Polson pounds Anaconda in state softball opener
MILES CITY - Shalaina Duford threw a two-hitter and the Polson bats got after Anaconda early as the Pirates defeated the Copperheads 10-0 in the first round of the Class A state softball tournament on Thursday.
The game was called after five innings due to the 10-run rule.
"Our defense was very clean. Shalaina pitched a terrific game and our bats ... we started right out. That's nice to see that," said Polson coach Larry Smith.
Duford gave up one hit in the second inning and one in the third. She only struck out one, but she didn't walk anyone "and she's been forcing opponents to hit into our defense, which is really playing strong right now," Smith said.
Kodi Woods and Duford were both 2-for-3 for Polson. Woods had a double and Duford a triple and two RBI. Ashley Johnson also hit a double and had two RBI.
Smith also complimented the efforts of catcher Kayla Duford.
"She was strong behind the plate and she hit the ball really well," he said.
Polson will play Billings Central, an 11-4 winner over Columbia Falls, at 2 p.m. today.
The Pirates defeated Billings Central 6-0 at the Butte tournament a few weeks ago.
"I feel very confident. Our girls are playing with a lot of confidence and Shalaina has really been pitching well," the coach said.
Anaconda 000 00 - 0 2 2
Polson 240 4x - 10 9 0
Brooke Chapman and Lauren Bolton. Shalaina Duford and Kayla Duford. W - Shalaina Duford (18-4). L - Chapman.
Anaconda - Courtney Moodry 0-2, Karly King 0-2, Brooke Chapman 0-2, Lauren Bolton 0-2, Abby Stanberry 1-2, Vanessa Tense 0-2, Ali Forkan 0-2, Jeanna Brunell 0-2, Hannah Anderson 1-1.
Polson - Kodi Woods 2-3, Ashley Johnson 1-3, Shalaina Duford 2-3, Sallie Sams 1-2, Kylie Knutson 1-3, Kayla Duford 1-2, Heidi Rausch 0-3, Makaliah Wilson 1-2, Martina Marquardt 0-2.
2B - Woods, Johnson. 3B - S. Duford.
RBI - Woods 1, Johnson 2, Knutson 2, K. Duford 1, S. Duford 2.
Columbia Falls 4,
Corvallis 3, 9 innings
The Wildkats (16-5) recorded 12 hits and held the Corvallis Blue Devils to just four en route to a nine-inning victory in the first round.
Shaun Rowe was 2-for-5 with a double and Jordan LeFebvre was 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI to lead Columbia Falls.
The Wildkats went up 2-0 with runs in the first and third innings, but then gave up three Blue Devils runs in the top of the fifth. They bounced right back to tie the contest in the bottom of that inning.
Corvallis 000 030 000 - 3 4 2
Col. Falls 101 010 001 - 4 12 5
Ashley Johnson and Korie Conder. Shaun Rowe, Jessica Owens (6) and Erika Nelson. W - Owens. L - Johnson.
CORVALLIS - Tegan Elliot 0-5, Gianna Schrock 0-4, Whitney Jessop 2-5, Alex Ewing 1-4, Conder 0-4, Miquela Kriskovich 0-3, Johnson 0-4, Alex Price 1-4, Maidson Ray 0-2.
COLUMBIA FALLS - Owens 3-5, Renae Nelson 0-4, Rowe 2-5, Niki Birky 1-4, Madison Sandefer 2-4, E. Nelson 1-5, Jordan LeFebvre 2-4, Tessa Cowan 0-2, Jaylynn Cantu 0-2, Kathrin Jetty 1-4, Ciarra Holm 0-0.
2B - Rowe. 3B - LeFebvre. HR - Ewing. RBIs - Ewing 3, Birky, E. Nelson, LeFebvre.
Libby 5,
Laurel 2, 8 innings
Alysha Martin was 2-for-4 and Alyssa Walker was 3-for-4 with two RBI as the Libby Loggers defeated Eastern A Laurel in eight innings.
Taylor Armstrong held the Locomotives to just three hits and the Loggers played flawless defense behind her.
Libby (15-8) led 2-0 after six innings, but Laurel scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
The Loggers bounced right back, though, with three runs in the top of the eighth.
