Sixth Avenue Sweep: Ponies take two

The Havre High softball team didn’t start its big weekend the way it wanted to, but the way it ended couldn’t have been better for the Blue Ponies.

Havre, which had three Central A contests on tap over the weekend, opened the three-game stretch Friday in Lewistown, where the Ponies were knocked off by the Eagles 8-0. Yet, despite that defeat, HHS rebounded in a big way Saturday, sweeping Livingston by the scores of 8-7 and 13-6 at the Sixth Avenue Memorial Field.

“I thought the girls played great today. I am really happy for them,” HHS head coach Whitney McNally said. “After we lost to Lewistown, we made a few changes and I think that now we have found the mix of players that works best for us. Certain players just work well with others, whether it's on defense or in the batting order and I think we have found what works best for us.”

After falling to Lewistown, winning two against Livingston was crucial in the Central A conference race for Havre, and after building an 8-6 lead going into the top of the seventh inning, thanks to a Scout Boucher home run and a pair of RBIs, as well as two hits and two RBIs apiece from Dani Wagner and Jacey McDonald, the Ponies’ lead nearly evaporated.

After knocking in a run to trim the Havre lead down to a single run at 8-7, the Rangers had two runners on with two outs in the inning. A hard hit ball down the third-base line would have tied the game for Livingston, but a spectacular defensive play by third baseman Payton Howard, allowed Havre to get the final out and seal the victory.

Wagner, who pitched all seven innings against Lewistown, threw her second consecutive complete game and earned the win after allowing six runs on nine hits. As a team, Havre totalled 12 hits in the win, Boucher had three, Wagner and MacDonald each had two, while Jenae Boles and Claire Worm both had one. Worm and Alex Barkus both notched RBIs as well in the win.

With the sweep in sight, Havre sent Wagner back to the mound and with another solid effort there, as well as some outstanding offensive support, she earned her second consecutive complete-game victory.

“We knew that these games were important,” McNally said. “Dani was feeling good and she was throwing the ball well, so we just decided to stick with what was working.”

Barkus netted a pair of RBI’s in the first two innings, which helped Havre build a 4-0 lead. Then, a pair of RBI doubles from Worm and J.J. Hassa in the top of the fifth inning, pushed the Pony advantage to 8-0.

Livingston answered with three runs in the bottom of the fifth, but a Camryn Huston two-run home run in the top of sixth, pushed the lead to 10-3 and effectively put the game on ice.

McDonald led the way for a Havre offense that finished with 12 hits, as she was 3-for-5 with an RBI. Boucher and Wagner both added two hits in the win, while Hassa, Worm, Barkus and Nicole Parsons, all had one.

“These wins were huge for us,” McNally said. “It puts us in a good position in our conference and I think it will give us a good boost of confidence. These girls can be as good as they want to be.”

Havre ended its weekend on a high note, but it certainly didn’t open it with one, falling 8-0 to arch rival Lewistown Friday night on the road. The score was 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Eagles broke out for four runs to go up 5-0. They added three more in the sixth and completed the shutout by holding Havre scoreless in the top of the seventh.

The Ponies managed just five hits in the loss. Boles had a team-high two hits in the loss. Wagner, McDonald and Worm each managed one apiece. With the 2-1 weekend, the Ponies are now 4-4 on the season and 4-3 in Central A conference play.

HHS will have another busy week ahead of it, as Havre will visit Glasgow Thursday for a non-conference game that starts at 5 p.m. The Ponies will then host Lewistown Saturday at 9:30 a.m., before taking part in the Havre Invitational, which begins at 11 a.m.

Lewistown 8, Havre 0

Havre 000 000 0 - 0 5 2

Lewistown 010 043 x - 8 12 1

D. Wagner and Nicole Parsons; C. Carpenter and. W: Carpenter. L: Wagner

Havre: N. Parsons 0-3, A. Barkus 0-2, D. Wagner 1-3, S. Boucher 0-2, C. Worm 1-3, C. Huston 0-3, J. McDonald 1-2, J. Boles 2-3, J. Hassa 0-3.

Lewistown: N. Weichel 1-4, M. Comes 2-4, K. Southworth 1-4, D. Gapay 3-4, K. Irvin 2-4, H. Hayes 0-3, V. Kolstad 2-3, C. Carpenter 0-3, E. Craven 1-3.

Havre 8, Livingston 7

Livingston 102 120 1 – 7 15 2

Havre 102 140 x -- 8 10 4

WP – Wagner. LP – Higgs.

Livingston – Gibson 2-4; Nelson 4-4; S. Ingram 2-4; Higgs 2-4; Gavne 0-3; Murphy 2-4; Ooley 1-2; Watson 1-2; D. Ingram 0-2; Mushrush 1-3.

Havre – Boles 1-4; Parsons 0-2; Wagner 2-4; Boucher 3-3; Barkus 0-2; Howard 0-2; Huston 0-2; McDonald 2-3; Worm 1-3.

2B – Nelson, S. Ingram 2, Higgs, Wagner. HR – Mushrush, Boucher. RBI – S. Ingram, Higgs 2, Mushrush, Boucher 2, Wagner, Barkus, McDonald 2, Worm.

Havre 13, Livingston 6

Livingston 000 032 1 -- 6 9 2

Havre 202 042 3 -- 13 12 2

WP – Wagner. LP – Gavne.

Livingston – Gibson 0-3; Nelson 1-4; S. Ingram 1-4; Higgs 2-3; Gavne 2-3; Murphy 0-3; Barman 1-3; D. Ingram 1-3; Mushrush 1-3.

Havre – Boles 0-2; Parsons, 1-3; Wagner 2-4; Boucher 2-4; Barkus 1-4; Howard 0-2; Huston 1-3; McDonald 3-5; Worm 1-4; Hassa 1-2.

HR – Huston. RBI – Nelson 2, Higgs, Gavne 2, Barkus 2, McDonald, Huston 2, Worm, Howard, Hassa.