Ronan eliminates rival Polson at state softball tourney
The Daily Inter Lake
POLSON - A double straight to center field.
That's where Ronan's Kelsey Clairmont sent the second pitch of the 10th inning of Friday's loser-out contest at the Class A state softball tournament.
Clairmont scored on Jordan Strozzi's sacrifice fly to left field as Ronan topped Polson 1-0 in a game dubbed an instant classic by both Polson coach Larry Smith and Ronan coach Lucky Larson.
"I didn't have the greatest few innings and finally I connected with the ball," Clairmont said.
"It was something that really had to happen for our team. I just watched it all the way to my bat. It was right there for me," she said.
"I knew we were going to win it right then," said Ronan pitcher Kaylee Larson.
"It set the tone. I was coming up and I knew I was going to get on base. Jordan Strozzi followed me. She struck out once this entire year. She doesn't strike out," she said.
"We said before the game that whoever wanted it more would win it, so we did. It was huge. First time beating Polson ever," Kaylee Larson said.
In other scores for the day, it was Frenchtown getting the better of Belgrade, 7-4, and Butte Central, 3-0 over Billings Central in the winner's bracket.
In the loser-out bracket, Polson defeated Laurel, 4-2, Ronan downed Park, 7-2, Libby defeated Columbia Falls, 8-5, Corvallis defeated Havre 2-1, then beat Libby 7-1. Billings Central bounced back from its afternoon loss to knock Ronan out, 9-3.
Frenchtown and Butte Central will battle at 9 a.m. today, while Belgrade and Billings Central will also play at 9 a.m.
The Frenchtown/Butte Central winner advances to the 1 p.m. championship. The loser takes on the winner of Belgrade/Billings Central at 11 a.m.
As for Friday's rivalry contest, "it was sad there had to be a loser," Lucky Larson said.
"We lost to this team our very first game of the season, 4-3, in Ronan. We talked about that before the game and I have never seen a more focused group of girls in my life," he said.
Both teams made huge defensive plays.
Polson was on third base twice - once in the third and again in the seventh - only to be turned away. In the eighth, Polson shortstop Staci Benson singled with one out. Third baseman Sarah Newton followed with what appeared to be a rocket to right field. It was caught - and the Maidens got Benson at second for the double play.
For their part, the Maidens loaded the bases in the third and again in the eighth and failed to score. Polson turned a double play in the eighth when pitcher Dakota Peterson caught a shot off the bat of Lindsay Clairmont, then threw to third to catch Larson off base.
"They had chances. We had chances. Are you kidding me? My hat is off to Polson. Those girls are great players for Polson," Lucky Larson said.
"Almost every inning each team had the opportunity to win it or blow it away. Our defenses both came through with huge plays," Smith said.
"My kids did too and I'm very very pleased in the pressure situation. "That's the way a rivalry game should be. That's the way fastpitch should be. It should be 1-0 or 3-2. It should be highly intense and close," he added.
"That's a great team and boy, were they driven," Smith said of the Maidens.
"We were (driven)," Kaylee Larson agreed.
"We just went out and played our own game. Everybody made plays. We were all up talking the whole game. We were all fired up in the dugout. Everybody was in it," she said.
"I tip my hat off to them. I'm pleased for them. I'm really sad and heartbroken for our team, especially our seniors. A couple of them just really took it hard … hard, blaming themselves." Smith said.
"They know there is no next year. I really appreciate what they've done. These are some great kids," he said.
Ronan 1, Polson 0
Polson 000 000 000 0 - 0 8 NA
Ronan 000 000 000 1 - 1 5 NA
Dakota Peterson and Kayla Duford. Kaylee Larson and Jordan Strozzi. WP-Kaylee Larson; LP-Dakota Peterson.
POLSON - Staci Benson 1-5, Sarah Newton 1-4, Riley Kenney 0-4, Rochelle Woods 0-4, Sallie Sams 1-4, Kayla Duford 1-3, Charlee Jenson 3-4, Dakota Peterson 1-3, Susan Perez-Tenas 0-4.
RONAN - Kelsey Clairmont 1-5, Kaylee Larson 2-4, Jordan Strozzi 1-4, April Soukup 0-2, Katie Andrews 0-2, Lindsay Clairmont 1-4, Amanda Bartel 0-3, Brit Clairmont 0-3, Dani Crock et 0-3, Bethany Coleman 0-1, Payne Delaurenti 0-1.
