KALISPELL - The 16U Polson Purple Rain made a breakthrough during the Emerald's Invite Tournament last weekend in Kalispell. They bucked their losing slump in the elimination rounds of tournaments this year to go 4-1 and win the championship trophy.

"We've been playing so well until we get in that elimination round," head coach Larry Smith said. "Offensively, we were capable. We just needed to adjust our defense a little."

In their first game of pool play, the Purple Rain knocked off the host Glacier Emeralds with a 3-2 victory. Pitcher Shay Duford gave up just four hits in the contest.

"It was just a good fastpitch game to be a part of," Smith said.

Only one error was committed in the game, and Smith got his key offense from Kodi Woods, who scored two runs and stole two bases, and Ashley Johnson, who went 2-for-3. For the tournament, Johnson was moved from the nine spot to the third spot in the lineup, a move that paid dividends all weekend.

In the second game of pool play, the Purple Rain lost to the Flathead Monsters 8-7. The Monsters had knocked them out of the elimination round the previous weekend in Helena and handed them their only loss of the tournament. The game was in the Purple Rain's favor at 7-4 heading into the fifth, but the Monsters scored in the fifth and sixth with a two-run home run giving them the go-ahead score.

Polson bounced back with a 10-0 victory over the Flathead Braves in four innings.

"They had really close games with everyone else in the tournament," Smith said. "Our bats were just on fire."

In the first inning, 11 players went up to the plate as the Purple Rain scored six runs. Johnson went two-for-two with three RBIs and two runs in the game. Sallie Sams went 2-for-2 as well, adding two RBIs in the game.

Smith said that put the Braves down for the rest of the contest and the Purple Rain won their second game of pool play.

In the elimination round, the Purple Rain found themselves against the Flathead Monsters again. This time they exorcized the demons and won 10-5. It wasn't easy though.

The Purple Rain jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the fifth, but the Monsters answered back with a five-run fifth inning.

The Purple Rain, sensing that the Monsters weren't going away, scored four runs in the top of the seventh and Duford struck out the side in the bottom of the inning to end the game.

In the game, McKaliah Wilson had a double for three RBIs.

"That was really good to see McKaliah get that hit," Smith said. "She's been in a slump but this is going to

break her loose I think."

Their win over the Monsters gave the Purple Rain a spot in the championship game against the Glacier Emeralds. Duford pitched a complete game, striking out nine and allowing just four hits in a 6-0 victory.

Riley Kenney had a two-run homer in the game to really key the offense for Polson.This was Kenney's first game after suffering a shoulder injury. She wasn't allowed to field but did have an impact at the plate for the Purple Rain.

"It was well over the left field fence," Smith said. "It was a shot and the wind was coming in."

Smith said that the success was a result of some adjustments on defense. He also said that the team wasn't completely satisfied with the first-place finish.

"It's a big positive boost for them," Smith said. "But I know what they're after, the big state tournament."

The Purple Rain will travel to the Fury Fastpitch Summer Sizzler this weekend in Frenchtown.

Raptors win two

SPOKANE - The Ronan Raptors earned two wins during the Fourth of July Shootout this weekend in Spokane, but couldn't keep the momentum and lost their last two games.

The Raptors defeated the Lake City Lightning in their first game, thanks to a late rally. MacKenzie Schulz drove in a run and tied things up 1-1 before Ally Allen stole home to take the lead. Lindsay Clairmont then drove in another run to make it 3-1.

"We did that and held them for the win," head coach Tom Peterson said.

In their second game against the Spokane Dry Ice, Schulz hit an RBI triple, Bethany Colman drove in two runs, and Allen put laid a bunt to in the 4-1 victory.

"I felt good, the girls from my team played well," Peterson said.

In their final game of pool play, the Raptors fell 12-0 to the Spokane Athletics before being knocked out of the elimination round with a 9-0 defeat at the hands of the Spokane Storm.

However, the team is showing definite signs of improvement and playing together well, Peterson said.

The girls from the Raptors from Lake County will go down to Missoula to play for the Hellgate Summer Nights. Hellgate high school players have come up during the summer to play for the Raptors so they're returning the favor.

Attack get victory

SPOKANE - The 12U Ronan Orange and Black Attack picked up a victory during the Fourth of July Shootout this weekend in Spokane, but lost three straight to end their weekend.

The Attack started their weekend with a 16-1 victory over Chewelah in three innings. Pitcher Sam Colman struck out six of the thirteen batters that she faced.

Ronan then ran into the Lewis and Clark Heat, which beat them 11-0 in four innings.

"We had too many walks and errors," Attack coach Arnold Smith said. "We also hit the ball right to people."

The Northwest Wildfire handed them their second loss of the tournament, a 15-0 defeat in three innings.

On Sunday for the elimination round, the Lake City Ladies also handed them a 15-0 defeat in three innings.

"They literally hit us to death," Smith said. "These were very good teams. We definitely saw the difference between them."

The Attack will play in another tournament this weekend in Missoula.