Blue Ponies back on the state tourney diamond

For the fourth year in a row, the Havre High softball team is headed to the Class A state tournament, and like in previous seasons, the Blue Ponies are looking to make some noise.

The Ponies (9-9-1) have won a game in each of the last three state tournaments and they will look to keep that streak alive Thursday, when they take on Columbia Falls (13-8) at 1 p.m. The state tournament runs through Saturday in Sidney. The state championship game is set for Saturday at 1 p.m.

"I honestly believe that it's anyone's game at any time," HHS head coach Whitney McNally said. "These girls can achieve anything, it just depends on how bad they want it. If they come out and play like they did at (divisionals) I believe that we have the talent and if they want to, I think they can go as far as they desire."

One thing that will give the Ponies confidence heading into their game Thursday with the Wildcats is the recent tear they have been on offensively. HHS scored 44 runs in two games against Browning and Livingston Friday, led by Jacey McDonald, who had a slew of extra-base hits and a home run.

However, McDonald didn't just get hot this past weekend, she's been on fire since the Havre Invitational. Over the past three weekends, she has hit four home runs and has become a very difficult out for opposing pitchers.

Yet the reason Havre has had so much success lately is that McDonald is far from the only one doing the hitting. Janae Boles has been on fire at the top of the lineup and has gotten on base consistently for McDonald. Nicole Parson and Alex Barkus have also done well in the second and third spots, while others such as Kinzy Peterson, Madison Tommerup, Camryn Huston and J.J. Hassa have all had a slew of multi-hit games in recent weeks. Lauren Kato, Tracyn LaBuda, Sam Oliver and Madi Shennum have also been contributing.

"Our hitting was one thing that we really wanted to improve," McNally said. "We put a lot of work into that because we just didn't think we were consistent enough with our offense last year, but right now, everyone has really just decided to start hitting."

The offense will be important for HHS, but as the competition at state gets tougher, the pitching will become more and more important. The Ponies may not have a clear ace on their staff, but they have two solid starting options in Barkus and Hassa. McNally said she wasn't sure who would start, but that both would see the mound and start in Sidney.

"Obviously, the competition at state is going to be tougher," McNally said. "But we really feel like we can hit with anyone. We just have to keep hitting the ball and scoring runs."

Havre, the third-seeded team out of the Central A, is playing Columbia Falls, the two seed out of the Northwest. The other first-round matchups are Glendive, the second seed from the East, which will take on Stevensville, the No. 3 from the Southwest at 11 a.m. Lewistown (No. 2 Central) will also play Polson (No. 3 Northwest) at 11 a.m. Joining Havre and Columbia Falls at 1 p.m., will be Butte Central (No. 2 Southwest) and Sidney, the third seed from the Eastern A.

If the Ponies win, they will play Miles City, the champion of the Eastern A Thursday at 3 p.m. The other first-round byes went to Frenchtown, the Northwest champion, Hamilton, the Southwest champion and Belgrade, the champion of the Central.

Frenchtown and Hamilton are considered the strong contenders this weekend.

"We didn't get a chance to play Columbia Falls," McNally said. "We were supposed to at the Butte Central tournament, but it got rained out, so that would have been nice. But generally, the teams from the west are pretty good, but like I said, it's anyone's game."

Havre will open its state tournament Thursday, the first pitch will go out at 1 p.m. The tournament will run through Saturday afternoon at the Sidney softball complex in Sidney.