Polson upends Columbia Falls in Northwestern A softball
COLUMBIA FALLS - Little things here and there make a big difference on the bottom line.
That was the story on Tuesday as small mistakes met a ton of confidence and Polson defeated host Columbia Falls 8-1 in a Northwestern A softball contest.
"They've really been playing well," Polson coach Larry Smith said of the Pirates.
"We gained so much confidence at the Butte tournament - the way we dominated down there, they're really feeling good about themselves. Even the kids who have been in little slumps, they really came alive and they hit the ball really hard," Smith said.
"This is a real solid team, Columbia Falls. To do what (the Pirates) did to them, you've got to be pleased with it," he added.
Both teams scored runs in the first inning.
But Polson got the break in the second inning - four runs off two hits, a walk and a Columbia Falls error.
"We've been doing that lately," Smith said.
"We've been jumping on people early. It does take a little wind out of their sails. But that's what we want to do. If we can maintain that, we'll be in good shape."
The Wildkat offense was never able to generate a threat after that.
Polson pitcher Shalaina Duford held one of the Northwestern A's top offensive teams to just two hits. She struck out five and walked three.
"I thought she did a fantastic job," Smith said of Duford.
"Our defense made some great plays," he said.
"We've got to hit the ball better than that to win ... or to stay in the game," said Columbia Falls coach Dave Kehr.
"Defensively we were OK. (The Pirates) hit the ball pretty well. Defensively, it was good. But we've got to hit the ball," he said.
"One run in the first. Six more innings, we didn't get a girl to third. You aren't going to win a lot of games. That's it. Bottom line. Hit the ball," Kehr said.
The Wildkats - after the first inning - had just one baserunner make it safely to second base.
Shaun Rowe had a single and an RBI for the Wildkats.
Meanwhile, the Pirates finished with eight hits. Sallie Sams was 1-for-2 with a fifth inning solo home run and an RBI, and Heidi Rausch was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI for the Pirates.
Things get interesting now in Northwestern A.
The Pirates (15-4, 6-0) will be looking for a strong finish with two conference games remaining - they play host at 6 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday to Ronan and Libby, respectively.
The Wildkats (13-4, 5-2) have a big contest on Thursday at Libby. A Columbia Falls win would lock up the second seed in the Northwestern A.
"That's a huge game. It would be nice to go (to state) as the second seed. We can't be satisfied with just going," Kehr said.
Polson 140 020 1 - 8 8 1
Columbia Falls 100 000 0 - 1 2 1 1
Shalaina Duford and Kayla Duford. Shaun Rowe and Erika Nelson. W - Duford. L - Rowe.
Polson - Kodi Woods 1-3, Ashley Johnson 0-3, Shalaina Duford 0-4, Sallie Sams 1-2, Kylie Knutson 1-3, Kayla Duford 2-3, Heidi Rausch 2-3, Makaliah Wilson 0-3, Martina Marquardt 1-3.
HR - Sams. 2B - Rausch. RBI - S. Duford 1, Sams 1, Rausch 1, Wilson 1, Marquardt 1.
Columbia Falls - Jessica Owens 1-2, Renae Nelson 0-2, Shaun Rowe 1-3, Niki Birky 0-3, Madison Sandefer 0-3, Erika Nelson 0-2, Jordan Lefebvre 0-3, Tessa Cowan 0-2, Kathrin Jetty 0-1, Jaylynn Cantu 0-1.