Libby 010 001 03 - 5 9 0
Laurel 000 000 20 - 2 3 1
Taylor Armstrong and Lexie Hageness; Tara Russell and Kayla Hallock. W - Armstrong. L - Russell.
Libby - Jaime Gilden 1-5, Lexie Hageness 1-4, Kim Tangen 0-3, Alysha Martin 2-4, Taylor Barton 1-3, Taylor Armstrong 0-4, Brooke Rosling 0-3, Stacey Oedewaldt 1-3, Alyssa Walker 3-4. RBIs: Walker 2.
Laurel - Brittany Goodson 0-4, Kelcie Wood 0-4, Haylee Gallegos 0-4, Tara Russell 1-3, Keilah Almann 0-2, Kayla Hallock 0-3, Amanda Taylor 2-3, Katelyn Pastian 0-3, Kailey Grover 0-3. RBIs: Taylor.
Second round
Billings Central 11, Columbia Falls 4
Billings Central scored seven runs in the first three innings, then came away with a victory over Columbia Falls (16-6).
Jessica Owens (3-for-4), Niki Birky (2-for-3) and Jordan LeFebvre (2-for-4) led the Wildkats at the plate.
LeFebvre had a double and had an RBI and Birky hit a home run and had two RBI.
The Wildkats now fall into the consolation bracket. They take on Butte Central at 10 a.m. today.
Columbia Falls 010 021 - 4 7 3
Billings Central 313 40X - 11 12 0
Abby Rockwell and Amanda Tryan; Shaun Rowe, Jessica Owens (3) and Erika Nelson. W: Rockwell. L: Rowe.
Columbia Falls - Jessica Owens 3-4, Renae Nelson 0-2, S. Rowe 1-4, Niki Birky 2-3, Madison Sandafer 0-4, E. Nelson 1-5, Jordan LeFebvre 2-4, Tessa Cowan 0-2, Jaylynn Cantu 0-2, Kathrin Jetty 1-4, Ciara Holm 0-0. 2B: LeFebvre. HR: Birky. RBIs: Birky 2, J. Owens, LeFebvre.
Billings Central - Ashley MacDonald 3-4, Sarah Stringari 2-2, Michela Jacobson 2-3, Sarah Shaw 3-4, Abby Rockwell 0-4, Guinevere Ayers 1-4, Amanda Tryan 0-3, Taryn Francischetti 0-3, Chere Anderson 1-3. 2B: MacDonald, Stringari, Jacobson, Shaw. RBIs: MacDonald 2, Jacobson 2, Shaw 4, Rockwell, Ayers.
Belgrade 6, Libby 5
The Loggers outhit Belgrade and played near perfect defense, but came up one run short.
Libby's Lexie Hageness was 3-for-4, Taylor Armstrong was 2-for-4 and Alyssa Walker was 2-for-4.
The Loggers (15-9) fall into consolation play where they take on Central A Lewistown at noon today.
Libby 002 012 0 - 5 11 1
Belgrade 211 200 x - 6 7 0
Stacey Oedewaldt and Lexie Hageness. Justine Taylor and Melissa Bell.
Libby -Jaime Gilden 0-5, Lexie Hageness 3-4, Kim Tangen 1-4 Alysha Martin 1-4, Taylor Barton 1-4, Taylor Armstrong 2-4, B. Rosling 1-4, Stacey Oedewaldt 0-4, Alyssa Walker 2-4.
Belgrade - Morgan Wandler 1-4, Justine Taylor 1-4, Melissa Bell 1-4, Alison Cygan 2-3, Alissa Dorvall 0-3, N. Delton 0-3, T. Johnson 0-3, Tara Lanzendorf 1-3, T. Hill 1-3. 2B: Cygan. HR: Bell.
Thursday's Results
First round
Hardin 2, Butte Central 1
Anaconda 3, Lewistown 2
Columbia Falls 4, Corvallis 3
Libby 5, Laurel 2
Second round
Polson 10, Anaconda 0
Billings Central 11, Columbia Falls 4
Belgrade 6, Libby 5
Frenchtown 10 Hardin 0
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Todays schedule
Consolation Bracket
10 a.m. - Anaconda vs. Laurel, Columbia Falls vs. Butte Central.
Noon - Libby vs. Fergus, Hardin vs. Corvallis
Championship Bracket
2 p.m. - Polson vs. Billings Central, Belgrade vs. Frenchtown.