Hamilton edges Polson

FRENCHTOWN — Polson’s second meeting with Hamilton went much better than the first, but it still wasn’t quite enough for the Pirates to escape with a victory on Friday afternoon at the Frenchtown Invitational.

Hamilton, which finished third at the Class A state softball tournament last year, rallied for four runs in the sixth inning to escape with a 6-4 win.

The Broncs defeated Polson 22-1 in the teams’ first matchup.

“We just made a couple of mental errors that let them in the game, and they took it from us in that sixth inning,” Polson coach Larry Smith said. “Other than that, I think the girls played hard and played good enough to win the game. It just didn’t come out that way on the scoreboard for us.”

Laurel Bitterman notched two hits and a pair of RBIs for the Pirates in the nightcap, which followed a 10-2 win over Lewistown earlier in the day.

The Polson bats produced 15 hits in that contest, and the Pirates managed seven runs over the first three innings.

Marina Mayorga dazzled at the plate, ripping two doubles and driving in two runs. Bitterman had three hits against Lewistown.

Vanessa Kent pitched both games for Polson, which travels to Glacier at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Polson 322 021 0 — 10 15 2

Lewistown 101 000 0 — 2 5 0

WP — Vanessa Kent. LP — K. Irvin.

POLSON — Kaelyn Smith 2-2, Marina Mayorga 3-5, Quinn Motichka 2-5, Josie Caye 1-4, Kaylanna Desjarlais 1-5, Laurel Bitterman 3-4, Grace Quinones 1-4, Paige Noyes 1-4, Lisa Costilla 1-2, Lexy Orien 0-0, Olivia Perez 0-0.

LEWISTOWN — G. Butcher 1-2, H. Hayes 0-3, M. Mangold 1-3, V. Kolstad 0-3, K. Irvin 1-3, K. Weeden 0-3, B. CaStillo 0-3, J. Morgan 1-3, S. Long 1-3.

2B — Mayorga 2, Motichka, Desjarlais. Mangold, Morgan. 3B — Motichka. RBI — Smith, Mayorga 2, Motichka, Caye, Costilla. Hayes, Mangold.

Hamilton 010 014 0 — 6 12 3

Polson 020 002 0 — 4 9 0

WP — Jordan Taggart. LP — Vanessa Kent.

HAMILTON — Sophia Boyle 2-4, Caitlin Dillion 2-4, Jessa Silva 1-4, Kelsie Meis 1-4, Mallony McGill 2-4, Abby Johnson 2-4, Hayley Hodgins 1-3, Maggie Ringer 1-3, Mikayln Brickley 0-3.

POLSON — Kaelyn Smith 1-4, Marina Mayorga 1-4, Quinn Motichka 1-4, Josie Caye 2-4, Kaylanna Desjarlais 0-3, Laurel Bitterman 2-3, Grace Quinones 0-2, Paige Noyes 2-3, Lisa Costilla 0-3, Lexy Orien 0-1, Olivia Perez 0-1.

2B — Dillion, Ringer. Noyes. RBI — Boyle 2, Ringer 2. Noyes, Bitterman 2.

Hamilton 11,

Columbia Falls 2 (6)

FRENCHTOWN — Five Columbia Falls errors helped Hamilton secure a run-rule victory in the Frenchtown Invitational.

Hamilton jumped out to a 7-1 lead after two innings.

Ryley Kehr accounted for two of the Wildkats’ four hits, including a solo home run.

Columbia Falls 010 100 — 2 4 5

Hamilton 520 13x — 11 10 1

W — Sky Lopez. L — Trista Cowan.

Hits — Columbia Falls: Ryley Kehr 2 (HR), Abbey Underdahl, Catie Murray. Hamilton: Sophia Doyle 2, Caitlin Dillon 2, Tessa Della Silva 2 (3B), Kelsie Meis, Mallory McGill (2B), Jacey Hinson (2B), Mikayln Brickley.

RBIs — Columbia Falls: Kehr. Hamilton: Meis 2, McGill 2.