Another iteration of the Battle for the Paddle helped highlight this short week of baseball.

Both Ronan and Mission/Arlee/Charlo played one game this week, with Polson nabbing a much-needed win over the rivals in their two game homestand.

Polson Baseball 17, Ronan Baseball 7

The premier matchup of the week was on April 18, when Polson invited Ronan to O’Malley Park for the first iteration of the Battle for the Paddle.

For these rivals, this game looked like it would come down to the last inning. Polson and Ronan battle early, with the Pirates taking the first lead.

A pop out to first base by Ben Mitchell helped drive in a runner to take a 3-2 lead in the top of the second inning. However, Polson retook that lead at the end of the second with seemingly no end to these teams trading blows.

A scoreless third inning set Ronan up for the tying run in the top of the fourth inning. However, Polson took a 6-4 lead off of a Holden Emerson double and a Liam Jackson ground ball that turned into an error.

Ronan took control once again in the top of the fifth inning with three runs, with a Blaine Dupuis single capping off the scoring.

Ronan led 7-6 and Polson needed everything to get it going again. They managed just that with 10 runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. In a tight game, the Polson bats found everything.

The Chiefs couldn’t find runs anymore as Polson ended this game in six innings with a clinching run. They won 17-7.

Cody Haggard and Liam Jackson tied for most RBIs for the Pirates with three. Haggard also nabbed a home run in the second inning.

Denzel Baltz was Ronan’s best hitter with two hits, two runs and two RBIs.

Whitefish Baseball 6, Polson Baseball 1

Before Polson’s rivalry win, they had to take a tough loss at home to Whitefish on April 14.

It was a slow day at home plate for the Pirates as they struggled for most of the game to get on the board. While Whitefish was not especially savvy from home plate either, they managed to take a light lead with little resistance.

The Bulldogs took the lead after the third inning and never looked back. Polson’s solo run of the game came off a Brayson DuMont groundout.

Polson could only manage that one run in the sixth inning, losing to Whitefish 6-1.

Stevensville Baseball 14, MAC Baseball 4

MAC took a tough loss in a home brawl against Stevensville on April 14.

It looked like a defensive matchup for the first two innings, with both teams being scoreless. However, a strong third inning from the Yellowjackets put MAC down 4-0.

The scoring kept coming for Stevensville as MAC struggled to keep up late into the game. MAC managed some runs in the fourth and fifth innings but the Stevensville bats were too much down the stretch.

The Yellowjackets took this one 14-4 with MAC not able to score in the last two innings of the game.

Hudson Hawkaluk led the Bulldogs with two RBIs on one hit.

    Ronan hitter Denzel Baltz runs to first base after a hit against Polson on April 18 at O'Malley Park in Polson. (Max Dupras/Leader)
  

    Polson baseball stands holding the rivalry trophy after beating Ronan 17-7 on April 18 at O'Malley Park in Polson. (Max Dupras/Leader)
  

    MAC takes on Stevensville on April 14 at St. Ignatius High School. (Christa Umphrey Photo)