Polson pounds Ronan

by The Daily Inter Lake
| May 15, 2018 12:12 AM

POLSON — Strong performances up and down the batting order yielded an 11-1 victory for Polson versus visiting Ronan in Northwest A conference softball action.

Nine of the Pirates’ 10 batters recorded at least one hit.

Quinn Motichka led the way with four hits in the No. 3 hole.

“(Motichka) kind of found her form there in that Butte tournament (last weekend), and she’s continued swinging the bat well,” Polson coach Larry Smith said.

Paige Noyes was also perfect at the dish, finishing just a home run shy of the cycle in a 3 for 3 outing.

“She’s been in a slump, and she broke out of it with a big bang,” Smith said.

Polson (17-4, 9-0 Northwest A) took command with a five-run third inning that included a two-run triple provided by Laurel Bitterman and an RBI double courtesy of Olivia Perez.

Lexy Orien tacked on to the lead with a two-run, inside-the-park home run, her first of the year, in the Pirates’ three-run fifth. Noyes added an RBI triple in the frame.

Polson put the run rule into effect with two runs in the sixth and final inning.

Vanessa Kent kept Ronan in check, allowing just one run on three hits with three strikeouts.

“She had very good control, and she was spotting the ball in places to make them hit the ball where we wanted it to go,” Smith said. “Our defense was backing her up.”

Polson will look to complete an undefeated run through conference play on Thursday at 6 p.m. when Columbia Falls visits for the season finale.

Ronan 000 001 — 1 3 0

Polson 105 032 — 11 15 1

WP — Vanessa Kent. LP — Gabby Wirz.

RONAN — Gabby Wirz 0-2, Katlyn Santos 0-3, Emily Corley 0-1, Malisa Mak 1-3, Madison Clairmont 1-3, Mateo Jackson 0-3, Maddy Mac 0-3, Jaylyn Hakes 0-2, Courtnee Clairmont 1-2.

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

2B — Motichka 2, Caye 2, Noyes, Perez. 3B — Smith, Bitterman, Noyes. HR — Orien. RBI — Jackson. Motichka, Caye 3, Bitterman 2, Noyes, Perez, Orien 2.