Duford HRs in Polson victory over Columbia Falls
POLSON — Pitcher Shalaina Duford hit a 3-run home run in the first inning, then held Columbia Falls to just five hits as the Class A defending champion Pirates downed the Wildkats 14-1 in a nonconference softball matchup on Saturday.
Polson coach Larry Smith admitted to being a bit worried about this contest — Columbia Falls had played — and won — two games while this was the Pirates’ first outing.
“That first game jitters can be kind of tough, but the girls played very strong right out of the gate,” Smith said.
“We shut them down right away on the defensive end. Right away, we got the first two on base, then Shalaina hit the 3-run home run. That’s where we started,” he said.
All in all, the Pirates wound up with 16 hits and no errors.
“Great effort for us,” Smith said of the defense.
He pointed out the effort on both sides — Columbia Falls had just one error.
He complimented the play of senior Riley Kenney (2-for-2) after taking her junior year off and sophomore catcher Jaylin Kenney.
“My young catcher did a superb job ... no passed balls,” he said.
Duford was 2-for-2 with six RBIs and Martina Marquardt batted 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs for the Pirates.
Tiffany Hummer was 2-for-3 and Erika Nelson was 1-for-2 with a double to lead the Wildkats. Ciarra Holm had Columbia Falls’ RBI.
The Pirates have a Northwestern A conference game Tuesday at Frenchtown.
Columbia Falls 010 00 — 1 5 1
Polson 325 5x — 14 16 0
Ashley Trueblood, Shaun Rowe (4) and Erika Nelson. Shalaina Duford and Jaylin Kenney. W — Duford (1-0). L —Trueblood.
Columbia Falls — Tiffany Hummer 2-3, Jaylynn Cantu 1-3, Shaun Rowe 0-2, Niki Birky 1-2, Madison Sandefer 0-2, Erika Nelson 1-2, Jordan Lefebvre 0-2, Ciarra Holm 1-2, Kathryn Jetty 0-2.
2B — Nelson. RBI — Holm.
Polson — Ashley Johnson 3-4, Jaylin Kenney 0-1, Sydnee Brackey 0-1, Shalaina Duford 2-2, Martina Marquardt 3-4, Heidi Rausch 0-3, Colleen Jacobson 1-1, Makaliah Wilson 1-3, Jessica Bagnell 2-3, Jaelyn Ellenwood 0-1, Riley Kenney 2-2, Jordyn Evertz 2-3.
2B— Marquardt 2, Jacobson 1, HR — Duford 1.
RBI — Johnson 1, Duford 6, Marquardt 2, Jacobson 1, Kenney 2, Evertz 1.