Ponies take the field at home for first time

The Havre High softball team got its season started this past weekend in Great Falls. But those games were just exhibition games - the game tonight against Browning is for real.

Of course with the forecast for rain, it's possible the Blue Ponies and Indians will need to reschedule, but if the weather cooperates, Havre and Browning will open Central A conference play tonight at 5 at the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field. Both the Indians and the Ponies come into the game 0-0 on the year.

"At this point in the season, we are still trying to figure some things out with our lineup," HHS head coach Whitney McNally said. "This is definitely an important game and we want to win, but with how early in the season it is, we are still going to have a lot of kids playing."

McNally said that she was not sure who was going to be the starting pitcher against the Indians, but she has four potential options. The first is senior Dani Wagner, who has been recovering from a shoulder injury but pitched last Saturday in Great Falls. Alex Barkus also started and notched a win in her outing against Laurel. The other pitchers that could see time on the mound are Nicole Parsons and J.J. Hassa.

If Wagner isn't on the mound, she will surely be in center field for the Ponies. Wagner will also be expected to make an impact at the plate after belting a home run in Havre's first exhibition game of the season.

Yet, Wagner is far from the only threat in the Havre lineup. Shortstop Scout Boucher is a very solid hitter, as is Jacey McDonald, who is set to be the everyday player at first base. Others that should contribute in the effort for Havre are Claire Worm, Payton Howard, Madison Tommerup and Cameryn Huston.

"We just kind of want to see what everyone can do," McNally said. "We want to see where the girls play their best and try some different things with our lineup and some different positions on defense. We also have some younger girls that we want to play to give them a chance to show what they can do."

Although it is a conference game, the Ponies have had little trouble with the Indians in years past. Last year, Havre knocked off Browning three times and despite the fact that Browning has better numbers than in previous seasons, a win over Havre would be a major upset. In fact, if the Indians can avoid getting 10-runned before the sixth inning, that would be a huge accomplishment.

"You know we heard that they have almost 30 kids out for softball," McNally said. "So we will see if they are more competitive than they were last year, but they at least have a lot of kids to play."

Havre and Browning are scheduled to do battle tonight at the Sixth Avenue Ball Field. The first pitch is set for 5. The Blue Ponies will then move on to the Belgrade Invitational this Friday-Saturday for more exhibition games.