Polson Softball Dominates Class A
Friday, May 28, 2010
Polson reigns supreme at State A softball tourney
Shay Duford brings the heat.
BILLINGS – The Polson Pirates are back on top after wrapping a late game Friday night to close out the condensed two-day State A softball tournament.
Polson defeated Belgrade 6-3 in the championship game for its second title since 2007 and fourth overall.
The Pirates downed the Panthers twice Friday, also winning 5-1 earlier in the day.
“We had a couple losses toward the end” of the season, Polson’s Staci Benson said as the rest of her team continued on its celebration. “I told the girls you can’t get down, the state tournament is a whole different season and you can’t worry about those two losses.
“We came into this tournament knowing that this is a whole different season and that we’re the best team out here and we were going to go home with the state championship.”
Belgrade had beaten defending champion Frenchtown 11-1 in the loser-takes-third game to advance to the title tilt.
The Broncs settled for third. They opened the day with a 3-0 loss to Belgrade in the quarterfinals.
Due to a poor weekend weather forecast, the tournament was slimmed down to two days, with several teams playing as many as four games Friday.
Polson 6, Belgrade 3
The Pirates clubbed 12 hits and scored three runs in the fourth inning to top the Panthers in the championship game.
Kodi Woods, Makaliah Wilson and Ashley Johnson all had two hits to lead the Pirates. Benson, the only Pirate senior, added a single and also drove in a run.
Freshman Shalaina Duford earned the complete-game win, giving up nine hits.
“We’ve built a great, wonderful program here, very succesful program,” Polson coach Larry Smith said. “The expectations of me, the community and the school are going to be up there all the time year after year.”
Kassie Kallestad and Annie Prickett each doubled to lead Belgrade.
Championship
Polson 020 310 0 – 6 12 0
Belgrade 000 020 1 – 3 9 1
Shalaina Duford and Kayla Duford. Alison Cygan and Melissa Bell. W – S. Duford. L – Cygan.
POLSON- Staci Benson 1-4, Kodi Woods 2-3, K. Duford 0-4, Riley Kenney 1-3, S. Duford 1-4, Makaliah Wilson 2-3, Sallie Sams 1-2, Kylie Knutson 1-2, Ashley Johnson 2-3.
BELGRADE – Justine Taylor 1-4, Bell 1-3, Cygan 1-4, Kasey West 1-4, Kassie Kallestad 1-4, Annie Pirckett 1-3, Alissa Dorvall 1-3, Nicole DeHaan 0-1, Tara Lanzendorf 2-2, Ali Morgan 0-0, Loren Torres 0-2.
2B – Kallestad, Prickett. RBIs – Benson, Knutson, West 2.
Polson 5, Belgrade 1
The Pirates ran off five runs in the third inning and hung on for the victory to move on to the brink of the title.
Sallie Sams hit a two-run homer and Staci Benson and Riley Kenney each added doubles to lead Polson. Makaliah Wilson added two hits.
Shalaina Duford scattered seven hits to earn the win on the mound.
Nicole DeHann had two hits to lead Belgrade.
Belgrade 000 100 0 – 1 7 1
Polson 005 000 x – 5 6 2
Lauren Torres and Melissa Bell. Shalaina Duford and Kayla Duford. W – S. Duford. L – Torres.
BELGRADE – Justine Taylor 0-4, Kasey West 1-3, Alison Cygan 1-3, Bell 1-3, Kassie Kallestad 1-3, Torres 0-3, Alissa Dorvall 0-3, Nicole DeHaan 2-3, Tara Lanzendorf 1-3, Ali Morgan 0-0.
POLSON – Staci Benson 1-3, Kodi Woods 1-3, K. Duford 1-2, Riley Kenney 1-2, S. Duford 0-2, Makaliah Wilson 2-3, Sallie Sams 1-2, Heidi Rausch 0-3, Ashley Johnson 0-2, Kylie Knutson 0-0.
2B – Benson, Kenney. HR – Cygan, Sams. RBIs – Cygan. K. Duford 2, Sams 2.
Polson 9, Billings Central 7
Staci Benson was 3 for 6 with a double to lead the Pirates to the extra-inning win in the undefeated game.
