Kent, Polson breeze by Columbia Falls 6-0 in softball
POLSON — Polson finished an undefeated run through Northwest A conference softball play on Thursday night with a 6-0 win versus Columbia Falls.
Polson (18-4 overall, 10-0 Northwest A) starter Vanessa Smith enjoyed one of her best games of the year in the circle, striking out a season-high eight Wildkats and walking none in a complete game.
“She had very good control of her game,” Polson coach Larry Smith said.
Paige Noyes jump-started the Pirates’ offense with a two-run double in the second inning. Olivia Perez added an RBI single, and Quinn Motichka joined the hit parade with another two-run double as Polson batted around in the five-run frame.
“(Noyes) was in a slump there for a while, but she’s broken out of it very well,” Smith said. “The middle to the top of our order, they’re really clicking.”
Kaelyn Smith was also honored for breaking the Polson school record for career stolen bases in Tuesday night’s game against Ronan. After swiping another bag Thursday evening, Smith has now tallied 151 steals in her career, besting her cousin Strohm Fouty’s 148 which has stood since 2005.
Raychal Horner and Trista Cowan led Columbia Falls with two hits apiece.
Polson has won 10 games in a row entering next week’s Class A state tournament in Frenchtown, beginning Thursday.
“We’re on a pretty good run right now,” Smith said, “so hopefully that’ll just carry us right into the state tournament with good momentum.”
Columbia Falls 000 000 0 — 0 5 2
Polson 050 010 x — 6 9 1
WP — Vanessa Kent. LP — Savvy Ellis.
COLUMBIA FALLS — Kaylee Ashe 1-3, Raychal Horner 2-3, Trista Cowan 2-3, Ryley Kehr 0-3, Graceanne Sevesind 0-3, Kennedy Payne 0-3, Jayden Hamilton 0-2, Tori Briscoe 0-2, Savvy Ellis 0-2.
POLSON — Kaelyn Smith 1-3, Marina Mayorga 1-4, Quinn Motichka 1-4, Josie Caye 0-2, Kaylanna DesJarlais 2-3, Laurel Bitterman 1-3, Paige Noyes 2-2, Olivia Perez 1-2, Lisa Costilla 0-2.
2B — Cowan. Smith, Motichka, DesJarlais, Bitterman, Noyes 2. RBI — Motichka 2, Noyes 2, Perez.