Polson splits season-opening doubleheader
POLSON — Polson handled Butte Central in its softball season opener, but its early success didn’t carry over to the nightcap with Belgrade on Saturday.
The homestanding Pirates overcame two early deficits against Butte Central to win 7-4. Belgrade dominated Polson 10-2.
Polson, which trailed Butte Central 2-0 and 4-3 in the first three innings of the opener, exploded for four runs in the sixth inning to take its lasting lead.
Kaelyn Smith and Marina Mayorga paced a balanced offensive attack with three hits apiece. Josie Caye and Kaylanna Desjarlais added two each.
Smith and Olivia Perez, who led the Pirates with two RBIs, both doubled, and Laurel Bitterman tripled.
Smith, Bitterman, Caye and Quinn Motichka all knocked in runs.
“It was a good start,” Polson head coach Larry Smith said. “We came alive with our hits. Left a lot of base runners, but otherwise I was pleased with them.”
Vanessa Kent entered the circle in the first inning after the starter struggled with her control, holding the visitors scoreless through the final four frames.
“She settled down as the game went on,” Smith said.
The Pirates had far more trouble with the defending Class A state champion.
After taking an early 2-0 lead with runs in the second and third innings, the Belgrade bats heated up for four runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to take a commanding 10-0 lead.
Polson, which managed just four hits, scored its only two runs in the
bottom of the sixth.
Motichka had both the team’s RBIs.
Ty Atwood, Belgrade’s cleanup hitter, led the Panthers’ attack with a double, home run and three RBIs.
Polson 7, Butte Central 4
Butte Central 202 000 0 — 4 3 1
Polson 210 004 x — 7 14 2
BUTTE CENTRAL — Chloe Thatcher 0-2, Kassidy C. 1-3, Emma Keely 0-3, Megan Micholotti 0-4, Cassidy Strizic 0-4, Makala Dougherty 1-4, Zoe Dougherty 0-2, Kenzie Norton 1-3, Maddie Kump 0-1.
POLSON — Kaelyn Smith 3-4, Laurel Bitterman 1-4, Quinn Motichka 1-4, Olivia Perez 1-4, Josie Caye 2-3, Vanessa Kent 0-3, Grace Quinones 0-1, Kaylanna Desjarlais 2-4, Lisa Costilla 1-2, Marina Mayorga 3-4.
2B — Smith, Perez. 3B — Bitterman. RBIs — Strizic 2, Z. Dougherty, Norton. Smith, Bitterman, Motichka, Perez 2, Caye.
Belgrade 10, Polson 2
Belgrade 011 044 0 — 10 10 0
Polson 000 002 0 — 2 4 4
BELGRADE — Erin Elgas 1-5, Katie Hopie 0-5, Olivia Cook 2-3, Ty Atwood 2-4, Heather Gier 1-3, Mattie Kreiger 1-3, Haylee Curry 0-3, Alexa Deming 1-3, Lanee Morgan 0-1, Khiala Rollins 1-3, Hazel Eaton 1-1.
POLSON — Kaelyn Smith 1-3, Laurel Bitterman 0-3, Quinn Motichka 1-3, Olivia Perez 0-2, Josie Caye 0-3, Kaylanna Desjarlais 1-3, Paige Noyes 0-3, Lisa Costilla 0-3, Marina Mayorga 1-2, Vanessa Kent 0-0.
2B — Cook, Atwood, Deming. Smith. HR — Atwood, Gier. RBIs — Cook 2, Atwood 3, Gier. Motichka 2.
Libby 16, Ronan 4
RONAN — Libby jumped on Ronan early and kept its foot on the gas for a run-rule victory.
The Loggers scored seven runs in the first three innings combined, then added a combined nine in the fourth and fifth.
Khalyn Hageness earned the win in the circle for Libby.
Emily Carvey paced the Logger attack with three hits, including a triple, and six RBIs. Shayla Gallagher, Sammee Bradeen and Bridgett Haskins all homered for Libby.
Hageness and Bradeen tallied three RBIs apiece.
Marissa Mock drove in three of Ronan’s four runs.
Libby 232 54 — 16 11 1
Ronan 102 10 — 4 4 3
WP – Khalyn Hageness. LP – Gabriella Wirz.
Libby hits — Emily Carvey 3 (3B), Linsey Walker 2 (2B), Shayla Gallagher 2 (2B, HR), Hageness (2B), Sammee Bradeen (HR), Haylee Cannon (2B), Bridgett Haskins (HR).
Ronan hits — Marissa Mock 2, Wirz, Lanissa Mahkuk.
Libby RBIs — Carvey 6, Hageness 3, Bradeen 3, Gallagher 2, Haskins 2.
Ronan RBIs: Mock 3, Wirz.