Blue Ponies split in Belgrade

Despite earning a split on the weekend, the Havre High softball program had a rough road trip to say the least.

Playing in Belgrade Saturday, the Central A Blue Ponies ran into a team that is more than likely going to end up with yet another Class A state title this year. The Polson Pirates defeated the Ponies 21-3 on Saturday. It was a tough pill to swallow, but the Ponies did rebound to defeat the Hardin Bulldogs 12-0 later in the afternoon.

"I thought that we played very well against Hardin," Havre High head coach Danny Wirtzberger said. "We hit the ball incredibly well against them, and our defense came around. And the weather came around for us as well, we started the game at about 25 degrees with the wind blowing, but by the end of the game it was 55 degrees, no wind, and with the sun shining. But that is kind of how that game went for us."

As the weather heated up, so did the Ponies.

Havre finished the ballgame with 16 hits, scoring 12 runs for starting pitcher Davee McLeod. Dani Wagner was key in the win, as she went 2-for-3 up to bat, as well as scored two runs and earned two RBIs. But Morgan Mazurkiewicz was right on par, as she too drove in two RBIs and scored two runs in the Ponies' winning effort. Paige Henderson, Tori Mazurkiewicz, and Shaniah Carlson also all went 2-for-2 and earned two RBIs a piece. Jordy Warren and Rachel Majeres also had an RBI each off of one hit each, while Roxanna Jensen, Sydne Huston, Liz Facio and Harlee Boucher each had one hit as well.

McLeod earned the four inning, shutout win behind the great offensive display on Saturday. And it was good to see that the Ponies could bounce back after suffering such a devastating loss earlier in the day.

"Davee pitched her best game of the year so far," Wirtzberger said. "Hardin didn't have a sniff for what she was throwing, she played that well. But the girls got angry about how they played in that first game, and that is what you are supposed to do after adversity. You aren't supposed to be sad about it, but just get better."

The loss to Polson was a game the Ponies would soon like to forget, but they did manage to score three runs in a game that can only help them get better.

"It was very evident where we need to improve after playing Polson," Wirtzberger said. "They have a pitcher that has won three strait championships, and it looks like she is on track to win another one this year. She throws hard and has a lot of movement on her ball, so for us to score three runs against her was pretty good. The thing that hurt us, we just couldn't throw a strike in the first inning and we went down 14-0. But we have to get past that, we have to play every inning and every game like it is zero-zero, and we didn't do that."

Majeres got the start on the mound for the Blue Ponies, but struggled with accuracy. In her one inning of work she walked eight batters and gave 14 runs.

But Tori Mazurkiewicz come on in relief and pitched very well. She got in three innings of work and gave up seven runs, three in the second inning, one in the third, and three more in the fourth. The Pirated did manage to rack up 13 hits on the game as well.

"They were just fundamentally sound and hit the ball hard," Wirtzberger said. "Some days it just isn't your day, and I told Rachel that, sometimes we just don't have it. But on the flipside of that, we got see Tori Mazurkiewicz come on in relief, and she pitched great. Polson is probably the best hitting team in the state in Class A, and she came in and gave up seven runs in three innings. I was proud."

HHS got just five hits against Polson's Shalaina Duford, and scored all three of their runs in the third inning. Wagner, Morgan Mazurkiewicz, McLeod, Huston and Facio all had one hit each. McLeod's hit was a triple.

Playing at a jamboree, the 1-1 split the Ponies earned this weekend doesn't really hurt the club. It was good to get a win over a good Hardin team, but the loss to Polson has to be forgotten, as the Ponies have to move on with their season.

Tonight, the Ponies will face Conrad for the second time this season, this time in Conrad. In their first meeting, the Ponies defeated the Cowgirls 13-12 in extra innings.

Pirates 21, Blue Ponies 3

Polson (14)31 3 – 21 13 1

Havre 003 0 – 3 5 3

WP - Shalaina Duford; LP - Tori Mazurkiewicz

Polson – Kenney 1-4, Duford 3-5, Jessica Bagnell 1-3, Heidi Rausch 3-4, Martina Marquardt 2-4, Taylor Brackey 0-2, Skyla Krantz 1-3, Jordyn Evertz 0-1, Sarah Rausch 1-3, Jaelyn Ellenwood 0-1, Kyrie Bitterman 1-2.

Havre – Dani Wagner 1-2, Morgan Mazurkiewicz 1-2, China Bohn 0-1, Davee McLeod 1-2, Henderson 0-1, Roxanna Jensen 0-2, Tori Mazurkiewicz 0-2, Harlee Boucher 0-1, Sydne Huston 1-2, Elizabeth Facio 1-2.

Havre 12, Hardin 0

WP – Davee McLeod; LP - Unknown

Havre – Morgan Mazurkiewicz 2-3 2RBI, Davee McLeod 0-3, Dani Wagner 2-3 2RBI, Paige Henderson 2-2 2RBI, Roxana Jensen 1-2, Sydne Huston 1-1, Rachel Majeres 1-2, Jordy Warren 1-2 RBI, Tori Mazurkiewicz 2-2 2RBI, Shaniah Carlson 2-2 2RBI, China Bohn 0-1, Liz Facio 1-1, Brittney Garden 0-1, Harlee Boucher 1-1.