2B-K. Clairmont; RBI-Strozzi.
Winners Bracket
Butte Central 3, Billings Central 0
Butte Cen. 000 030 0 - 3 9 NA
Billings Cen. 000 000 0 - 0 5 NA
WP-McKenzie Doherty; LP-Jenny Harrington.
BUTTE CENTRAL - Brooke Pokorny 2-4, Saidee Johnston 1-3, Amber Orizotti 1-4, Quinn Peoples 2-3, Kacey Dailey 1-3, Kylie Orizotti 1-3, McKenzie Doherty 0-2, Carlee Norbeck 0-3, Angela Piazzola 1-3.
BILLINGS CENTRAL - Bryn Burke 0-4, Shea Chilton 0-4, Megan Smith 0-2, Michela Jacobsen 1-3, Jen Harrington 1-3, Chere Anderson 2-3, Katelyn Lynch 0-3, Guin Ayers 0-2, Amanda Tryan 1-3.
RBIs-A. Orizotti (2), Peoples.
Frenchtown 7, Belgrade 3
Belgrade 100 210 0 - 3 11 NA
Frenchtown 100 231 x - 7 10 NA
WP-Shelby Russ; LP-Lauren Torres.
BELGRADE - Ali Cygan 1-4, Megan Bell 0-4, Lauren Torres 1-4, Brittany Larsen 4-4, Jill Gue 3-4, Kasey West 0-3, Kassie Kallestad 0-3, Melissa Bell 1-3, Justine Taylor 1-3.
FRENCHTOWN - Erin Maxted 1-4, Kristy Kees 1-4, Shelby Russ 2-4, Kayla Bordner 1-4, Stephanie Klucewich 1-4, Megan Farmer 0-4, Mariel Maxted 1-3, Keller Lieshman 3-3, Shelby Jutila 0-2, Katie Kees 0-1.
2B-Larsen (2), Russ; RBIs-Larsen, Gue, Kallestad, Mel. Bell; E. Maxted, Klucewich, Lieshman (2).
Loser Out
Polson 4, Laurel 2
Polson 000 112 0 - 4 13 NA
Laurel 020 000 0 - 2 6 NA
WP- Dakota Peterson; LP - Keilah Ahmen.
POLSON - Staci Benson 1-4, Sarah Newton 2-4, Riley Kenney 1-4, Rochelle Woods 2-4, Sallie Sams 1-3, Kayla Duford 2-3, Charlee Jensen 1-3, Dakota Peterson 2-3, Susan Perez-Tenas 1-3.
LAUREL - Olivia Heidinger 0-4, Elizabeth McGee 0-3, Maddie Cebuhar 0-3, Sarah Dirks 2-3, Katie Woods 1-3, Jesse Engan 1-3, Keilah Ahmen 1-3, Kaitlyn O'Rourke 0-3, Michelle Dahl 1-3, Haylee Gallagos 0-1.
2B-Newton, Woods, Duford; 3B-Dirks; RBIs-Kenney, Woods, Sams, Perez-Tenas; Engan (2).
Havre 2, Corvallis 1
Corvallis 001 000 0 - 1 5 NA
Havre 000 100 1 - 2 4 NA
WP-Alex Ewing; LP - Abi Ita.
CORVALLIS - Angie Henderson 2-3, Bri Brawley 0-2, Markie Gurley 0-3, Amber Bradshaw 1-2, Megan Auch 1-3, Korie Conder 0-3, Danielle Morris 0-2, Alex Ewing 0-3, Teagan Elliot 1-3.
HAVRE - Holly Cartwright 0-4, Karly Evans 1-2, Sam Mack 1-3, Kelli Kelsey 2-3, Tabby Myers 0-1, Natalie Kato 0-2, Paighton Gilman 0-2, Dylan Williams 0-3, Andrea Nault 0-3.
2B-Elliot; RBIs-Henderson; Kato.
NOTE: Game-winning single by Angie Henderson.
Ronan 7, Livingston 2
Ronan 205 000 0 - 7 8 NA
Livingston 011 000 0 - 2 6 NA
WP-Kaylee Larson; LP-Jordan Asay.
RONAN - Kelsey Clairmont 0-4, Kaylee Larson 0-4, Jordan Strozzi 2-3, April Soukup 0-3, Katie Andrews 2-3, Lindsay Clairmont 2-3, Amanda Bartel 1-3, Brit Clairmont 1-3, Dani Crocket 0-3.
