Pirates super in state softball

MILES CITY -Determination led to domination for the Polson Pirate softball team on Saturday at the Class A state softball tournament.

The Pirates committed five errors and lost the first of two championship games, 7-6 in eight innings to Frenchtown.

The between-game visit with coach Larry Smith was understandably about defense.

"(The Pirates) were hurrying and trying too hard, I think. They were nice, routine ground balls and they just weren't making the plays," he said.

"I just told them championships are won on defense and (five errors) are not going to get it done.

"Boy, did they ever come firing back," Smith said.

The Pirates cut the errors to two, jumped on Frenchtown with three first-inning runs and came away with a 7-1 victory for their second straight title - Polson's sixth overall.

Previous championships were in 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2010.

Catcher Kayla Duford was named MVP of the tournament.

"She deserves it. She was a great leader and she really came through this tournament. She's just so strong behind the plate. Doesn't make mistakes, no passed balls. Just one of those kids you just admire, so coachable.

"The way they responded in that second championship was really a showing of being a champion. They played like champions. They were just absolutely determined. They were not going to lose," the coach said.

"I'm very satisfied. Very happy. We lost one and had to come back. It's right up there with the other victories," Smith said.

Sophomore pitcher Shalaina Duford came through in a big way for Polson.

Smith said she was hit in the shoulder in the seventh inning of the first championship.

"She gutted through and finished that. Then we had a talk between games. There were some teary eyes, but she didn't want to come out," Smith said.

"She pitched the whole (second) championship and only gave up five hits," he said.

"To hold a team like Frenchtown, who can hit the ball ... Shalaina kept them inside the park and that was important. She let our great defense make the plays," Smith said.

"(Outfielders) Kodi (Woods) and Kylie (Knutson) did a fantastic job. They made some great catches," he added.

Offensively, the Pirates showed up for both games - 14 hits in the first game, 11 in the second.

"Against their pitcher, that's fantastic," Smith said.

In the first game, Woods was 3-for-5, Shalaina Duford was 3-for-4 and freshman Jessica Bagnell was 4-for-4.

Bagnell was 2-for-3 in the second game and Sallie Sams was 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in the third inning.

"No doubt when it left the bat," the coach smiled.

"It was a great weekend for the girls. This is a real fun group to be around," he added.

"This was a great gift for our seniors (Woods, Knutson, Kayla Duford and Sams). That's what made this team. Super leaders, these four seniors," Smith said.

Polson 4, Frenchtown 1

Polson 102 000 1 - 4 6 2

Frenchtown 000 010 0 - 1 6 3

Shalaina Duford and Kayla Duford. Abby Indreland and Katie Kees. W - Duford. L - Indreland

Polson - Kodi Woods 2-4, Ashley Johnson 2-4, Shalaina Duford 1-2, Sallie Sams 0-3, Kayla Duford 1-3, Kylie Knutson 0-3, Heidi Rausch 0-2, Makaliah Wilson 0-3, Martina Marquardt 0-3, Jessica Bagnell 0-1.

2B - Kayla Duford. RBI - Shalaina Duford 2, Kayla Duford 1, Kodi Woods 1.

Frenchtown - Katie Kees 1-4, Keller Leishman 1-4, Kayla Bordner 2-3, Abby Indreland 0-3, Sakai Scheffer 1-3, Sarah Luster 0-2, Madison McGuire 0-3, Kaitlyn Indreland 1-3, Jordan Hulla 0-3.

2B - Bordner. RBI - Bordner.

First championship

Frenchtown 7, Polson 6, 8 innings

Polson 101 001 30 - 6 14 5

Frenchtown 021 003 01 - 8 11 2

Shalaina Duford and Kayla Duford. Abby Indreland and Katie Kees. W - Duford. L - Indreland.

Polson - Kodi Woods 3-5, Ashley Johnson 1-3, Shalaina Duford 3-4, Sallie Sams 0-3, Kayla Duford 1-4, Jessica Bagnell 4-4, Makaliah Wilson 2-4, Heidi Rausch 0-4, Martina Marquardt 1-4.

3B - Bagnell. RBI - S. Duford 2, Bagnell 2, Wilson 1, Marquardt 1.

Frenchtown - Kees 2-4, Leishman 1-4, Bordner 2-4, A. Indreland 0-3, Scheffer 1-4, Luster 1-4, McGuire 1-3, K. Indreland 1-3, Hulla 2-4.

2B - Bordner 1, Hulla 1. RBI - Kees 1, Leishman 2, Bordner 1, K. Inderland 1.

Second championship

Polson 7, Frenchtown 1

Polson 302 000 2 - 7 11 2

Frenchtown 000 000 1 - 1 5 0

Shalaina Duford and Kayla Duford. Abby Indreland and Katie Kees. W - Duford. L - Indreland.

Polson - Kodi Woods 1-4, Ashley Johnson 0-4, Shalaina Duford 1-3, Jessica Bagnell 2-3, Kayla Duford 1-4, Sallie Sams 3-4, Makaliah Wilson 2-4, Heidi Rausch 0-4, Martina Marquardt 1-3.

HR - Sallie Sams. RBI - Sams 3, S. Duford 1, K. Duford 1.

Frenchtown - Kees 2-4, Leishman 0-3, Bordner 1-2, A. Indreland 1-3, Scheffer 0-3, Luster 0-3, McGuire 0-3, K. Indreland 1-3, Hulla 0-3.

RBI - Kees.