Rangers trip Ponies in home finale

With high hopes of clinching a top seed before the Central A Divisional softball tournament in two weeks, the Havre High Blue Ponies did not have the positive ending to the regular season conference schedule they were looking for.

After rain delayed the conference doubleheader scheduled for Saturday, the Ponies and conference rival Livingston Rangers made up both games Tuesday afternoon at the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field in Havre. There was a lot riding on the Central A matchup, but the Ponies couldn’t pull off a win. One win would have put the Ponies in the divisional semifinals as a top seed, while a sweep would have put the Ponies as the No. 2 seed entering the postseason. Instead, with two losses, dropping to 3-5, the Ponies will finish the season as the No. 4 seed behind Belgrade, Lewistown and Livingston.

The Rangers took game one 8-5 and game two 12-9 over the Ponies.

“Today was humbling for us,” Havre High head coach Danny Wirtzberger said. “Taking fourth in the league was definitely under where our goals were, so hopefully we can play better moving forward so that we can finish in the top three (at divisionals) and make it to state.

“That was a much better team than we had expected,” Wirtzberger added. “And their pitcher threw a lot harder than we thought. But we are glad we got to see her before divisionals, and I am glad they didn’t throw (Ariel Howieson) both games.”

Sierra Higgs threw the first game for the Rangers, and she was key in limiting the Ponies early. Through the first four innings the Ponies had just four hits and two runs as the Rangers led 3-2. The Ponies did grab two more hits, and the lead in the bottom of the fifth, but the lead was short lived as the Rangers rallied for three runs in the sixth and two in the seventh to retake the lead and grab the win. In the fifth inning Scout Boucher hit a single with one out, and Paige Henderson followed with a base on balls. Rachel Majeres also hit into a fielders choice out at third for the second out, but Dani Wagner hit an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3. Henderson scored the tying run. But Shaniah Carlson also got on board on an error, with Majeres scoring on that error to take the 4-3 lead.

Livingston’s five runs in the final two frames kept the Ponies at bay, despite HHS scoring one run in the sixth as well.

Scout Boucher went 3-for-4 with an RBI to help lead the Ponies, while Wagner went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Majeres went 2-for-4 with one RBI, and Carlson went 2-for-4, while boh Morgan and Tori Mazurkiewicz had one hit each. Wagner and Carlson each had a double.

Majeres also suffered the loss, pitching all seven innings. Majeres walked five, struck out one, and gave up 11 hits. The defense had six errors behind her, as Majeres gave up just two earned runs.

The loss in the nightcap was also a tough one for the Ponies, as they struggled out of the gate, but never stopped battling. Falling behind 8-0 meant an uphill fight for the Ponies who came up just short. Seniors Sydne Huston and China Bohn were recognized before the game, but unfortunately didn’t earn the win in their final home game as Blue Ponies.

“We weren’t ready to play that second game,” Wirtzberger said. “There are a lot of emotions when it is senior night. In a sport like basketball you can tame that down a bit, but in softball if you have a bad first inning, it is almost over right from the start, but our girls did a nice job battling back.”

HHS didn’t get off to a slow start on offense, as they used four hits and two Ranger errors to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the opening frame. It was the Pitching and defense that got taken for a ride in the bottom half of the first, as the Rangers used seven hits and two Pony errors to score eight runs. From there, the Ponies found themselves chasing the Rangers until they caught up in the top of the fourth.

In the fourth, Harlee Boucher and Bohn hit back-to-back singles. Then with one out Morgan Mazurkiewicz grounded out, but earned the RBI. Scout Boucher followed with an RBI single, Henderson was hit by a pitch, and Majeres crushed a two RBI double to bring the deficit to 8-7. Wagner also hit an RBI single to tie the game at 8-8 before a Livingston pitching change helped record the final out. Howieson was the starting pitcher for the Rangers, and HHS used her to get to 13 hits and eight of their nine runs. But after Higgs came on in relief, she followed a game one win a win in game two.

The Ponies were held to one hit and one run after Higgs entered the pitching circle in the top of the fourth. The Rangers used that momentum to retake the lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs on four hits and one Havre error to escape with the sweep.

It was two tough games for the Ponies, as they suffered two disappointing losses. And coach Wirtzberger knows they have to make some changes moving forward.

“Right now we are having great individual games,” Wirtzberger said. “For instance, when we go up to the plate we are having great individual days at the plate. Or at first base, Harlee Boucher is playing great, and Paige is playing great at shortstop. Or our pitchers might throw a great game or our catcher might have a great game. But we aren’t showing fantastic teamwork right now and that is something we hope to pull together before divisionals, and it is good that we get four more games to try that out this weekend.

“Our pitching is right where it needs to be,” Wirtzberger added. “And Dani Wagner is turning into a fantastic backup, and that is what we need for the continuation for this program. Right now we could catch a couple breaks, and just use more teamwork on the field to get outs. It really rings true when we have to relay to home, or relay to second, or anytime we have to use more than one player, it just isn’t as smooth as we would like.”

Wagner pitched game two for the Ponies and gave up 19 hits, while walking another four. Wagner did strike out three, but needed more help from the defense to record outs. The defense had three more errors, but just struggled to record outs after the Rangers put the ball in play, on the ground and in the air.

Havre finished with 14 hits, including three hits each by Majeres, Wagner, Carlson, and Harlee Boucher. Majeres had three RBIs and Wagner and Harlee Boucher each had one, while Bohn also went 1-for-3 with one RBI.

Havre will play Friday and Saturday at the Butte Central Invite in Butte. It is a nonconference weekend for the Ponies, who are gearing up for the divisional tournament next weekend.

Livingston 8, Havre 5

Livingston 200 103 2 – 8 11 5

Havre 101 021 0 – 5 12 6

WP – S Higgs; LP – Rachel Majeres

Livingston – Megan Gibson 1-4 RBI, Jacey Schleicher 1-5 2RBIs, Meadow Ingram 2-4, Cassidy Versland 0-3, Hailey Versland 2-3 RBI, Vanessa Davaz 0-4, Sierra Higgs 3-3 RBI, Mackenzie Corder 2-4, Emily Cornell 0-1, Breanna Murphy 0-1.

Havre – Morgan Mazurkiewicz 1-4, Scout Boucher 3-4 RBI, Paige Henderson 0-2, Rachel Majeres 2-4 RBI, Dani Wagner 2-3 2RBIs, Shaniah Carlson 2-4, Harlee Boucher 0-3, Jace McDonald 0-1, Tori Mazurkiewicz 1-4, Jordyn Warren 0-3.

Livingston 12, Havre 9

Havre 300 500 1 – 9 14 3

Livingston 800 040 x – 12 19 3

WP A Howieson; LP – Dani Wagner

Havre – Morgan Mazurkiewicz 0-4, Scout Boucher 0-4, Paige Henderson 1-3, Rachel Majeres 3-5 3RBI, Dani Wagner 3-4 RBI, Shaniah Carlson 3-4, Harlee Boucher 3-4 RBI, China Bohn 1-3 RBI, Sydne Huston 0-3.

Livingston – Megan Gibson 1-3, Jacey Shiecher 3-4 2RBI, Meadow Ingram 2-5 RBI, Cassidy Versland 3-5 RBI, Hailey Versland 3-5, Sierra Higgs 3-4, Vanessa Davaz 2-4 RBI, Mackenzie Corder 1-2 RBI, Ariel Howieson 1-4.