Rangers too much for Blue Ponies in Livingston

After earning two very important conference wins on Friday at home, the Havre High softball team couldn't get the job done on the road on Saturday.

After two wins on Friday over Browning, and two conference losses on Saturday against the hosting Livingston Rangers, the Central A Ponies now sit at 3-4 in the conference. The Rangers defeated the Ponies 9-0 in the first game, and 12-2 in the second game.

But the Ponies had a real shot at taking game one, but one poor quarter let a tight game turn into a blowout loss.

"They (Rangers) have a great pitcher in Haylee Dowdell," Havre High head coach Danny Wirtzberger said. "She really hums and is probably the quickest pitcher we have seen all year. But the first five innings we had some great at bats, we knew we weren't going to hit a lot gap shots on her, but we still had some good at bats. We were getting some walks and got a couple of bunting hits, and were going deep into the count, but it seems like every game we play a high caliber team, we have one of those innings, where we give it all away."

Livingston led 1-0 after the first inning, and the score held steady through five innings of play. But in the sixth inning, the Rangers came alive, taking advantage of a handful of Pony errors, and finding ways to score runs. The Rangers scored eight runs in the frame and took a devastating 9-0 lead over HHS.

The inning crushed the Ponies hopes of a win, and the momentum stayed with the Rangers through the second game of the doubleheader. Coach Wirtzberger it took the wind out of the Ponies' sails and they were unable to get over the hump moving forward. McLeod suffered the game one loss, while Majeres was charged with the 12-2 loss to follow.

The Rangers scored 10 quick runs in the second inning, while the Ponies were scoreless through four. HHS scored their only two runs in the fifth, but it was too little too late as the Ponies suffered a 10 run loss.

"We need to step up and be mentally tough in those types of innings and games," Wirtzberger said. "We need to put a band aid on it instead of bleeding out, but our wind was still out of our sails a little bit in that second game. Livingston built on that momentum and took it to us in the beginning of the game. We didn't start playing softball until the fifth inning and it was too late."

Boucher had one hit and one RBI in the two games, while McLeod had two hits on the afternoon, and Majeres, Morgan Mazurkiewicz, Wagner, Henderson, and Jensen all had one hit each. Mazurkiewicz also had one RBI on the day.

The HHS junior varsity also played on Saturday, as they took on the Belgrade Panthers in Belgrade. The Panthers defeated the Ponies 6-5 in game one and 12-11 in game two.

The Ponies will have a few days to rest, as they will host the Havre Invitational on Saturday. Havre also has makeup games on Conrad on Thursday.

Livingston 12, Havre 2

Havre 000 02 – 2 5 x

Livingston 0(10)0 02 – 12 x x

WP – A. Howleson; LP – Rachel Majeres

Havre – Harlee Boucher 1-2 RBI, Liz Facio 0-1, Paige Henderson 0-2, Sydne Huston 0-2, Roxanna Jensen 0-2, Rachel Majeres 1-2, Morgan Mazurkiewicz 1-2 RBI, Tori Mazurkiewicz 0-1, Davee McLeod 1-2, Dani Wagner 1-3.

Livingston – individual statistics not available

Livingston 9, Havre 0

Havre 000 000 0 – 0 3 x

Livingston 100 008 x- 9 x x

WP – H. Dowdell; LP – Davee McLeod

Havre – Harlee Boucher 0-2, Liz Facio 0-3, Paige Henderson 1-2, Sydne Huston 0-2, Roxanna Jensen 1-3, Rachel Majeres 0-3, Morgan Mazurkiewicz 0-2, Davee McLeod 1-3, Dani Wagner 0-3.

Livingston – individual statistics not available