State softball: Polson levels Laurel
BILLINGS - It took a couple of innings, but once the Polson Pirates figured out the Laurel pitcher, things started to roll fast.
The Pirates got 11 hits en route to an 11-1 in first-day action of the Class A state softball tournament on Thursday.
MaKaliah Wilson and Ashley Johnson started the ball rolling for the Pirates with singles in the bottom of the third. Catcher Kayla Duford followed them with a two-run RBI.
"That really got us jump-started. Then everyone started singling," said Polson coach Larry Smith.
"Once they got her figured out, everybody started hitting her."
"We made some defensive plays, too. Sallie Sams had her best defensive game of the season. She made some real nice plays at second base," the coach said.
Freshman pitcher Shalaina Duford gave up five hits, struck out one and had no walks or hit batsmen.
"Very impressive for a freshman pitcher in her first state game," the coach said.
The Pirates were scheduled to play next at 2 p.m. today, but due to weather conditions, the state tournament has been condensed into two days. The Pirates' next game is at 9 a.m. today against Billings Central.
Laurel 000 01 - 1 5 1
Polson 005 6x - 11 11 1
Sarah Parks and Jesee Engen. Shalaina Duford and Kayla Duford. W - Duford (16-5). L - Parks.
Laurel - Olivia Heidinger 0-3, Kelcie Wood 0-3, Maddie Cebiehar 0-2, Sarah Parks 1-2, Keilah Ahman 1-2, Jesse Engen 0-2, Haylee Gallegos 1-2, Katie Witschen 0-2, Tara Russell 2-2.
2B - Russell
Polson (16-6) - Staci Benson 1-3,Kodi Woods 1-2, Kayla Duford 1-2, Riley Kenney 1-2, Shalaina Duford 2-2, Heidi Rausch 0-2, Sallie Sams 1-3, MaKaliah Wilson 2-3, Ashley Johnson 2-3.
RBI - Kayla Duford, Kenney 2, Shalaina Duford 4, Sams 2, Wilson 1.
Libby
Libby opened with an impressive 11-0 victory over Sidney, fell to Frenchtown 3-0 in the next round, but rebounded with a 9-0 loser-out victory over Anaconda.
Kim Tangen and Candace Hendrickson both went 3-for-3 for the Loggers against Sidney. Stacey Oedewaldt went the distance in the circle and gave up just three hits.
Alysha Martin, 3-for-4, had two RBIs for Libby in the victory over Anaconda. Oedewaldt held the Copperheads to three hits.
Libby is back in action today at 11 a.m. with a loser-out contest versus Lewiston.
Libby 11, Sidney 0
Sidney 000 0 - 0 3 2
Libby 261 2 - 11 12 0
Alexis Fleener and Janae Moore; Stacey Oedewaldt and Alexis Hageness. W: Oedewaldt. L: Fleener.
Sidney - Brooke Schmitt 1-3, Kayla Lake 0-2, Moore 0-2, Kelcey Fixen 1-1, Lyndsay Nesper 0-2, Janelle Buxbaum 1-2, Fleener 0-2, McKen-Z Ramus 0-2, Krista Steinbeisser 0-2, Amy Rassier 0-0.
Libby - Jaime Gilden 2-4, Alyssa Walker 0-2, Hageness 0-3, Alysha Martin 3-3, Kim Tangen 3-3, Candace Hendrickson 3-3, LaRona Luscher 0-3, Taylor Barton 0-3, Taylor Armstrong 1-3. HR: Tangen, Hendrickson. RBI: Martin 4, Tangen 3, Hendrickson 3.
Frenchtown 3, Libby 0
Summary not available
Libby 9, Anaconda 0
Libby 200 020 5 - 9 12 0
Anaconda 000 000 0 - 0 3 2
Stacy Oedewaldt and Alexis Hageness; Brook Chapman and Lisa Laslovich. W - Oedwaldt. L - Laslovich.
Libby - Jaime Gilden 2-3, Alyssa Walker 1-4, Hageness 1-2, Alysha Martin 3-4, Kim Tangen 0-3, Candace Hendrickson 1-4, LaRona Luscher 1-4, Taylor Barton 1-4, Taylor Armstrong 2-4. RBIs - Hageness, Martin 2, Hendrickson.
Anaconda - Laslovich 2-3, Karli King 0-2, Vanessa Jense 0-3, Korey Krumm 0-2, Ali Forkan 0-3, Rachel Wagner 0-3, Abby Stanberry 0-3, Jeanna Brunell 1-2, Hannah Anderson 0-1.
Whitefish
Whitefish was eliminated on opening day by losing to Corvallis 12-2 and Laurel 7-2.
Summaries were not available from either game.
Class A State Softball
At Billings, Stewart Park
Thursday
Havre 8, Anaconda 5, first round
Laurel 15, Lewistown 3, first round
Libby 11, Sidney 0, first round
Corvallis 12, Whitefish 2, first round
Billings Central 7, Havre 4, winner's bracket
Polson 11, Laurel 1, winner's bracket
Frenchtown 3, Libby 0, winner's bracket
Belgrade 3, Corvallis 1, winner's bracket
Havre 4, Sidney 3, loser out
Laurel 7, Whitefish 2, loser out
Libby 9, Anaconda 0, loser out
Lewistown 11, Corvallis 3, loser out
Today
Game 13 - Billings Central vs. Polson, quarterfinal, 9 a.m.
Game 14 - Frenchtown vs. Belgrade, quarterfinal, 9 a.m.
Game 15 - Havre vs. Laurel winner, loser out, 11 a.m.
Game 16 - Libby vs. Lewistown winner, loser out, 11 a.m.
Game 17 - Game 15 winner vs. Game 14 loser, loser out, 1 p.m.
Game 18 - Game 13 loser vs. Game 16 winner, loser out, 1 p.m.
Game 19 - Billings Central-Polson winner vs. Frenchtown-Belgrade winner, unbeaten semifinal, 3 p.m.
Game 20 - Game 18 winner vs. Game 17 winner, loser out, 3 p.m.
Game 21 - Game 19 loser vs. Game 20 winner, third place, 5 p.m.
Game 22 - Game 21 winner vs. Game 19 winner, championship, 7 p.m.
Game 23 - Second championship, 8:30 p.m., if necessary