldberry 0-2, Bitner 2-4.

LIBBY - Lapka 2-2, Grubham 3-4, Martin 0-2, Refsland 1-4, Hendrickson 3-4, Gillen 2-4, Barton 1-4, Wilson 0-1, Hageness 2-3, Luscher 2-4.

2B-Hill, Tomason; Lapka, Grubham (2); Hendrickson, Barton, Hageness; 3B-Gillen; HRs-; RBIs-Hill (3), Allred (2), Tomason, Jerome (2), Bitner; Lapka, Grubham (3), Refsland, Hendrickson.