Class A softball: Pirates, 'Kats Belgrade bound
There’s a different vibe surrounding the Polson softball team as it prepares for this weekend’s Class A softball tournament in Belgrade.
A year ago, the Pirates clawed their way into the state tournament field as the third seed from the Northwestern A conference and carried the momentum of a strong finish to a state title.
This year, Polson (21-1 overall, 8-0 Northwestern A) locked up the conference title with a week and a half remaining in the regular season, avoiding the do or die situations of last season and the pressure that went along with them.
“We seem to be a whole lot more relaxed and very loose about it,” Polson coach Larry Smith said. “Last year our backs were against the wall very early, so every game prior to that state tournament was really intense for us. I thought that helped us out because we were charging into that state tournament.
“This year it’s a whole different thing. Hopefully you get the same effect, but you get a little concerned about that.”
Everyone else is concerned about stopping Polson. After suffering their only loss on April 5 against Livingston, the Pirates rattled off 17 straight wins to finish the regular season. They have won the last three Class A state titles and have four seniors who have been a part of all three of those championship teams.
Three-time all-state pitcher Shalaina Duford has thrown every pitch for Polson in each of the last three state tournaments and returns seeking her fourth title. She’s also an accomplished hitter with a .446 batting average and four home runs.
Seven of Polson’s starters are batting .400 or better. Junior catcher Jaylin Kenney leads the team with a .500 average and senior outfielder Heidi Rausch’s nine home runs lead the conference.
The Pirates received a first-round bye for winning Northwestern A and will play the winner between Butte Central and Lewistown in the second round. Both are familiar opponents as Polson beat Butte Central 2-1 and Lewistown 15-7 earlier this season.
“(Butte Central is) a very solid defensive team,” Smith said. “They’re quick. If they can get on base, they run a lot, they’re very speedy. They just seem to be very alert.
“Butte Central is always that way, they’re very scrappy.”
Northwestern A runner-up Frenchtown, a team Smith considers one of the top contenders for the championship, is also in Polson’s half of the bracket. Polson beat Frenchtown 7-6 and 11-6 in their two regular season meetings.
“Frenchtown has the best pitching in the state, all classes, as far as I’m concerned,” Smith said.
The other half of the bracket includes Columbia Falls, the No. 3 seed from Northwestern A and another team Smith considers a title contender.
“Columbia Falls is a real scrappy bunch,” he said. “They remind me a lot of our team. They put the bat on the ball and they force you to get them out.”
Sophomore pitcher Ashley Trueblood leads the Wildkats in the circle and at the plate, where she’s batting .403. Ciarra Holm, Alex Pederson and Kathrin Jetty each have averages north of .350.
Columbia Falls opens the tournament today at 2 p.m. against Glendive, the No. 2 seed from the Eastern A conference. That half of the bracket also features Livingston, the only team to defeat Polson this season, and Belgrade and Hamilton, champions of the Central A and Southwestern A conferences, respectively.