HHS softball team plays well at state

The Havre High softball team came into the state tournament as underdogs. And although the Blue Ponies were knocked out of the tournament before Saturday, they at least did some damage before exiting.

The 2016 Class A state softball tournament took place last Thursday through Saturday in Belgrade, and on the opening day of the tournament, the Ponies played one of their best games of the year, topping Eastern A rival Glendive, 5-4 in their first game.

Yet, HHS couldn't keep up that level of play and was knocked off 13-0 by Butte Central later Thursday, than 17-5 by Polson Friday as the Ponies were eliminated from the tournament.

Even though Havre lost its next two games, it will still have its exciting opening-round win over Glendive to look back on. HHS spotted the Red Devils an early lead as Glendive scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning. Yet the Ponies responded with four runs of their own in the top of the third and, just like that, the score was tied up 4-4.

Then, in the top of the fifth inning, with the score still 4-4, the Ponies added another run to take a 5-4 edge. From there, Havre just needed to make it stick and that's exactly what Wagner did on the mound, closing the game with five consecutive shutout innings to wrap up the win for Havre.

"It was really good for us to get a win at state in that first game," HHS head coach Whitney McNally said. "I think that was our first win at state in a few years, so that felt really good for the girls."

Wagner, who threw a complete game, allowed just five hits and four runs to get the win as the starting pitcher. She was also 1-for-3 at the plate and belted her ninth home run of the season in the fourth, to help tie the game. Jacey McDonald was also 2-for-3 in the win for Havre, while Janae Boles, Madison Tommerup and Camryn Huston all had one hit apiece.

After knocking off the Red Devils, the Ponies turned their attention to the Butte Central Maroons and right from the get go, things got out of hand. The Maroons scored four runs in the first inning, three in the second, two in third and four in the fourth to build a commanding 13-0 run. Butte Central limited Havre to just one hit and after the Ponies failed to score a run in the top of the fifth, the game was over due to the 10-run rule. Wagner was hit with the loss for HHS. She was also the only Havre player to notch a hit in the loss.

Following the loss to Butte Central, Havre took on Polson from the Northwestern A in an elimination game. This time, the start wasn't so bad as both teams were scoreless through two innings, before Polson scored three in the top of the third to grab a 3-0 advantage

However, things changed in the bottom of the fourth, when the Pirates plated five more runs to make it 8-0. The Ponies answered with four runs in the bottom of the fourth, to trim the lead to 8-4, but the Pirates would add nine more runs and finish the game with 17 hits en route to the 17-5 win.

Wagner got the loss again for Havre, which finished its season 8-13 overall. Wagner went 2-for-3 at the plate and hit her tenth home run of the season. Senior Payton Howard also hit a home run in the loss, while McDonald, Scout Boucher and Nicole Parsons all added a hit in the loss.

"That was Payton's first home run ever, so that was really cool," McNally said. "Dani also had a great tournament, she did a great job for us all year and it was good for her to get a win. Overall, I thought we played well, we won one game, we wanted to win more, but Butte Central and Polson were both really good teams."

Havre 5, Glendive 4

Havre 004 010 0 – 5 6 3

Glendive 040 000 0 – 4 5 2

Dani Wagner and Nicole Parsons. Carrie Nagle and Samantha Egan. W – Wagner. L – Nagle.

HAVRE (8-11) – Janae Boles 1-3, Parsons 0-1, Wagner 1-3 (HR), Scout Boucher 0-3, Jacey McDonald 2-3, Claire Worm 0-4, Jacelyn Hassa 0-2, Alex Barkus 0-2, Camryn Huston 1-3 (2B), Madison Tommerup 1-3.

GLENDIVE (14-6) – Wyniah Mintz 1-4, Averie Skillestad 0-3, Lexi Pettersen 0-3, Egan 1-1, Kayla Rod 1-2 (2B), Nagle 0-3, Cheyenne Ryan 2-3 (2B), Cheyenne Fisher 0-2, Syrell Dufner 0-3, Kenna Begger 0-3.

Butte Central 13, Havre 0

Havre 000 00 - 0 1 4

Butte Central 432 4x - 13 11 0

Dani Wagner, Alex Barkus (3) and Nicole Parsons; Teresa Piazzola and Corbyn Holm. W - Piazzola (13-2). L - Wagner.

HAVRE (8-12) - Janae Boles 0-2, Parsons 0-2, Wagner 1-2, Scout Boucher 0-2, Jacey McDonald 0-2, Claire Worm 0-2, Jacelyn Hassa 0-1, Barkus 0-1, Camryn Huson 0-0, Madison Tommerup 0-1, Payton Howard 0-0.

BUTTE CENTRAL (14-4) - Kloie Thatcher 2-3, Shawnee Hjelt 2-3 (3B, HR), Taylor Wahl 2-3, Holm 2-3, Piazzola 2-2 (HR), McKenzie Norton 0-0, Mollie Peoples 1-3, Kassidy Criscuolo 0-2, McKenzie Gallagher 1-2, Megan Michelotti 0-1.

Polson 17, Havre 5

Polson 003 545 0 - 17 17 2

Havre 000 401 0 - 5 7 6

Camas Renault, Lauren Vergeront (5) and Ashley Benson. Dani Wagner and Nicole Parsons. W – Renault. L - Wagner

POLSON – Kaelyn Smith 3-5 (HR), Laurel Bitterman 3-5, Benson 0-4, Lydia Dupuis 3-5 (2B), Hannah Potter 2-4 (2B), Hannah Fryberger 3-5 (2B), Haley Fyant 1-5, Quinn Motichka 1-4, Renault 1-4.

HAVRE – Janae Boles 0-3, Parsons 1-3, Wagner 2-3 (HR), Scout Boucher 1-3, Claire Worm 1-3 (2B), Jacey McDonald 1-3, Payton Howard 1-3 (HR), Madison Tommerup 0-2, Lauren Kato 0-2.