Softball: Polson nips Butte Central

FRENCHTOWN — Timely hitting in the top of the sixth inning led Polson out of a pitchers duel with Butte Central with a win, beating the Maroons 2-1 in a non-conference softball game on Friday at the Frenchtown Invitational.

Tied 1-1 with one out in the sixth, Pirates sophomore Taylor Brackey hit a triple to move into scoring position against Maroons pitcher Teresa Piazzola, who only allowed six hits in the game. The next batter, sophomore Sarah Rausch, hit a grounder to the shortstop and Brackey beat the throw home for the winning run.

“They’re a very strong defensive team,” Polson coach Larry Smith said.

“We were putting the bat on the ball, but they were making great plays ... We got the timely hits.”

Polson pitcher Shalaina Duford held her own in the circle, striking out 10 batters and allowing only three hits.

She was also 1 for 3 at the plate.

Polson 100 001 0 – 2 6 0

Butte Cent. 000 010 0 – 1 3 1

Shalaina Duford and Jaylin Kenney. Teresa Piazzola and Shannon McLaughlin. W – Duford. L – Piazzola.

POLSON – Kenney 0-3, Duford 1-3, Jessica Bagnell 1-4, Heidi Rausch 1-2, Martina Marquardt 1-4, Jordyn Evertz 0-2, Hannah Potter 0-2, Taylor Brackey 1-1, Sarah Rausch 1-3, Jaiden Toth 0-2.

BUTTE CENTRAL – Danika Newmann 2-4, Hannah Stajcar 0-4, McLoughlin 1-3, Katie Hogart 0-3, Mikayla Boggs 0-3, Taylor Marthaller 0-3, G. LaBreche 0-3, Piazzola 0-3, Shawnee Hjelt 0-3.

3B – Brackey. RBIs – Bagnell, S. Rausch; McLoughlin.

Libby 6, Hamilton 3

Libby tallied three runs in the third inning and again in the top of the eighth to edge past Hamilton.

Mahalah Wedel was 2 for 4 with an RBI to lead the Loggers.

Libby outhit Hamilton 9-4.

Libby 003 000 03 – 6 9 2

Hamilton 201 000 00 – 3 4 3

Hannah England and Dayln Germany. Brie Clifford and Katie Wickham. W – England. L – Clifford.

HAMILTON – Sabrina Friday 0-0, McKayla Rothie 0-2, Taylor Goligoski 0-3, Brie Clifford 3-4, Kloie Nye 0-3, Tayler Reynolds 0-4, Kiley Newton 0-4, Shaylan Mohn 0-4, Jocelin Johnson 1-4, Kaytlyn Menk 0-2.

LIBBY – England 1-5, Mahalah Wedel 2-4, Kelsey Klin 1-3, Rebecca Kyriss 1-5, Devon Gallagher 1-4, Germany 0-4, Rachel Rebo 2-4, Brooke Rosling 0-4, Auria Benefield 1-3, J. Turner 0-0.

2B – Clifford; Klin, Gallagher, Rebo. RBIs – Clifford; Wedel, Klin, Gallagher, Rebo, Benefield.

Hamilton 5,

Columbia Falls 2

The Hamilton girls scored twice in the top of the seventh inning to pull away from the Wildkats.

Ciarra Holm and Madi Fetters each had two hits for the Kats, but only one other Columbia Falls batter was able to pick up a hit against Broncs pitcher Kaytlyn Menk.

Hamilton 110 100 2 – 5 9 0

C. Falls 010 001 0 – 2 5 1

Kaytlyn Menk and Katie Wickham. Ashley Trueblood. W – Menk. L – Trueblood.

HAMILTON – Sabrina Friday 0-2, McKayl Rothie 2-3, Taylor Goligoski 3-4, Brie Clifford 0-3, Kloie Nye 1-3, Wickham 0-4, Tayler Reynolds 1-3, Kiley Newton 2-4, Jocelin Johnson 0-3.

COLUMBIA FALLS – Tiffany Hummer 0-3, Ciarra Holm 2-2, Trueblood 0-3, Kathrin Jetty 1-2, Catie King 0-3, Breanna Friar 0-2, Courtney Murray 0-3, Madi Fetters 2-3, Amanda Morrison 0-2.

2B – Newton. HR – Goligoski. RBIs – Goligoski 2, Clifford, Reynolds.

Columbia Falls 11,

Missoula Loyola 7

The Wildkats picked up 11 runs on 11 hits to beat Loyola handily.

Alex Pederson went 3 for 4 from the plate for Columbia Falls, which scored five runs in both the second and fourth innings to take command of the game.

Loyola 100 150 0 – 7 12 5

Col. Falls 150 500 x – 11 11 1

Hannah Hirning and Brianna Mitchel, Heather Huguet (5). Ashley Trueblood and Courtney Murray. W – Trueblood. L – Hirning.

LOYOLA – Taylor Short 1-4, Kari Tirrell 1-3, Heather Huguet 2-4, Joslyn Haran 3-4, Hannah Hirning 0-4, Mady Dawald 1-4, Frankie Schwenk 2-4, Brianna Mitchell 2-2, Skylar Hollenbeck 0-3.

COLUMBIA FALLS – Tiffany Hummer 0-4, Ciarra Holm 2-3, Ashley Trueblood 2-4, Kathrin Jetty 1-4, Catie King 1-4, Courtney Murray 0-3, Breanna Friar 0-1, Alex Pederson 3-4, Madi Fetters 1-4, Alysha Cantu 1-2, Amanda Morrison 0-1.

2B – Schwenk, Mitchell; King. 3B – Haran. RBIs – Haran 2, Hirning, Dawald, Mitchell; King 2, Fetters 2, Conto 2.