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Area softball gloves three all-staters, ten all-conference nods

John Heglie Special to Leader | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 7 years, 7 months AGO
by John Heglie Special to Leader
| June 15, 2017 8:35 PM

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POLSON SOFTBALL player Kaelyn Smith, Jr. was named to the All Class A first team at the end of the season. Smith was one of the Lady Pirates’ key contributors to a team that qualified for the Class A state tournament team in Sidney. (Photo courtesy of Bob Gunderson)

Mission Valley area teams reaped ten players acknowledged with postseason all-conference recognition that included a trio of all-state honors.

A trio of Lady Bulldog players were conferred with postseason honors from State B-C third place finisher Mission-Arlee-Charlo (21-7-1). Senior pitcher Ran’Dee Charlo received All-State as well as first-team recognition for her 19 win season on the mound as well as for the bludgeon of her bat at the plate, which stroked *three dozen hits that included 16 for extra bases while leading the team with *29RBIs. The pitching prowess of Charlo factored into the outcome of all but two contests this season. Fellow senior teammate catcher Kenzie Couture and sophomore pitcher/outfielder Tomi Brazill were honored with second-team acknowledgement for their contributions to their team’s 21 victory season. Couture had *33 hits this season, a dozen for extra bases, while generating *23 RBIs. Brazill turned in another *26 hits for the Lady Bulldog offense as well as threw dozens of innings from the mound. Both Charlo and Couture were named to the all-tournament team as well.

Six Lady Pirates

receive honors

A half dozen Lady Pirates were accentuated for their athletic aptitude with accolade acknowledgement from State A fourth place finisher Polson (18-10). Both leadoff batter Kaelyn Smith and followup speedster Laurel Bitterman repeated as all-staters along with concurrent first-team recognition. Smith led the team in three categories this season: batting average (.541), runs scored (43) and stolen bases (50), eclipsing last year’s single season then record breaking 41. Smith was also named to the State A all-tournament team. Bitterman racked up second highest numbers on the team for hits (46H), runs scored as well as stolen bases (25SB).

Receiving first team recognition was senior pitcher Haley Fyant (124K), who led the team in RBIs (32) as well as had the third highest batting average (.494) and the second most hits for extra bases (15). Fyant would have been conferred with conference bonus all-state recognition had Polson succeeded in advancing into the hardware rounds.

A trio of senior Lady Pirates receiving second team recognition include infielders Camas Renault along with Hannah Fryberger and catcher Ashley Benson. Renault had the second highest batting average among the team (.524) as well as provided supplemental relief as part of the pitching rotation. Fryberger led the team in extra base hits (17) that included a trio of home runs, had the third leading number of hits (41) and generated the second most RBIs (30) on the team behind Fyant. Middle of the order batter Benson had the third highest number of RBIs (23) and fifth highest number of hits among the team with 39.

Rounding out the recognition is Ronan (4-20), which placed junior infielder Courtnee Clairmont on the second team list. Clairmont was one of the leading hitters among the Maidens as well as anchored the infield with her glove work.

Asterisk(*) denotes stats derived from media coverage that may differ from M-A-C team scorebook. Slight variations in stat specs may occur on account of differences in assessment criteria between away venue evaluations and home book.

ALL-STATE

NWA – Kaelyn Smith, Polson; Laurel Bitterman, Polson

Western BC – Ran’Dee, Charlo

ALL-CONFERENCE

1st-Team Northwest A

Kaelyn Smith, jr. (if), Polson; Laurel Bitterman, jr. (of), Polson; Haley Fyant, sr. (p), Polson.

2nd-Team Northwest A

Hannah Fryberger, sr. (if), Polson; Ashley Benson, sr. (c), Polson; Camas Renault, sr. (if/p), Polson

1st-Team Western B-C

Ran’Dee Charlo, sr. (p), M-A-C

2nd-Team Western B-C

Kenzie Couture, sr. (c ), M-A-C

Tomi Brazill, so. (of/p), M-A-C

Courtnee Clairmont, jr. (if) Ronan

2017 STATE A ALL-TOURNAMENT

Ty Atwood, of (jr.), Belgrade

Kalista Pachl if (sr.), Belgrade

Shania Neubauer, p/if/of, (sr.), Belgrade

Erin Elgas if/of/p (so.), Belgrade

Megan Delaney, if (jr.), Frenchtown

Carley Thompson, of (sr.), Frenchtown

Brynn Leishman, p (jr.), Frenchtown

Tessa Della Silva, of (jr.), Hamilton

Rachel Richardson, if (sr.), Hamilton

Kaelyn Smith, if (jr.), Polson

Honorable Mention

Haylee Curry, c/of (so.), Belgrade

Olivia Cook, if (so.), Belgrade

Presley Jacobson, of (jr.), Belgrade

Haley Fyant, p/if (sr.), Polson

2017 STATE B-C ALL-TOURNAMENT

Brianna Hoffman, Florence

Natalie Dulac, Florence

Chloe Arthur, Florence

Shannon Byrne, Florence

Haylee Cannon, Libby

Madisen Monigold, Libby

Khalyn Hageness, Libby

Ran’Dee Charlo, Mission-Arlee-Charlo

Kenzie Couture, Mission-Arlee-Charlo

Tyra Johnson, Glasgow

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ARTICLES BY JOHN HEGLIE SPECIAL TO LEADER

June 20, 2019 3:31 p.m.

Sixteen Mission Valley softballers accentuated with athletic accolades

The MHSA sanctioned spring softball season came to a close with the culmination of state tournaments. Thereafter, each conference among the different classifications release a list of players who have been identified as exemplifying some of the best qualities exhibited in their athletic discipline over the course of the season. Honored from the Mission Valley include Northwest A players from both Ronan and Polson along with Western BC softballers from the cooperative venture of Mission-Arlee-Charlo.

Looking back upon  a whirlwind season
March 21, 2019 3:32 p.m.

Looking back upon a whirlwind season

Wtr2018-19 Arlee Warriors (24-3) 1971pts

Future Polson grads receive scholarship accolades
May 16, 2019 6:24 p.m.

Future Polson grads receive scholarship accolades

At the Polson High library, a group of ten student-athletes were recognized for their dual AA blend of achievements both in the classroom for academics as well as for the caliber of their athleticism that will extend their careers at the collegiate level. The gathering was accompanied by a simulated signing session to commemorate commitments to various collegiate athletic programs, many of which rely on academic incentives to assist athletes. Many of these student-athletes have been recognized multiple times on the honor roll. Several will be graduating with academic honors. Below are the institutions to which they have committed along with some of their accomplishments.