LIVINGSTON - Katie Polsak 0-3, Jo Chapel 0-4, Stepheny Davaz 2-4, Mackenzi Scofield 0-4, Jordan Asay 2-4, Kami Willson 1-3, Alex Anderson 1-1, Inga Nead 0-3, Kali Pederson 0-3.
2B-Stozzi, L. Clairmont, Bartel; Davaz, Anderson; RBIs-L. Clairmont; Asay.
Libby 8, Columbia Falls 5
Libby 001 004 003 - 8 15 NA
C-Falls 001 020 200 - 5 11 NA
WP-Taylor Armstrong; LP-Morgan Rowe.
LIBBY - Nicky Lapka 3-5, Amber Grubham 2-5, Alysha Martin 1-5, Candace Hendrickson 0-5, Lexi Hageness 2-5, Jordan Refsland 1-5, Emily Monroe 1-4, Jamie Gilden 2-4, LaRona Luscher 3-4.
COLUMBIA FALLS - Tia Yaeger 1-5, Amanda Milliard 3-5, Amber James 1-5, Kayla Stinger 2-5, Shaun Rowe 0-4, Cassidee Skiles 0-4, Renae Nelson 0-4, Morgan Rowe 2-2, Niki Birky 2-4.
2B-Lapka, Grubham, Monroe; Milliard, Birky; RBIs-Lapka (2), Grubham, Hageness, Gilden, Luscher; Yaeger, Milliard (2).
Corvallis 7, Libby 1
Corvallis 100 014 1 - 7 10 NA
Libby 000 001 0 - 1 9 NA
WP - Alex Ewing; LP-Taylor Armstrong.
CORVALLIS - Angie Henderson 1-4, Bri Brawley 0-4, Amber Bradshaw 1-4, Markie Gurley 3-4, Megan Auch 0-4, Danielle Morris 1-4, Korie Conder 2-4, Alex Ewing 2-4, Tegan Elliot 0-4.
LIBBY - Nicky Lapka 3-4, Amber Grubham 0-4, Alysha Martin 0-4, Candace Hendrickson 2-4, Lexi Hageness 0-3, Jordan Refsland 1-3, Emily Monroe 0-2, Jamie Gilden 0-3, LaRona Luscher 2-3, Taylor Armstrong 1-1.
2B-Henderson, Bradshaw; Lapka (2) RBIs-Brawley, Bradshaw (3), Gurley (2), Elliot.
Billings Central 9, Ronan 3
Billi. Central 002 240 1 - 9 10 NA
Ronan 003 000 0 - 3 4 NA
WP - Jenny Harrington; LP-Kaylee Larson
BILLINGS CENTRAL - Bryn Burke 2-5, Shae Chilton 2-5, Michela Jacobson 1-4, Cher Anderson 0-4, Megan Smith 2-4, Amanda Tryan 0-4, Jenny Harrington 2-4, Karelyn Lynch 0-4, Mary Punkatz 1-4.
RONAN - Kelsey Clairmont 0-3, Kaylee Larson 1-3, Jordan Strozzi 0-3, April Soukup 0-3, Katie Andrews 0-3, Amanda Bartel 0-2, Brit Clairmont 1-2, Dani Crocket 1-2, Chelsea Bourdan 0-0, Lindsey Clairmont 0-3, Mackenzie Middleton 1-1.
2B-Burke, Smith, Punkatz; RBIs-Smith (2); Larson (2), Crocket.
Belgrade 7, Corvallis 5
Belgrade 000 102 4 - 7 9 NA
Corvallis 301 010 0 - 5 8 NA
WP-Lauren Torres; LP-Alex Ewing.
BELGRADE - Ali Cygan 1-4, Megan Bell 2-4, Lauren Torres 1-4, Brittney Larsen 2-4, Jill Gue 1-4, Kasey West 1-4, Kassie Kallestad 0-4, Melissa Bell 1-4, Justine Taylor 0-4.
CORVALLIS - Angie Henderson 2-4, Bri Brawley 1-4, Amber Bradshaw 1-4, Markie Gurley 0-4, Meagen Auch 2-4, Danielle Morris 0-4, Korie Conder 1-4, Alex Ewing 0-3, Teagan Elliot 1-3.
2B-Cygan, Torres, West; Henderson; 3B-Meg. Bell, Mel. Bell; HR-Auch; RBIs-Meg. Bell, Gue, West, Mel. Bell (2); Auch (4), Conder.