Ponies set to wrap up the regular season

Heading into the last weekend of the regular season, the Havre High softball team knows the importance of playing well at this point.

The Blue Ponies have just four games left before they host the Central A divisional tournament in Havre, and four wins is just what they are looking for.

Friday and Saturday, the Ponies will be in Butte for the Butte Central Invitational.

HHS will face four nonconference opponents, but will treat this like a conference weekend. The Ponies will face Class B Thompson Falls, Class A Corvallis, Class A Stevensville, and Class A Glendive.

“This weekend is all about being a building weekend,” Havre High head coach Danny Wirtzberger said. “We are like a train and we are trying to build up momentum heading into the divisional tournament. We are going to play these games like they are conference games, and we are trying to win every single one. We want to go into divisionals on cloud nine, thinking nobody can beat us.”

The Blue Ponies will host divisionals next Friday and Saturday in Havre, and know it won’t be easy coming away with four more wins.

But this late in the season, it is no secret what the Ponies have to do to turn in a good weekend.

Davee McLeod and Rachel Majeres have to pitch well, no matter the opponent. The Ponies have gotten into a habit of giving up one big inning in losses this season, but if they can continue to pitch well all the way through, it would help the team go a long way. But defense will also be key, as limiting errors will pay dividends. Morgan Mazurkiewicz, Sydne Huston, and Roxanna Jensen continue to anchor the infield, while Paige Henderson has been outstanding behind the plate this season. Freshman standout Dani Wagner has anchored the outfield in center field.

The Ponies have slowly begun to find their groove up to bat as well.

Harlee Boucher continues to swing the bat very well, as does Majeres, Jensen, and Morgan and Tori Mazurkiewicz. If the HHS bats can heat up this weekend, the Ponies have to like their chances in any of the four matchups.

Four wins would carry the Ponies into the post season with a lot of momentum. And if the Ponies want to make the state tournament, this weekend would be a statement weekend, as they will face state-caliber teams.

“Stevensville is always going to state, and Corvallis is always going to state,” Wirtzberger said. “And Stevensville is in a very good conference as well. All of these teams are good Class A teams, and Thompson Falls is a Class B team, but is still right up there with the rest of the teams we will face. This is good competition and we need to treat these like must-win games. I don’t know how realistic it is to think we can win all four of them, but that is our goal.”

Friday and Saturday, the Ponies will be in Butte for the Butte Central Invitational, where they will Thompson Falls, Corvallis, Stevensville, and Glendive.