Makaliah Wilson singled twice and Ashley Johnson went 2 for 5 for the Pirates, who scored three times in the top of the 10th to earn the win.
Shalaina Duford pitched the entire game for the Pirates and allowed 12 hits.
Brynn Burke was 3 for 5 with a double for the Rams.
Polson 110 300 010 3 – 9 7
Bill. Cent. 022 000 110 1 – 7 12
Shalaina Duford and Kayla Duford. Ashley Corcoran and Brynn Burke. W – S. Duford. L – Corcoran.
POLSON – Staci Benson 3-6, Kodi Woods 1-6, K. Duford 0-6, Riley Kenney 1-6, S. Duford 0-5, Kylie Knutson 0-5, Sallie Sams 0-5, Makaliah Wilson 2-5, Ashley Johnson 2-5. 2B: Benson, K. Duford.
BILLINGS CENTRAL – Austin Hanser 0-6, Alexa Rockwell 0-5, Burke 3-5, Corcoran 3-5, Michela Jacobson 1-5, Katelynn Lynch 1-5, Ashley MacDonald 2-5, Chere Anderson 1-5, Amanda Tryan 1-5.
2B – Benson, K. Duford, Burke, Lynch, MacDonald.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Polson, Frenchtown hold up despite weather pressure
BILLINGS – A weather condensed opening day to the State A softball tournament at the Stewart Park Softball Complex didn’t shake up too many teams Thursday.
The four No. 1 seeds all advanced to Friday’s quarterfinals.
Polson defeated Laurel 11-1 and will face Billings Central, a 7-4 winner over Havre, at 9 a.m. Friday. The winner’s bracket was slated for a 2 p.m. start, but the players will be forced to get started early in anticipation for poor weekend weather.
Defending champion Frenchtown also moved on, downing Libby 3-0 after its first-round bye. The Broncs will battle Belgrade, a 3-1 winner over Corvallis. That game will also begin at 9 a.m.
The championship is slated to begin at 7 p.m. on Friday.
Polson 11, Laurel 1
The Pirates pounded out 11 hits in their state opener after receiving a bye in the first round of play.
Freshman hurler Shalaina Duford earned the win and went 2 for 2, batting in four runs to lead Polson. Makaliah Wilson and Ashley Johnson each added two hits and Riley Kenney singled and had a pair of RBIs.
The Locomotives’ Tara Russell doubled and singled.
Laurel 000 01 – 1 5 1
Polson 005 6x – 11 11 1
Sarah Parks and Jesee Engen. Shalaina Duford and Kayla Duford. W – Duford (16-5). L – Parks.
LAUREL – Olivia Heidinger 0-3, Kelcie Wood 0-3, Maddie Cebiehar 0-2, Sarah Parks 1-2, Keilah Ahman 1-2, Jesse Engen 0-2, Haylee Gallegos 1-2, Katie Witschen 0-2, Tara Russell 2-2.
POLSON – Staci Benson 1-3, Kodi Woods 1-2, K. Duford 1-2, Riley Kenney 1-2, S. Duford 2-2, Heidi Rausch 0-2, Sallie Sams 1-3, MaKaliah Wilson 2-3, Ashley Johnson 2-3.
2B – Russell. RBIs – K. Duford, Kenney 2, S. Duford 4, Sams 4, Wilson.
State A tournament
Stewart Park Softball Complex, Billings
Thursday
Havre 8, Anaconda 5
Laurel 14, Lewistown 3
Libby 11, Sidney 0
Corvallis 12, Whitefish 2
Billings Central 7, Havre 4
Polson 11, Laurel 1
Frenchtown 3, Libby 0
Belgrade 3, Corvallis 1
Friday
Polson 9, Billings Central 7, 10 innings
Belgrade 3, Frenchtown 0
Havre 8, Laurel 4, 8 innings, loser out
Lewistown 7, Libby 2, loser out
Frenchtown 6, Havre 1, loser out
Billings Central 9, Lewistown, loser out
Polson 5, Belgrade 1, undefeated game
Frenchtown 10, Billings Central 2, loser takes fourth
Belgrade 11, Frenchtown 1, loser takes third
Polson 6, Belgrade 3, championship