Lady Pirates split pair in state final rematch
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BELGRADE - No one can accuse the Lady Pirates of playing a weak non-conference softball schedule. Ten months after earning a state title with a 6-3 win over Belgrade, the Lady Pirates opened the 2011 season with double-header rematch with the Lady Panthers.
Polson may have won its last two games of last season against the Panther, but the Lady Pirates had to settle for a split Saturday as Belgrade won the opening game 9-2 before Polson bounced back to grab an 8-5 victory in the second game.
Polson managed just six hits in the opening game of the season as the Lady Pirates struggled against Lady Panther pitcher Justine Taylor. Belgrade, on the other hand, picked up 12 hits off last year's state tournament MVP, Shay Duford, en route to a seven-run victory.
Kodi Woods led the Lady Pirates with a 2-4 performance at the plate in the loss while Heidi Rausch, Sallie Sams, Ashley Johnson and Kylie Knutson all picked up hits for Polson. Rausch had Polson's only extra-base hit of the contest as her lone hit was a double.
Polson's hitters found their timing in the second game of the day as the Lady Pirates pounded out 16 hits to pick up an 8-5 win.
Things again looked bleak for the Pirates in the bottom of the first inning as Belgrade jumped out to a 1-0 lead but Polson answered with five runs in the top of the second to take a commanding lead. Polson added two more runs in the fourth innings. The four runs came at just the right time as the Lady Panthers answered with four runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the Polson lead to 7-5. Polson added one final run in the top of the seventh as the Lady Pirates held on to get the win.
Duford scattered 10 hits in the contest to pick up the win for Polson.
The Lady Pirates were led at the plate by Sams, who went 3-3 while Duford also picked up three hits with a 3-4 performance. Raush added a pair of hits, as did Knutson and Makaliah Wilson. Woods, Johnson, Kayla Duford and Martina Marquardt also added hits for Polson.
The Lady Pirates will be back in action Friday as they play at Whitefish. Polson's JV squad will be in action at home against Columbia Falls Monday while the varsity squad will play at Ronan Tuesday.
Summary.
First game
Belgrade 9, Polson 2
Polson 000 000 2 - 2 6 0
Belgrade 110 331 0 - 9 12 3
Shay Duford and Kayla Duford. Justine Taylor and Melissa Bell. W - Taylor (1-0). L - Duford (0-1).
POLSON - Kodi Woods 2-4, K Duford 0-3, S Duford 0-2, Jessica Bagnell 0-1, Heidi Rausch 1-3, Sallie Sams 1-3, Ashley Johnson 1-3, Martina Marquardt 0-2, Makaliah Wilson 0-2, Kylie Knutson 1-3.
BELGRADE - Taylor 1-3, Tara Lanzendorf 1-4, Bell 0-2, Ali Dorvall 3-4, Nikki DeHaan 1-4, Morgan Wandler 1-3, Taylor Johnson 1-4, Alison Alstrom 1-4, Joey Severson 3-3.
2B - Rausch, Dorvall, Johnson.
Second game
Polson 8, Belgrade 5
Polson 050 200 1 - 8 16 1
Belgrade 100 400 0 - 5 10 1
S Duford and K Duford. Severson, Kristina West (4), Taylor (7) and Bell. W - S. Duford (1-1). L - Severson (0-1).
POLSON - Woods 1-5, Johnson 1-3, Rausch 2-4, S. Duford 3-4, Knutson 2-4, K. Duford 1-4, Wilson 2-4, Sams 3-3, Marquardt 1-4.
BELGRADE - Taylor 2-4, Lanzendorf 0-4, Bell 3-4, Dorvall 2-3, DeHaan 1-4, Wandler 0-3, Johnson 1-2, Alstrom 0-1, West 0-2, Severson 1-3.
HR - Taylor.
