Ponies host Scotties Thursday

The spring weather has messed with a lot of sports schedules thing spring, but perhaps no team has suffered through as many weather-related changes as the Havre High softball team.

The Blue Ponies have already had multiple games cancelled and in each case, the opponent for that game was supposed to be the Browning Indians. The two teams had a game in Havre canceled due to rain early in the season and last Saturday, the matchup between the two teams was canceled due to snow.

Yet, eventually, the games must go on and no team likely is happier to see the sunshine this week than the Ponies, who have a pair of intriguing games on the schedule this week. The first, will be a nonconference, home game against Class B rival Glasgow. That action will start at 4 p.m., inside the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field. Then, Saturday, HHS will travel to Belgrade for a Central A showdown with the Panthers (4-1). First pitch is set for 4 p.m.

Havre, which is officially 1-0 on the season, will have a chance at its second regulation win of the season at home against the Scotties. The two teams play annually near the beginning of the season and they should each be familiar with each other.

The Ponies, who are fresh off a 19-0 win over Browning, have to feel confident coming in, especially at the plate. Part of the reason for that is just how well the Ponies are swinging the bat from the top of the lineup, down to the bottom.

Nobody is swinging the bat better than Dani Wagner is right now. Wagner, who earned All-State honors a year ago, blasted a her second home run of the season last Thursday against the Indians. She also had a double and a pair of runs batted in during the win.

In addition to being the team's biggest offensive threat, Wagner is also one of Havre's top defenders, whether she is pitching or playing centerfield. Wagner earned a win, tossing two shutout innings in the victory over Browning. She also held the Indians hitless and struck out five of the six batters she faced.

Wager is just one pitcher the Ponies are capable of putting out there on the mound against Glasgow and Belgrade, the others are Alex Barkus, JJ Hassa and Nicole Parsons. Hassa, who plays in the outfield when she isn't pitching, tossed a shutout inning against the Indians, while Barkus notched three hits and batted in four runs.

With a solid pitching staff and some talented hitters that include the likes of Scout Boucher, who plays shortstop, Jacey McDonald at first base and Payton Howard at third base, the Ponies have a solid group to work with in all three phases of the game.

Those skills and abilities will be put on full display this week as both Glasgow and Belgrade, like Havre, qualified for the state tournament a season ago. Of course, Glasgow played in the B-C state tournament and lost out after winning one game. The Scotties have a talented squad seemingly every year and they should give the Ponies all they can handle.

When it comes to Belgrade, the test gets even tougher. The Panthers are the Class A runner-up from 2015 and with a number of key players returning, including standout pitcher Judy Taylor as well as Shania Neubauer, Skyla Neubauer, Ty Atwood, Kalista Pachi and Shania Krone, the Panthers look to be a state-title contender once again.

The game will be key for both Belgrade and Havre as the Panthers try to continue their domination of the Central A conference, which they won last season.

Before Havre takes the trip to Belgrade, they will play at home against Glasgow Thursday. at 4 p.m., inside the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field. Saturday, Havre and Belgrade will get their conference showdown started at 4 p.m.